'Flat' Ride

This week has been a good one. A couple of longer rides and intervals and I feel pretty good. My hamstrings are tight and feeling a bit tweaked’ nothing that a good massage and recovery can’t take care of. Yesterday (Sat., Feb. 28, 5:30 pm), I planned on going for a steady state, maybe throw a couple of sprints ‘in the mix’ kind of ride. It took a while for my body to warm up, for some reason the air felt colder then the -3°C temp.. Anyhow, I headed out for my ride and about 10 min. into the ride I realized I forgot my cell phone. No biggie, I double checked, I had my CO2 cartridge and an extra tube should I flat. 30 minutes into my ride and I was feeling some added resistance, just not feeling like I was getting anywhere. Looked down and the rear tire is flatting. Alright, I pull over to the side of the county road and put the bike up against a telephone pole at the end of a driveway. I take a look at the tire, check the valve and realize the valve had not been turned closed. I grab the air cartridge to put air in the tube and then second guessed myself and thought maybe I should just change the tube in case it isn’t just the valve then I won’t waste the air. I quickly get the tube replaced, tire back on the wheel and then I go to use the cartridge. I turn the cartridge open and nothing really came out other then liquid. No air, no phone, a flat and too far from home to walk and make it back before dark. Luckily I had flatted in front of 2 houses. I borrowed a phone to call Jay to pick me up. Within, 15 min. he came and like a true coach pulls over to the side of the road grabs the pump and an extra tube and walks toward me ready to fix the flat (he wanted me to keep riding). No prob., except I had now become too cold and I desperately needed to use the washroom. I chalked up my 30 min. ride on the calendar and called it a day. In fact I think this post is longer then my ‘flat’ ride!

Cheers,

Sue

P.S. (My oldest turned 13 on Friday, I am a mother of a teenager, YIKES)