Sunny & Flat

Rode up to the library to drop off a couple of books, then headed out on the basic wandering noodle I've been doing all the holiday.

Got a slow leak on the front tire over near Grossmont College. Stopped at the beginning of the bike path to fix it. A nice, warm, place to stop. Several people walking by stopped to talk and commiserate for a minute. One fellow, an older gentlemen, told me about all the flats he has had over the years. He said he doesn't even repair tube any more, just tosses them. He said he was riding a triathlon one time and got a flat on a tubular, and just rode it to the finish. Not that he would recommend doing that!

I was going to pop in a replacement tube, following the advice of Jobst Brandt who said not to ride on a freshly-patched tube. I found I HAD no spare tubes. What the heck? I THOUGHT it was my practice to ALWAYS carry AT LEAST two tubes! Well!

So I patched the sucker, and it held. I shall have to replace the tire, as it has a couple of gashes in it. Too bad, it still has some tread, unlike some OTHER bike's tire that I could mention...

Did I mention, at first, the trusty Zefal HPx wouldn't pump into the tube. I finally figured out that while the little rubber gaskety thing turned to the big hole (for Schraeder valves) was facing out, the last time I fooled with it I had forgotten to turn the little plastic thing so the Schraeder valve pusher thingie was facing out. Turned it around. Works better that way!

Picked up the size Large gel shorts from Steve the L., and headed home. He also told me the Schwinn 70th Anniversary Paramount is crafted from stainless steel tubes. I said I didn't think so. He said he thought so. I looked on their website again, and he is correct. Stainless steel, who'da thunkit? We also discussed price. He thought one could buy a motorcycle for the cost of one of these puppies, and he mentioned Ducati by name. Well, I find you can pick up a new Ducati for around $16,000. The Schwinn will go for around $7,000. So he is INCORRECT there!

Today's ride was 15.12 miles in 1 hour, 18 minutes, and 30 seconds.

14.38 miles -15.12 = -.74 miles till my goal of 3,000 miles for the year.

Oh, that means I've reached my goal! If the arithmetic is correct...