Pedal turns but read wheel doesn't..

[GirishH]

Dear BikeRide experts,

Please help me. I had just finished 10 or so miles of my 26 miles with 3500 feet elevation gain I had for the day. Suddenly, I felt very free and realized that pedals were spinning but rear wheel was not.

I was forced to push MisterGordo for the reminder and I might be forced to alter plans since I am in a small place with no expert bike mechanic, I guess.

I carry so many safety gear, but don't carry gear cassette opening tool.

[Painkiller]

(08-04-2025, 11:51 AM)GirishH Wrote:  Dear BikeRide experts,

Please help me. I had just finished 10 or so miles of my 26 miles with 3500 feet elevation gain I had for the day. Suddenly, I felt very free and realized that pedals were spinning but rear wheel was not.

I was forced to push MisterGordo for the reminder and I might be forced to alter plans since I am in a small place with no expert bike mechanic, I guess.

I carry so many safety gear, but don't carry gear cassette opening tool.

try flushing as much light lube into the cassette hub as possible, even if its wd40. sounds like your pawls are jacked up. might be time for a new one.

[GirishH]

Thanks, @Painkiller. The village mechanic flushed cassette hub with petrol, and the wheel started moving—but then it began locking in both directions. So, he suggested I take the bike to the nearest city, Pokhara. Since it's the second-largest city in Nepal and the gateway to the Himalayas, lot more MTB cycle shops here.

I was convinced to take a bus instead of walking the bike this 110km, as I’d originally planned. I have avoided putting bike on bus or such for fearing of things breaking.    

The mechanic in Pokhara was next level. Looking at his small shop ( and only ONE Google review) I had my doubts and even considered going to the big-name bike shop next door. But he knew exactly what he was doing. Seems like he's done this a lot.

He disassembled the gear hub and found that the tiny wire spring holding the pawls had broken.    

He tried springs from Giant and Trek hubs, but they didn’t fit my off-brand setup. So, he jerry-rigged one using a wire ring from a keychain—trimming it until it fit the groove where the spring sits and holds the pawls in place.
(Part 14 in the attached image)
   

It’s a temporary fix, but it’s working so far. After testing it for a few days here in Pokhara, I plan to ride to Kathmandu and try to find a proper hub for Mister Gordo.

(08-04-2025, 05:15 PM)Painkiller Wrote:  

(08-04-2025, 11:51 AM)GirishH Wrote:  Dear BikeRide experts,

Please help me. I had just finished 10 or so miles of my 26 miles with 3500 feet elevation gain I had for the day. Suddenly, I felt very free and realized that pedals were spinning but rear wheel was not.

I was forced to push MisterGordo for the reminder and I might be forced to alter plans since I am in a small place with no expert bike mechanic, I guess.

I carry so many safety gear, but don't carry gear cassette opening tool.

try flushing as much light lube into the cassette hub as possible, even if its wd40. sounds like your pawls are jacked up. might be time for a new one.

[Flowrider]

The challenges of your ride! How'd you get on? Sorted?

[GirishH]

The latest update:

In Pokhra, Nepal’s second-largest city a mechanic jerry-rigged a spring for my bike free hub using a keychain ring. After a few days of waiting to hear back from big bike stores and distributors, I decided to join a local mountain bike ride. Nepalis love off-road downhill cycling and they’re good at it.

Anyways, after that ride, I chose to continue my Annapurna Circuit ride/push. I figured the group ride had been the perfect test to see if the jerry-rigged part would hold—or if any other parts of the bike would fail.

So, I started for Annapurna Circuit and thus far have covered some 100 from Pokhra.
   

The real challenge has been the mud—sometimes 6–8 inches of wet, red slush that swallowed my 4-inch tires all the way to the rim.
   

Then my brakes started creaking, which had me worried until I ran into a couple of Catalan riders. They too were cursing the road conditions, the bike conditions, and wondering how anyone could possibly cover the distance.

(08-07-2025, 09:01 PM)Flowrider Wrote:  The challenges of your ride! How'd you get on? Sorted?

[Painkiller]

wow, you da man!

[GirishH]

Frankly @Painkiller in this elevation and terrain, riding is impossible. Two Spanish riders I met two days ago, both on Giant bikes, were complaining about the same.

At this point, our bikes are basically mules—Sherpas carrying our gear.

Right now, I know most of my bike’s issues. In other words, I’m riding with known knowns… instead of unknowns… :-)

(08-13-2025, 08:43 AM)Painkiller Wrote:  wow, you da man!