It felt like I ran over a one to two inch rock while going around a 70mph turn on the highway. I thought, “huh, I didn’t even see anything in the road.” It made me worry that I had spaced out for a second. But then I felt it again. That’s when I new something was up. I glanced back through my mirrors and also turned around a bit and noticed that my tail bag was showing it’s black material, no longer covered by my hi-viz yellow rain cover.

For a year now I have been using this CamelBak rain cover to cover my tail bag that I have semi-permanently mounted on my pillion seat. It’s worked out great. It keeps my bag and its contents dry and it provides a extra splash of color to aid in other drivers seeing me. It also rolls up nice and small if I don’t need it.

I guess I hadn’t put it on tight enough because the wind proved to be too much for it on my ride to work in the 40 degree weather. It had come off and got caught in my chain and quickly disintegrated with the exception of the elastic velcro closure. I got off on the next exit and inspected the damage. The elastic piece was stuck in my chain and there were bright yellow remnants in my rear wheel. I removed what I could see, rolled the bike forward to see the rest of the chain and after determining it was all clear, got back on the highway and headed to work.

Just a very minor mishap but a good reminder to be sure and secure all luggage and other accessories. The same day I ordered a replacement rain cover because it works well, it’s bright, and it’s only $10.