Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Ride that Flat Tire

On this morning's ride to work, I almost got to the Mississippi River when I hit a block of concrete in the street. It was about the same color as the street and it was dark. I guess my fantastic lights won't save me from every dumb move. I hit the rock with both wheels. When the front one struck the rock, one of my hands came off the bars. That's scary.

I circled around to move the rock from the road and by the time I made my turn, the rear wheel was flat. I kicked the rock pretty hard and it landed in a lawn under a street light. I rolled the bike over and started digging out the tire repair equipment.

I remembered I grabbed the pump from this bike to use on last weekend's ride in Wisconsin. No pump.

I've been through this before. Some lessons I never learn. This problem results from having more bikes than pumps and repair kits.

I rode the bike home (about 4 miles) with a flat rear tire. Thump, thump, thump into a stiff, cold headwind. I used lower gears than I'm used to. I decided to shower and drive my car, because I either needed to move the bag and lights to another bike or dig out another tire and repair the flat. Both options required more time that I can justify.

The rule that should come from this is that I should never remove any tools from the commuter bike for use on another bike.

I could use the tire in a pinch, but I'm in no pinch with regard to tire. I hoard tires like Imelda Marcos hoarded shoes. For all I know, she might still be hoarding shoes. I'm working on my tire hoarding affliction. I put a Kenda Kozmit Light 1.75".

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hoard tires, too. And rims. And cranks. And pedals. And everything else I'm scared is going to not be available when I need it.

Anonymous said...

I once read a story about RAAM legend Lon Haldeman wherein he got a flat rear tire during a RAAM or some other ultra-marathon ride. His wife was also riding the event, and he didn't want to get separated from her. So he stood up out of the saddle and leaned forward over the bars, riding the next 50 miles that way. Since I read that, I ride that way all the time, just for the practice.

rigtenzin said...

In a backwards place somewhere in the US, I blew a sidewall off the tire bead. I decided to hitchhike home. After some time, I gave up and decided to ride the flat. What could be the worst outcome? At worst, I'd ruin the rim. So I rode home and have done similar things a few times since.

A flat front tire is another thing.

Jackrabbit Slim said...

I still say you should have woke up the wife to come get you. Of course, I don't have a wife...yet

rigtenzin said...

You won't have one for long, if you wake her up at 5:45 a.m. to pickup your sorry butt in 30 degree weather.

Blog Archive