Everything's Alright Until It Isn't (MTB Part 13)

... just mentioned a few week back assorted "field fix's" of the past... so last weekend it was just like old times while peddling a favorite trail loop with 'brother Howie'... cold with a bit of snow and for the second trip in a row wound up accidentally jamming the rear derailleur with a downed tree branch - first time was able to bend the derailleur back into place and readjust - also was necessary to pry the broken plastic dust shield temporarily back into place - usually remove that useless part - cut it off using a 'Dremel Tool' and cut-off wheel a bit later in the week... bought the bike new a few years back and never got around to making the usual "off road modifications" (other than some better knobby tires) as the plan was to stick to only "easy old fart riding"...

... this time, however, snapped the derailleur off completely right at the mounting bolt - we're sure it was additionally weakened by bending back in place during the prior accident... wasn't the first time we encountered this problem...

... yep - it's busted... luckily we has just finished the last of the difficult riding and had only about a mile of upgrade with a few short hills followed by three miles of fast downhill to go...

... managed to shorten the chain as usual to ride single speed to make it "out of the woods"... 

... 14:22 (~ 0.64) gear ratio... not gonna' do much hill climbing without probably bustin' the chain, but you could ride the entire 'Yough River Trail' in this configuration to get ya' back to the vehicle... 

... beats pushin'...