Like many, I have been on the hunt for race wheels. Like many I want to spend next to nothing, unless I really have to. It is the end of the season and this is a great time to pick up some wheels off the classifieds as people dump the kit that they have no plan to use again or really can’t afford. This is not one of those stories.
Trirudy.com is the premier website in eastern Canada, which has a daily mailing list. From “I finished my first sprint” to “Buy my coaching” to classifieds, there is a lot of content and absolutely no attitude (unless you are discussing drivers on the parkway). I post, I trawl, sometimes I make a trade. About a month ago I spotted an incospicuous ad for a trispoke for $100.
“Not possible”, I said and quickly banged off an email to get pics and details. Yes sir, this was an early to mid 90s Specialized/Dupont trsipoke, weighing in at a sprightly 1300 grams; as heavy as discs today, but with good aerodynamics for cross winds. After mulling it over for a day, I decided to buy the wheel as I could take a $100 risk, and at the very least, I could use it on the track over the winter as long as there was not a big wobble.
The kind seller advised that some associates were coming to Toronto and could drop off the wheel at a hopsital 50kms from my home. I have no car, and work was keeping me busy. I sent directions from the hospital to my condo, in hopes that they would be able to swing by on their way. Later that day I received a text message stating that the wheel had been dropped off 2 towns away (55km) and that I should pick it up there. I called this new person, left a message and stated that some friends and I would drive by on our way back to town the day after a wedding.
Despite the rain, the wedding was great. I was a little drunk. I danced with the groom. I danced with the other groom. They were thoughtful enough to order me a vegan meal.
Upon waking the next morning, I checked my messages and to my delight, a message was there stating that I could come over at any time. We hit the road, got within 5km of the place, stopped for coffee and made another call.
“Hi, we’ll be there soon to pick up the wheel”.
“Who is this? Oh. Ohhhhhhhh!”
The person on the other end of the phone frantically explained that the wheel was in someone’s trunk and that they had just driven to the train station to go down to the city for the Exhbition (the Ex).
I asked if they could call this person to have them wait for me.
No.
I asked if they could drive down to the station to pick up the wheel and I would meet them.
No, but I could go down to the station, find the owner of the car and pull them off the train to get the wheel.
I felt that was a little ridiculous, but figured that since the train station was on the way to the highway, I might as well try to catch the 11:25 train. It was 11:21.
We headed down the road, my spouse fuming, the driver and her spouse still happy (for now) and made our way to the station. If you are from Toronto/Mississauga/Oakville, you will know that as you drive down Trafalgar Road and crest the highway (QEW) you can see the station and the train. The clock turned to 11:26, we crested the highway and the train was still there. Held up, because of the long line at the ticket wicket. All those people wanting to go to the Ex. We pulled into the bus loading zone, I jumped out with cell phone in hand and started running towards the wicket. I called the person where the wheel should have been and was given a description:
Woman
Yellow jacket
With boy and a young girl
Name: Jane
I kept the person on the line and ran beside the wicket looking for someone who fit this description. No one. They must be on the train already. I run down the concourse and on to the platform and stare at the train. Dare I? $100 wheel. Yes ofcourse I do. I hop on the first car (triple decker cars) and look at the bottom level and then the middle level. Run off. I know any minute an announcement will, umm, announce the train’s departure. I run on to the second and look at the first 2 levels. No one. Where could they be? I remember that there is a young girl and that the probability is low that they walked to the last car and that they are probably on one of the first 3 cars. I go back to the first car, run in pushing people out of my way and check all three levels. I hear something over the PA and dart off. The second car, no Jane. Third car. First floor no, second uh-uh, third floor in the middle of the car I spot someone.
“Jane?”, I say cell phone still in hand (battery was running down).
“Yes?”, she replies. Young girl, boy, check, check.
“I’m Paul. I have come for the wheel. Please give me your keys so that I can get it out of your car and I will give the keys and the money to your friend”.
She pulls out her keys. “Ohhh my, it is in the car. Can I speak to my friend?”
I pass the phone, everyone is looking at us, I am nervously tapping my foot as precious seconds tick by and I know the train is about to leave.
“This train on platform…bound for …”.
“Jane, I have to go.”
She gives me the keys and the cell phone, I dart out the car and wave on the platform as the train pulls away. Next step, I run through the parking lot clicking the alarm arm button, listening for a honk. Last row, in the middle I hear a honk. Open trunk. There is the wheel in the original box. I pull it out. 8 speed cassette - compatible with my 10sp. Give it a whirr, sounds good.
I call the person at the pick up point to arrange for an exchange of the keys and the money. That goes well. I breathe a sigh of relief. I am shot a dirty look by my spouse. We take the driver and her spouse out to brunch.
2 days later I mount a new wheel and my cassette on the wheel. I ride it to my LBS who give me new bearings ($5) and I ride to my mechanic. He takes a look at it, feels the bearings and says that other than a 1mm hop in the wheel, this is good to go. He lends me his RD SS 40 as a front to complete the setup.
And it is. Bike weighs 19.8 lbs as shown. Wheel + ultegra cassette + skewer = 1500 g.
Thanks Trirudy.com. Thanks Denis. Thanks Jane!