BONDS OF IRON OVER GEARS OF STEEL

y bike is my loyal steed, my iron horse that gets me everywhere I need to go... until it doesn’t. I thought we'd started to forge a bond in the miles out on the road especially since my current daily go to was only purchased back in January, so you’d think we would still be in the honeymoon period. I certainly did.

That changed last week when I noticed an ominous creaking echoing from the chainset. At first, I chalked it up to a few days of accumulated road grit after some particularly wet weather. But after a thorough cleaning, the noise persisted, and the mischievous road wight finally revealed itself.

One of the pedals wasn't sitting right. It was immediately clear that the screw threads had misaligned. After a massive struggle to get the pedal off for a closer look, my worst nightmare was confirmed: the pedal had completely stripped the threads away.

Then began the quest for a replacement. After hours of clicking and swiping, I found plenty of 170mm and 175mm left crank arms, but trying to find the 172.5mm I sought proved to be like hunting a ghost in a blizzard. In the end, I was left with no choice but to order a full replacement crankset and new pedals.

Beyond the unwanted expense, it means the bike is officially off the road until the components arrive and I can find the time to fit them.

Fortunately, the weekend offered a much-needed distraction. I finally had the chance to catch up with my oldest and best friend, Ian. We hadn't sat across from one another since Midwinter, and the fellowship was a welcome reminder that while machines fail, bonds of iron don't.

We parted ways with a promise not to let so much time slip by next time. After all, it didn't take much organising—just good company and a bit of perspective.

When the machine fails—and it will—we return to the hall. We find perspective in fellowship. A broken crankset is a costly offering, but it is also a reminder that our true strength lies in the bonds of friendship that do not strip or fail under pressure.

The spirit of the Urban Viking—and the occasional absurdity of navigating the modern world—lives on in my webcomic, Northman. When the gears of the world grind or the wights cause mischief, find respite in the saga.

You can read the latest chapter here: northman.kirt.me.uk

I’ll be sharing more of the journey, the mechanical battles, and the daily tactical reality of staying grounded in the modern world over on social media. Join the fellowship:

Instagram ● Threads

BlueSky ● TikTok