All I Want For Christmas
is to stop getting flat tires!
Brisk decided to organize "bike training camp" for the week many of us are taking off between Christmas and New Years. He sent out the invite to all of us but Cyclist and I were the only two who responded.
Today was the first ride. A short 25 mile jaunt around Lake Sammamish. He planned on it taking a little under 2 hours. A fair assessment, I believe(d). Cyclist bailed at the last minute so it was just Brisk and I for a soggy ride. We met up and got suited up, and just as we were nearly ready to leave Brisk discovered he had lost his car key. We combed through his car—3 times. We looked in places it couldn't possibly have fallen and discovered things we shouldn't have had to discover (ok, really just a butter knife under the driver's seat). We checked all his pockets and under the car twice. Finally, as I stood from checking the passenger's seat I saw the key sitting calmly on the top of his car, tucked neatly next to the roof rack on the driver's side. We laughed, finished gearing up, and, 35 minutes after arriving, headed out.
Not far out I got a flat tire. We pulled off to the side of the road so I could change it. Brisk stood there watching me struggle with it and finally took pity on me and took the tire off the wheel (let me pause at this point to let you know: I'm never getting a wire beaded tire ever again. They're a pain in the butt to get on and off). He did, however, make me pump the thing. As it turns out, I really dislike my new bike pump. And, the whole while he stood there smiling at me, enjoying my 'pain.'
Once back on the road we continued to enjoy our soggy soggy ride. In truth, after a while you don't even notice the rain anymore.
And, then, nearly 10 miles from the end of our ride I got another flat. This one on the other wheel. I didn't have a tube, and Cyclist was meeting us for lunch, so time was of the essence. I told Brisk to just go get his car and pick me up, since we really didn't have any other options. He left me with his tube and off he went.
15 minutes later (I've had to change that particular tire before so it's a little easier to get off the wheel) I was back on the road. At some point in his back tracking we missed each other, so he turned around and headed back towards me. Once again, we missed each other. But, this time just barely. He made it back to the Park and Ride minutes before I did.
I changed into dry clothes and 2 hours later than originally planned we were eating Christmas Eve Chinese food.
For the record, Brisk and I inhaled our portions.
And, after wards I immediately bought three new tubes (one for Brisk) and a CO2 pump. I'm tired of the hand thing. Harumph.
Brisk decided to organize "bike training camp" for the week many of us are taking off between Christmas and New Years. He sent out the invite to all of us but Cyclist and I were the only two who responded.
Today was the first ride. A short 25 mile jaunt around Lake Sammamish. He planned on it taking a little under 2 hours. A fair assessment, I believe(d). Cyclist bailed at the last minute so it was just Brisk and I for a soggy ride. We met up and got suited up, and just as we were nearly ready to leave Brisk discovered he had lost his car key. We combed through his car—3 times. We looked in places it couldn't possibly have fallen and discovered things we shouldn't have had to discover (ok, really just a butter knife under the driver's seat). We checked all his pockets and under the car twice. Finally, as I stood from checking the passenger's seat I saw the key sitting calmly on the top of his car, tucked neatly next to the roof rack on the driver's side. We laughed, finished gearing up, and, 35 minutes after arriving, headed out.
Not far out I got a flat tire. We pulled off to the side of the road so I could change it. Brisk stood there watching me struggle with it and finally took pity on me and took the tire off the wheel (let me pause at this point to let you know: I'm never getting a wire beaded tire ever again. They're a pain in the butt to get on and off). He did, however, make me pump the thing. As it turns out, I really dislike my new bike pump. And, the whole while he stood there smiling at me, enjoying my 'pain.'
Once back on the road we continued to enjoy our soggy soggy ride. In truth, after a while you don't even notice the rain anymore.
And, then, nearly 10 miles from the end of our ride I got another flat. This one on the other wheel. I didn't have a tube, and Cyclist was meeting us for lunch, so time was of the essence. I told Brisk to just go get his car and pick me up, since we really didn't have any other options. He left me with his tube and off he went.
15 minutes later (I've had to change that particular tire before so it's a little easier to get off the wheel) I was back on the road. At some point in his back tracking we missed each other, so he turned around and headed back towards me. Once again, we missed each other. But, this time just barely. He made it back to the Park and Ride minutes before I did.
I changed into dry clothes and 2 hours later than originally planned we were eating Christmas Eve Chinese food.
For the record, Brisk and I inhaled our portions.
And, after wards I immediately bought three new tubes (one for Brisk) and a CO2 pump. I'm tired of the hand thing. Harumph.
posted by granola girl at 8:43 am
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