I brought my bike to Lee’s Cyclery in Fort Collins and asked them to diagnose the hub failure as well as do regular tune up. I haven’t spoken in person yet, but did receive a voicemail that the inside of the hub was pretty dirty but nothing was broken, implying the hub got contaminated and then fouled up. They cleaned and re-lubed the hub and it works fine again. Feedback was to make sure to get more frequent service on the hub.

They are also doing a maintenance and replacing stretched chain and worn out cassette.

So plan after the intermission is to continue with the mountain bike and fixed hub. Will give a good test to make sure all is still OK and also take opportunity to get hub serviced before crossing into Mexico. On a different path, I’ve been in discussion with wheelbuilder if there might be a hub more easily serviced from the road but still pretty reliable – and there is also a possibility there.

In the meantime, plan is to drive tomorrow to Ordway, Colorado and do the “Pedal the Plains” ride in southeast Colorado. This is the 5th annual version of this three day ride. I’ve enjoyed doing this ride and have also done it the preceding four times the ride was held. I’ve got my touring bike here in Colorado and will use that bike for the weekend ride.

Above is a photo of the Virginian Hotel in Medicine Bow. It is nicely restored 100+ year hotel and activity center for the town. I came to the hotel on Tuesday afternoon and asked if anyone was going to Laramie “today or tomorrow”. One of the staff was doing a grocery run (Medicine Bow has only small convenience store) on Wednesday morning and I was able to hitch a ride. I picked up my rental car, fetched the bike and now have used that for errands including going down to Pedal the Plains.