Stalled by a flat

After my long and successful ride over the weekend, I was very excited to keep logging miles.  With several commitments on Sunday afternoon, I headed for storage in the morning to get in a little ride before my schedule could get in the way.  I was on my bike ready to push off before I noticed that my front tire was flat!  Arrggghhh!  Suddenly, my enthusiasm was as deflated as the tire.

I did my best to read the tire size in the dark of storage and retain those numbers until I got back home.  The numbers were not familiar to me even though I have been fixing flats on bikes since I was in 7th grade.  My experience was all tied to the sizing of department store bikes.  My new bike, purchased at an actual bike store, had 700x35 size tires.  I actually doubted that I had found the right series of numbers on the tires so I headed to the internet to confirm that was the size and not a model number or even a brand name.

With my ride canceled, I headed to Target for a few groceries and a new inner tube.  My hopes were dashed again when I discovered that department stores only sell department store bike sized tubes.  There were no 700x35 tubes.  The only solution offered was a $20 bottle of sealant.  I read the packaging and was encouraged to learn that the stuff would even work in car and bus tires.  I'd give it a try.

I didn't get to my repair until Monday afternoon, after work.  While I would have loved to be out riding, I knew that I was grounded until the tire was fixed so I hauled the bike up to my apartment, gathered my tools and broke the seal on my wonder goop.  Following the directions step by step, I successfully removed the cap from the valve stem!  Step 2, remove the valve core.  First question, what's a valve core?  Back to the internet for a quick Google search of "remove valve core."  My search returned a variety of consistent, clear explanations.  There was one particular explanation that I wish I had read early.  The author explained the process but noted that sealants are not really very effective and suggested that it was much easier and more effective to just replace the tube.

I pushed on successfully removing the core, pouring in the sealent and reinserting the core.  I pumped up the tire, and my enthusiasm along with it, and went for a test ride.  I rode five miles doing loops around my neighborhood before returning the bike to storage.  Yay, I had done it!

Tuesday was warm and sunny.  We had dinner plans with Jim at 6pm so I called to delay those to plans until 7pm.  I really wanted to ride.  Home from work, I dressed in my bike shorts and t-shirt, filled my Camelback, turned on my iPod and went to retrieve my bake.  At storage, I put on my helmet and gloves and mounted my bike.  Fwap, fwap...flat tire.  Damn!  The guy was right.  The sealant didn't hold.  With my head hanging, I headed towards home.  My choices were to dash to the bike store to get a tube before dinner, go home and sit in front of the tv and pout, or figure out how to save the fitness effort.  I entertained the first two options as I walked.  Then, I looked up and saw the fitness center at my complex.  I had the access key in my hand.  Just do it.

I mounted the stationery, recumbent bike and rode.  It's a lot harder to ride inside, no wind in your face to cool you, no hills to coast down.  I rode for 25 minutes and a distance the bike measured as 2.5 miles.  In the same amount of time on my bike, I would have covered twice that distance...but I wouldn't have sweat as much.  I got a good workout, elevating my heart rate and making my doctor happy.  I learned something along the way. 

When the weather is bad or the sun has set, I really don't have an excuse for not riding.  I can get my butt on one of those indoor bikes and ride.  It won't be fun.  It will be hard.  But, it will bring me closer to my goals.  I counted the 2.5 miles against my 1855.  I earned them.  And, if I logged a few more of those indoor miles each week, I will get stronger and fitter faster.

I plan to ride in the Elephant Rock Cycling event in June.  I have to decide soon whether I will ride the 34 mile or 62 mile course.  With more time on the indoor bike, the 62 mile course might not be so tough.  Today, I'll get some inner tubes and repair my tire.  I'll ride my bike today and tomorrow.  On Friday and Saturday, when it's cold and snowy, I'll get on one of those indoor bikes and I will push myself to go a little further or a little longer.  I won't like those rides but I think I'll like the results.