The bike gods are against me | That Alex Guy

June 1, 2026 I started cycling about 3 years ago. We were eating at a Pho restaurant and decided to stop in to the bike shop next door. One thing led to another and I walked out with a Vaast A/1 gravel bike a few weeks later. I put over 2,000 miles on the gravel bike that year. It would have been more if not for the Vaast R/1 road bike that I got late that summer. Both of these bikes were made possible thanks to good old fashioned bartering. I did website work for the bike shop owner, he supplied me with bikes and gear. My first year of cycling I put in a tad under 8,000 miles. My second year I started even stronger, but mechanical issues on my road bike put me out of commission. I went through 2 sets of spokes and eventually new wheels, not a cheap endeavor. I was relegated to the gravel bike for a majority of the year, which was demotivating. This year is shaking out to be even worse. I’m having mechanical issues again with the road bike. A poor design decision means the seat post…