Breakage on the Arkel handle bar bag

May 26th, 2003 at 12:00am

Made it here yesterday with only one real drama and that was my handle bar bag breaking off the bike at 5 km into the ride. How annoying! The screw literally ripped the threading out and so the clamp was completely stuffed and after trying a few different MacGyver moves without success, I finally succombed to just tying the damned thing on the back of my bike. Wasn’t too happy about that because it messes up the whole weight configuration of the bike and I certainly didn’t pay over $100 USD for a handle bar bag only to tie it to the rear and have no access to maps, camera, sunblock, etc. while riding. Fortunately it was a flat ride so the extra weight behind me didn’t matter too much. Dealt with the heat and the sun in the usual way, by cursing it, never seems to help but makes me feel a bit better while I’m out there. Used the Red Bull/glucose tabs combo again and I’d say it definitely helps.

Got to Townsville around 3pm and it was 10 km to get across town to Rowles Bay where there is a caravan park on the water front. I was tired and hot but happy to be here. Another milestone on the journey north! I’ve now done 1900 km and have a mere 350 km left to get to Cairns.

Today was a busy day doing laundry, shopping, email, and waiting for a new handle bar bag piece that has not yet arrived. I have a feeling that the bag will be tied to the back of the bike for the rest of the journey. I’ve been looking in shops for bungy cords for days now, anticipating problems with this bag after back plate cracked, and funny enough, I cannot find bungy cords anywhere! Is there something here I don’t know? It’s driving me nuts, so simple, and yet cannot find them. This is a first-world country even.

So tomorrow I am going over to Magnetic Island for the day, will maybe see a koala, and will hopefully come back to find that the parts arrived from Canada. The legs feel a bit tired and sore so it’ll be good to have another’s day rest.

A patch of shade for some rest!

The diva, fully loaded (note handle bar bag on back)

Entry Filed under: Australia,Cycling,Townsville