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Saturday 20 June 2009

Accident, personal injury or death

Grumpy Bob has been reading the installation manual that came with a newly purchased Campagnolo Chorus 11-speed chain. He is somewhat alarmed that the limits of bike chain technology have perhaps been reached here.

Installation of one of these chains seems to involve a lot of actions which if not performed absolutely correctly, and with the correct (and rather expensive) tool place the rider in risk of accident, personal injury or death. In fact, his perusal of said manual (about 20 pages in English, albeit small pages) would suggest that cycling is a horribly dangerous pastime.

Apparently:
  • using the chain with 10 speed component may cause accidents, inury or death
  • if Grumpy Bob doesn't follow the instructions, an accident could occur.
  • Grumpy Bob should wear snug-fitting clothes (preferably fluorescent), and not ride at night. And if he is foolhardy enough to ride at night, he must use lights
  • Grumpy Bob mustn't use a component he's unfamiliar with as he might have an accident.
  • Grumpy Bob will find it harder to stop in the wet...which could cause an accident.
  • And because of all these potential accidents, Grumpy Bob must wear a helmet!
  • If Grumpy Bob doesn't use tool UN-CN300, he risks accident, personal injury or death.
  • He should use safety goggles when installing the chain
  • If the UN-CN300 is damaged, Grumpy Bob risks accident, personal injury or death.
  • Use of non-Campagnolo sprockets risks accident, personal injury or death.
  • Incorrect installation of the chain leads to a risk of accident, personal injury or death.
  • Opening and closing the chain more than twice brings with it a risk of accident, personal injury or death.
  • When lubricating the chain, Grumpy Bob is exhorted to make sure no grease gets on the rims, otherwise he risks...accident, personal injury or death.
  • Not only that, but if Grumpy Bob uses a poor-quality lubricant, he risks...accident, personal injury or death.
  • Salted roads can damage bike components, possibly resulting in accidents. But not death apparently.
  • If Grumpy Bob doesn't recognise when the chain gets worn and replace it, he again risks accident, personal injury or death.
At this point Grumpy Bob is getting just a little nervous about ever getting on the bike again!

Postscript:
This video shows how it should be done:

[hat-tip to Cozy Beehive]

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