My Bicycle Musings

Did a Dam Ride today. Nice and sunny, started out a little chilly but warmed up as I progressed.

Saw a silly (motor)cyclist try to make a right-hand turn on the INSIDE of a truck that was also turning right, all in a right-hand turn lane. Idiot.

Picked up a big wire-type staple (not a Romex-type) somewhere and so had a flat when I got to the bottom of the Jackson Drive hill. I thought I had the hole pinpointed, as there was, afterall, a staple sticking out of the tire. I chalked it, and cleverly only pulled that small portion of the tube out. So I didn't have to take off the wheel, you see. So I found the hole (remember that), and then discovered I only had two big patches in the Rema kit, none of the little ones. Whoopsie! So I used one of the big ones, not even a Rema, some grosser thickish looking one. Then I put everything back and pump up the tire.

I definitely need a new pump, the Zefal HPx is getting real hard to push!

And it went flat in a few minutes.

So I took the wheel off and popped the tube out. Pumped it, found a hole very near where the new patch was. So either there were two holes, or I patched a blemish mark in the tube. Huh.

I patched the tube with my remaining patch, pumped up the tire (again!), and headed on my way up the hill. Which went well.

I also have a spare tube. I just wanted to mention that.

I went around the lake, and headed home.

Going up the Baltimore grade two girls in a blue car pulled up to me and squealed in what I can only assume was some amazement at my athletic prowess. I guess. It made me very angry, I really hate it when people do stuff like that. I could tell you a story about four teenage boys...but I digress. I didn't recognize these chicks (like I can see anything, anyway!). I fantazed about catching them at the light and spraying them with my water bottle to cool them off. But the light changed. Another of life's little opportunities to make an ass of one's self lost.

I forgotted to mention, out in Santee they have cleared all the vegetation from the bike path/river area. I had the good fortune to stop and talk to a fellow who was taking pictures. He turned out to be the project manager. He told me what they were doing, and that there would be a new bike path too. "So you don't have to ride on the road", he said. Well, that's very nice, and I am happy to see the project. It will certainly clean up the area, and provide better flood control too. It was certainly nice of him to take the time to tell me about the project, even though I probably came off with a little 'tude at first, you KNOW how I am!