Ive been avoiding the asphalt for about two months now.
One reason being that I blew up my front wheel a while ago.
Another is that Ive fallen back in love with mountain biking while starting a steamy affair with cyclocross.
Yet another is that it has been tooooooo funking hot.
While im still having relationship issues with my three ladies, my wheel is fixed, and it is now feeling a little nicer, not cooler, but nicer outside.
I tried to meet up with some mojos for a all single speed ride.
I entered Zilker and was going to ride to an access point 30 min (at cyclebum speed) into the belt.
Ten minutes into the trail, I knew I had a slow leak. I figured since I had slime, a few pumps and all would be good.
I ended up having to pump up like 4 or 5 times and missed the ride.
At that point, I figured I would just patch that thing and enjoy my solo ride.
Well, my whole tire/tube was slimed up, and it was a bitch getting the slime clean and out of the way.
Also, it is hard to get stuff clean when all of your clothes are soaked with sweat.
The glue wasn't behaving normally, and I ended up wasting a patch.
Then, my pump fails.
The rubber insert that creates the seal, tore.
Now I had no pump.
FUCK.
I was stranded near Specs.
Time to do what every bike commuter and "Ride to the Ride" proponent hates, call to be picked up.
A friend was nice enough to pick me up, and I returned the favor with six Dogfish heads and some tasty looking bread sticks from specs.
Lessons learned:
1. Slimed tubes are a pain to patch in practical MTB situations.
2. I should have taken my trusty Lezyne pump. I didn't, because I could not find it in the rush I was in.
3. Organize my bike shit better
4. Always have a spare tube.
The Lezyne pump does not use a traditional pump head, but uses a flexible hose (stored in the body) with a screw on head that features a reliable and easily replaceable o-ring.
The flexible hose prevents valve/stem failures, a big plus.
Topeak makes some too, and should be easier to find than the Lezyne.
Saturday I missed a morning MTB ride, so I punished myself with 1000 ft. of climbing.
I found this road near my place with a short, but somewhat steep, two-tiered climb.
I also found out that it has 100 ft of elevation to it.
Saturday I decided to start doing some work on it. I figured 1000 ft is a good round number, and not too crazy of a work out. I went up and down it 10 times in somewhere around 40 something minutes. I'm gonna start keep track to see if there is any progress. I'm thinking my might just make it an hr workout and see how many accents I can make in that time.
When I was done with that foolishness, it was time for the 512 one year party.
Man, it was a long wait. About an hr and 20. It was sooooo worth it.
Got home around 6 ish and felt like riding.
I text a friend: "Greenbelt at 7:45?" He says: "You Crazy? After all that beer?" I say: "No, Yes. Don't worry, Ill be wearing my DC socks"
It turned out to be a solo run. Much fun. I jumped on the tail of some racers on my way out.
Sunday I also didn't wake earlier enough for a group ride, but the heat was down considerably so I went out around noon. I was going to do the belt again with a friend, but my chain had other ideas.
This was the first real mechanical Ive had on the SS, so no biggie.
Im a lifestyle cyclist. Im a commuter, MTB'r, Roadie, CX'r, wrench, and occasional drunk cyclist. I ride bikes with a mix of modern engineering, classic style and functionality. My turn offs include unjustifiable carbon, integrated headsets,trying too hard, "gravity" cycling, form over function, beer can frames, crap beer, et cetera.