The ride from hell....

[loveable liberal]

I started out today, it was really hot for Minnesota, probably mid 90's. I have to ride about 3 miles through residential to get out to Hwy 61. I made it to hwy 61 ok.

I'm pedaling for about 5 miles and hear the sound no one wants to hear. *ping* sssss sssssss sssssss sssssss sssssss.... fricken rear flat. I hit something that put a hole in my tire and tube about the size of a pea. Have no idea what it was.

Took out the spare tube, put it in and started pumping. Then I wondered why the stem was so loose. Fricken stem came off!

I took 4 patches and patched the old tube as best as possible, put the old tube back in and started pumping. Then my frickin pump broke!

Luckily, ran into another biker who let me use his phone to call my wife to pick me up 7 miles into a 50 mile ride on a beautiful day.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[happyslug]

1. I was on the West Penn Trail last month

And a similar incident happened to me, I started to hear a "ssss" sound. Unlike you I was near the end of my trip so I managed to get the bike to my Jeep. At that point I changed the inter-tube. As I was changing the tube I was trying to figure out how the tube sprang a leak. Than I saw the problem, my Tire had literal worn out and formed a hole in the tire. Now I use a liner with my tires so the inner tube did not spring a lead when I started my trip, but only after the liner had worn out. I should check my tires more often than I do.

[loveable liberal]

2. Agreed. My front tire is 3 years old, I've had to replace the rear..

every year. Its just a bummer that when you plan for these things to happen, and even plan for the backup plan to fail, then the backup to the backup plan fails........ its just miserable.

[Fovea]

3. What sort of wheel is this

rather, what size?

Primo Comet makes a 559 iso with kevlar that I have had a lot of luck with, and Serfas and Conti both make tires with tuffy strips built in.

They are a bit heavier, but I ride through a lot of industrial zones, and the added protection is worth it.

[loveable liberal]

5. The rear was Conti... I never have much trouble with the front wheel...

Never broken a spoke etc. I dont think even a Kevlar tire would have stopped whatever I ran over. It's just smart to replace tires ever year I guess. I love the sales at the end of the year you can get really good tires for cheap. and all the assessories.

Im all about assessorizing!

[Gregorian]

4. Aha! We both had bad luck yesterday.

I was on my mountain bike coming down a logging road, which are usually paved with big sharp rocks. And somehow I've miraculously only had a handful of flats in my close to forty years of riding. But yesterday, while flying at around 37 mph, I hit the biggie. I thought it was bad, but nothing seemed to happen, until I got on the flats. Then the mushy feeling began. Oh noes. Well, I found the leak, pulled off the tire, grabbed my electricians tape, and off I went. Or so I thought. I have tubeless tires. And reinflating was not going to happen. So much for my brilliant electrician's tape idea. So I grabbed a tube, put it in, and away I went, with ten minutes left for stage 15 coverage. I should add that as I was repairing the flat, I was slowly being digested by flies that had the ability to bite. I've never had that happen before. Ouch. Kind of heightens one's sense of humility for nature.

I love biking! I love my bike! I am so psyched- Sidi Dominators are on their way.

I've got more ranting and raving, but I'll save it for another post someday.

Yippee!