In Which We Say Goodbye and Hello to Bike 3

Bike 3, locked to the fence, missing a broken rear wheel. To what use is a broken wheel?

Sunday: We, the MMU Bike Club, had a fun ride to Dairy Queen in Hiawatha. But along the Cedar River Trail, the back axle of one bike snapped, ending the ride for one student. Another student used Snapchat to share her location, and the Bike Club president and an orientation leader showed up in a car for a rescue.

So that part of the story had a happy ending.

We locked the bike to a fence, planning to get it later—and, in retrospect, I should have gone back that night. Because when the Bike Club president and I loaded up some Mount Mercy University bicycles to take to the bike shop for repairs Friday, and we went to the trail to rescue Bicycle Number 3, a sad sight awaited us.

Bike 3 had been attacked. The rear wheel (which, if you’re following along at home, had a broken axle) had been ripped off, with the bike's chain broken in the process. The bike lock itself appeared to have saw marks on it, but was not broken.

A new wheel, control cables for the rear, a new rear derailleur, tire, tube, etc.: it would have cost $275 to repair Bike 3. A new bicycle of the same make and style is about $350. At that price differential, I didn’t think it fiscally wise to repair Bike 3, and the student Bike Club president, who was with me, agreed.

It’s not clear for sure that we will buy a new Bike 3. In fact, because I took in an old bicycle that I own to be serviced and donated to MMU, the Bike Club may already have a new Bike 3.

But, goodbye, old Bike 3. Your fate was a bit sad. It’s hard to imagine the mind of a determined thief who would expend the time and effort to break a chain to steal the broken rear wheel of a rather marginal old bicycle—but there you have it. If it’s not nailed down, it can be stolen—and if it is nailed down, some people would pull nails or break chains even if the prize seems of little value.

And welcome, new Bike 3. It’s a mountain bike that is sturdy, was my youngest son’s when he was in high school, and served me as my winter beater bicycle until I switched to another, higher quality used mountain bike. The Beast, may you enjoy second life as MMU Bike 3. And old MMU Bike 3, a sad farewell to thee.