The Gift of a Flat Tire

There was no stopping me. I was right on track to reach 1,000 miles for the month of February. So what that it was a short month. I had it all planned out. Just had to get in an easy 50 miles yesterday. No problem. I knew I would get home right about dark, but the 1,000 target would be mine! Or so I thought. You see, I am a bit obsessive-compulsive about mileage, being exact, etc. I have been know to ride several miles around my neighborhood at the end of a long ride just to make sure I hit my mileage goal EXACTLY! The real thrill is going in the house and recording all the data in my journal - mileage, time, average mph, average HR, etc.

Then...the flat tire. Not so bad, but my fingers were ice cold and I had a pump that I had never used, and just could not get the doggone thing to work. I swear it was a faulty product, not the operator. Once I gave up on that "worthless" thing that my friend Dave gave to save weight and space on my bike, I limped to a bike shop about a mile away.

The guys at Bicycle Planet were great. They loaned me a pump, dried my tears, gave me some hot cocoa. OK, they loaned me the pump. I began to fill my tire, and of course blew the tube apart because the tire wasn't sealed as my vision is horrendous, especially after being out in the cold of night (I should write mysery novels). Yep, sounded like a drive by shootind, so everyone in the store took cover. Now what? They gave me a tube and got me on the road.

Needless to say, I did not make the 1,000 mark. Got to 993. 1793 miles for 07. Going for 1200 in March.

I plan to carry a floor pump and 7 tubes with me from now on...

By the way, the guys at the bike shop said that the pump I was carrying was a "really good one." Now I can thank Dave for giving it to me, but still blame him for not showing me how to use it. Knowing Dave, he really didn't know either, which I suspect is why he gave to me in the first place.

And to think I am going to ride my bike across the country! It could a long trip.

Keep at it.