Kelly isn't this the climb where you and I swapped breathless switchbacks, and later have a huge black bear run across right in front of us? And isn’t Crawford where I left my credit card in a cafe that closed after we left? If so I remember that river at our motel where we were able to sit on a deck alongside. Great memories if so.

spoon

"... my 2010 trike used a weird custom cassette that isn’t made any more"

If that is / was the Shimano Capreo cassette you can still find 9 and 10 speed NOS on eBay. I got a 9 speed last December ahead of my trip this summer, from a guy in Germany of all places. But they are getting a bit scarce.

Kelly, not sure I can answer all that and not familiar with Phil Wood hubs, given the symptoms you described freehub seemed like a possibility. Phil, King, and other high end hubs can certainly last a long time but they all need at least some routine maintenance. RE: cassette spacer, again, if your shifting was excellent before the problems started that likely wasn't the problem, but if the cassette lockring is tight and you have wobble in the cassette you need a spacer.

Yes, more pondering on that Rohloff. One thing about the Enviolo is it’s not indexed - you can stop anywhere within its range. But I think its range isn’t quite as wide as the Rohloff.

I used a 24t chainring on my 2001 Stratus so I could go up the hills around here. I’d keep that in mind for use with the Rohloff.

Ben,

I had to go to youtube and watch a video, to make sure I knew what a free hub is. John (the Lake City mechanic) said that my free hub was good. I didn't see any pitting like in the video. John did grease it. Possibly the bearings are an issue. Do Phil Wood hubs have sealed bearings? I have had this rear wheel for quite a while (5 years?), but have always heard that they last forever.

The cassette was new this spring. I took the bike in to my LBS for a tune up in early May. I rode ~500 miles before the tour, and 1,000 miles so far - so, 1,500 miles since the tune up. We did not replace the chain then. Troy (LBS) said it was good for 2,000 more miles. My recumbent chain tends to last a very long time, as it is 2.5 regular chains, so doesn't go through the gears very often. Or, so I've been told about recumbent chains.

It's a puzzle. I'm glad I was able to make it all work - especially without missing a riding day. I will take the bike back to my LBS when I get back.

One thing I didn't mention is that John/Lake City put a spacer behind the cassette so it wouldn't wobble. He said that isn't typically needed with nine speeds, but that's the only way he could keep the cassette from wobbling. Do you think that would have anything to do with the problem? The cassette isn't wobbling now. I did check that out.

One concern I have is having enough gears for the climbing I do. Jacinto can stand up and muscle over the climbs. I need to sit and spin. When he bought the Rodriguez Bike, we had a major conversation with Smiley @ Rodriguez about how low of gearing Rohloff will warranty. Now I can't remember the exact number, but Jacinto's bike is geared just within those ranges.

I need to give the Rohloff more consideration. Thank you for chiming in. I like having a female perspective.

Hi Kelly:

One of my favorite roads in CO as well, my wife and I did it in the opposite direction from Paonia to Gunnison on a Tour in 2015.

Hey just a hunch but could your shifting issue possibly be a sticky freehub needing lube, a new bearing, or replacement?

I've had that issue and you get all kinds of grinding and squealing noises. The noises tend to get worse after the freehub heats up and is especially noticeable on long descents where you are freewheeling a lot. You also notice a bit of play when you press on the cranks like you say Oren noticed . And grinding when shifting due to freehub seizing from extra stress from the shift. I noticed today you said the issue was worse on the latter half of your ride which was mainly downhill so this makes some sense to me.

As you suspected, it makes no sense to me that shortening your chain was necessary as the chain was not stretched out and your shifting was 100% fine before the problems started.

What that could have done though is increase the tension on the whole system, keeping the freehub from slipping and forcing the shifts a bit which could account for the slight improvement in shifting you had today at the start until your freewheeling descent?

If you can find a competent shop - looks like there are a couple in Delta - this could easily be checked and potentially solved by a quick service to lube the freehub body at the least, a bearing replacement, or at worse a new freehub which is a quick easy switch and around a $50 part.

Or maybe I'm full of it but thought I'd throw 2 cents out there fwiw?

Keep the bike, get a Rohloff. I wanted to put a Rohloff on my trike a few months ago but they weren’t to be had for love nor money. Ended up with a used Nuvinci/Enviolo and I love it. Good thing, because my 2010 trike used a weird custom cassette that isn’t made any more. It was the Nuvinci or a new trike. Hey ….

Looking forward to seeing the photos of this favorite ride of yours.

You and Jacinto think alike! Except, he says I should sell the bike! As a backup statement, he said Rohloffs are better.

Hi Kelly
If you get a Rohloff you will be most unlikely to experience shifting problems in the future. You will have to stick to chain however as belts will not work with your chain run.

You sure find the most interesting back roads! I had no idea this road even existed. But then we tend to steer clear of dirt/gravel roads with the tandem.

Lake City brings back some very fond memories - in 1995 I spent a week there with my 2 best friends and we hiked up Red Cloud, Sunshine, and Uncompahgre peaks - one day we went fishing just outside the city - it was September and the Aspens had turned into a beautiful gold shade. On the hike up Red Cloud we stripped to our underwear and posed next to a snowbank - our wives didn't like that bit of foolishness as much as we thought they would! Alas, my friends have each departed this world in the last few years, so my memories and pictures are all that's left. Thanks for the memories of Lake City, I'm enjoying following along with your journey.

I knew someone would tell me not to feed the wild animals! I wonder what she's been begging from people - her ribs were showing. I suppose it's people food, not good for deer.

PETA would call this harassment!

spoon

What a pain about the bike. I hope it works tomorrow!