I stopped at one-too-many container bins today. The straw that broke the camel's back was a bin set (containers, paper, newsprint) by a dumpster in an apartment parking area with one lone car sitting in it -- sitting just forward of where I paused my bike and trailer to pop the lid on the container bin -- in the exact place, and exact way I'd done it at this particular container bin countless times. Extra foreshadowing to say that the car appeared empty, and was silent.
I opened the container bin lid. Nothing in there. Then my bike moves and the trailer is closer to the ground on the right side where the wheel isn't perpendicular to the pavement, but more of a forty-degree angle. The car has so very silently backed into my trailer; T-boning the left side. Strange that wasn't the side that was damaged, particularly as there was already some tube damage on that side from weight. There were two people in the car. The fellow had a solid Easter European accent. The conversation included gems like: "You backed into my trailer?" "You should not have your bike there" (leaning against the dumpster?) "It's your fault," the man says to me, as he drives away. Unfortunately, I believe he was right. Whether I take the matter to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia is a separate issue from the trailer damage.
[caption id="attachment_701" align="alignnone" width="497"] This is looking straight down at the tube which is cracked through at a weak point -- a bolt hole. Since this was taken I've added another hose clamp on the right side.[/caption]
The damage was a broken aluminium tube. It broke as I would expect, where there was a bolt hole. This particular hole is for one of the two bolts which hold the wheel axle drop-out onto the tube. I wrestled it into something which allowed me to get my (happily?) small load of bottles to the bottle depot. Afterwards I had to play with it again, doubling up on hose clamps. I may be able to replace the entire length of tubing. Hopefully it will work for the next day or so. I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't. Inconvenient. It's time to get cracking on acquiring a new trailer, hopefully steel-tubed.
I opened the container bin lid. Nothing in there. Then my bike moves and the trailer is closer to the ground on the right side where the wheel isn't perpendicular to the pavement, but more of a forty-degree angle. The car has so very silently backed into my trailer; T-boning the left side. Strange that wasn't the side that was damaged, particularly as there was already some tube damage on that side from weight. There were two people in the car. The fellow had a solid Easter European accent. The conversation included gems like: "You backed into my trailer?" "You should not have your bike there" (leaning against the dumpster?) "It's your fault," the man says to me, as he drives away. Unfortunately, I believe he was right. Whether I take the matter to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia is a separate issue from the trailer damage.
[caption id="attachment_701" align="alignnone" width="497"] This is looking straight down at the tube which is cracked through at a weak point -- a bolt hole. Since this was taken I've added another hose clamp on the right side.[/caption]
The damage was a broken aluminium tube. It broke as I would expect, where there was a bolt hole. This particular hole is for one of the two bolts which hold the wheel axle drop-out onto the tube. I wrestled it into something which allowed me to get my (happily?) small load of bottles to the bottle depot. Afterwards I had to play with it again, doubling up on hose clamps. I may be able to replace the entire length of tubing. Hopefully it will work for the next day or so. I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't. Inconvenient. It's time to get cracking on acquiring a new trailer, hopefully steel-tubed.
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