I needed to take a rest day. I have been riding for 13 straight days and was feeling it. I just wasn’t sure where to take a day off.
Today was SUPPOSED to be a ride day. It started off as one, until I went out to load up the bike and found my rear tire flat. That seemed odd but no big deal. I fixed the flat, said good bye to the Louck’s and headed out. I was going to go by a bike shop to top off my air pressure first though. The shop I went to was closed for Sunday so I went across the street to a gas station to get some food for the day’s journey. Then I noticed that my tire was flat again. WHAT? that does not seen right. I called the Louck’s and said I was going to walk back to their houses d figure out what was going on.
Once back at their house, iTools the tire off the rim and examined it. I discovered that grim tape had “squirmed” and left several of the nipple holes exposed. The inner tube had been rubbing on the sharp metal edge. I would have gotten a new flat tires about every 2 miles without fixing that problem. Riding today was now out the window.
Next was trying to resolve the rim tape problem. With the help of the entire Louck’s family we found an open bike shop in Fruita, CO. We drove over and got some new rim tape on my rear rim. Then it was back to the house to put the tire back on. About 2 hours later and enough frustration to last an entire lifetime, I could not get the tire back on without rolling the new rim tape. I have never had this problem before or have even heard of anyone having this problem. Period! So it was back to the bike shop. After their tech struggled for half an hour, he finally put a different kind of rim tape in and was able to get the tire in without rolling the tape.
So now with tire outback together I was ready to ride the next day. I think the universe was just telling me that this was the day to rest!
There was an additional benefit to the rest day. We allée t over to the Louck’s daughter Robin’s house for a BBQ. The food was terrific.
I had gotten my rest day. Whether I wanted it or not.
Here is a photo of Bob and Erma Loucks. Great hosts and friends.
Some Stats:
Miles Ridden: 2166
Crosses the Continental Divide: 6
Highest Elevation: 8428
National Parks: 5
National Monuments: 3
State Parks: 6
Flat Tires: 3
Miles on Bike paths: 105
Greg: I like to learn from others’ “experiences.” Greg C has given me a lifetime of flat tire experiences to take in and use for myself. But, I’ve gotten to the point that I always take the tire and tube off together, touching every bit of tire, tube & rim…twice. I carry a couple new tubes. No more than 2 patches/tube allowed. I avoid irons unless blood is a certainty. Then I check & check . Look up “Anal” and you’ll see me pumping up the tire. Slowly.