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it was easy to remove. What amazed me was how calm I took it. I just took it in stride and
made best ofit. Erik even commented onhowimpressed hewasonhowIhandled the situ-
ation. I quickly removed the chain, put it into my pannier and started off without peddling.
Erik started to call my bike “One Gear”.
For the next two kilometres, I proceeded to look like a madman. I would run up the
hills with the bike and, not to lose any momentum, I would jump on the bike as it crested
the hill. Then I would free wheel down and up the next hill. Just before I rolled to a stop, I
wouldjumpoffthebikeandresumemyrunning.ThenIwouldhopbackonjustasthebike
crested the next hill. I did this all the way to Lola.
I found Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception Catholic Mission and asked the
rector permission to leave my bike on the property so I could go to the local market in
search of a new derailleur. When he granted my request, off we went. Erik and I first went
to eat a steak lunch and then went for the search. Since I couldn't find a derailleur, I re-
turned to my bike and tried to improvise a solution.
Pulling my Second MacGyver
At first, I shortened the chain so that it would fit on the smallest chain-ring on the
front and the largest ring on the back. This granny gear set-up would be ideal for climbing
but lousy for maintaining top speeds. I felt that the work was needed in climbing the hills
and plus, I could always free wheel down the hills. I practiced on the mission grounds and
found that the chain didn't skip. Problem solved. Since it was getting late we decided to
stay in Lola. I spent the rest of the time doing my laundry and went for some drinks with
a few French volunteers who ran the dispensary (FIDESCO). I went to the church on my
own to say the Stations of the Cross and the Rosary. Before going to bed, I looked at my
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