I was really proud of my epoxy shoe fix last night. Until I walked around the lobby during breakfast and the sole detached again. Then I was less proud. I was really afraid that I wouldn't be able to ride today. Then I came up with an idea to try using a small screw and mechanically tie the sole and shoe together. Rick, our crack mechanic came up with a better idea: Use a screw but insert it from the top so the pointy end of the screw didn't jab me in the foot all day.
We got the screw to work and I managed to ride away this morning thinking everything would be fine. That lasted for 7 miles until I heard "PFffftttt", every biker's favorite sound. Crap. My front tire had picked up a piece of glass. I hadn't had a flat on the road since New Mexico, so I was over due.
Joanna and I were riding together and she stopped and gave me a hand getting it fixed (no, I don't need a girl's help to fix a flat. It's just easier with two people. Sheesh) No problem, we were up and running in a few minutes.
We got a mile further down the road and I once again heard "PFffftttt". Double Crap. This time the sidewall of the tire got shredded. The tire was a total write-off. I've been carrying a spare tire for just such an occasion this entire trip. Now I look like a genius!
I got started replacing the tire when Rick came rolling along. He rides "sweep" a lot of days, making sure that no one got left behind. Today that would be us. He helped me replace the tire.
About that time the screw in my shoe popped loose. We still had 100 miles left to ride today. The sole of my shoe is flapping in the breeze once more.
I fought the urge to go kick the holy hell out of a bush.
Zack came by with the truck about this time so we flagged him down. This time Rick put in a longer screw that goes all the way through the shoe. I can't walk on it, but I can ride that way.
So we get the shoe fixed again, once again hoping that it will work. My 2nd flat is fixed and my replacement tire is installed. We ride off once more. Zach drives off in the van. Rick hangs back for awhile. We get another mile up the road.
"PFffftttt"
You've got to be kidding me. This time it was Joanna's turn. She shredded her back tire, also a total loss. She had already replaced her back tire two days ago and didn't have a spare. So we sat down by the side of the road, laughed out loud, and waited for Rick to "sweep" us for the 2nd time today. In the first 9 miles.
Rick had to call to get Zach to come back with the truck and bring us a replacement tire. By the time all the festivities were finished we'd covered 9 miles in an hour and a half. At this rate we were looking at an 18 hour day.
Fortunately that was the last of the adventures today. Once we got rolling we rode strong the rest of the day. We set our goal to ride ourselves back into the middle of the pack by the end of the day, and we managed to pull that off. Not bad after spotting the field an hour.
The ride itself wasn't terribly interesting. 108 miles. Some hills. Humidity. A fair amount of heat. And a lot of this:
If you like corn you'd love this ride. I didn't find it terribly compelling. That's why there are only 2 pictures today.
Joanna and I rode together the entire day. Riders don't typically do that. The riding groups tend to be pretty fluid during the day. The early tribulations made us a team for the day though. We pacelined the entire day and ground out the entire 108 miles by 4:00 p.m. Not bad considering the hour we lost on the road.
Today's Google Earth file: http://tomerceg.googlepages.com/SpringfieldIL.kmz
1 comment:
I may have to change your name from Joe Joe to Speedy. Nice recovery. Keep up the good work.
Only one day till rest and new shoes. Be careful of the blisters.
Ride safely and easy tomorrow Joe Joe.
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