I just took a quick ride today along the Grand River. In Ontario, where all the roads are painfully straight, you have to think geographically to find a road with some kinks in it. Following the river offered something other than driving the Ontario grid.
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| Riding the banks of The Grand River |
I got to the covered bridge at the end of the route and stopped for a photo. I noticed that there was some drippage underneath the bike so I looked it over. I’d just lubricated the chain before leaving so I thought maybe I’d put a bit too much chain oil on, but what was coming off looked runnier than chain lube. A quick look under the fuel tank showed a gas leak.
I got the bike home and took off the tank. I hadn’t been happy with how the fuel line had gone back on, it never seemed to sit right. After futzing around with it for a few minutes it suddenly popped right on properly and locked. No more leak.
It was nice to get out for a short (45 minutes or so) ride even with a headache on a cold, windy day. It’s been raining for days so I couldn’t turn down a chance to get out, even for a little while. Diagnosing and fixing a leak that quickly afterwards was just as satisfying.
I’d really like to find a junker that I can break down and rebuild as a learning exercise, but finding an old bike in Ontario isn’t easy.