Out on my own...

Today was a big day, out on my own, no team, 60 miles.  In the rainy mess....

I really wanted to succeed.  I fell a short of my goal...Big sigh.  10 miles in I got a flat.  If you recall, I had no hand in changing the previous flat, so it was a huge sinking feeling in my chest...

I parked the bike on the edge of a very nice lady's lawn and pulled out all of the gear, spoons, tube, pump.  Looked at my tire, of course it was the rear one again and said you can do this kid, you paid very close attention last time...

so here is how it went...

1.  Note the gear you are in: 4th - check.
2.  Unscrew your tire and pull it down and away from the derailer: check
3.  Place bike on the ground gears up: check.
4.  Take evil tire and get the tire spoon in between the rim and the tire itself:  not so much of a check on this one..but even though it took ten minutes..made it happen.
5.  Connect correctly inserted spoon to spoke: check
6.  Insert the pulling edge of other tire spoon into the space created by the existing spoon and pull around the wheel:  not so much....this is how that went if it was it's own entry...6.  Try really really hard to insert the tire spoon into the space.  so hard you snap the plastic piece off.  flip the spoon around, try with the flat end.  after 3-5 minutes decide that was a very dumb idea.  Take the spoon with the pulling end that is still intact out from the tire and swap it with the broken one.  Decide you should have done that ages ago.  manhandle tire until it comes loose:  check - moving on...
7.  Remove tube with the hole in it:  check
8.  Reinflate tube to find out if it was a pinch or a hole:  check- and btw it was a hole, in the same place as the first hole from a few weeks ago!  Make mental note to bring bike to repair shop to have tire checked out.
9.  Replace tube with the spare you brought with you: check
10.  Push the tube and the tire onto the rim:  The tube went great.  The tire was a complete and utter beotch.  My fingers still hurt, the tire was wet, the rim was slippery, I started at the wrong side.  However!  When I finally snapped it all into place witht he aid of the tire spoons I actually shouted out "YES!".  and yes, I was standing on the road by myself looking like a dummy.  oh well, who cares..not me :)
11.  Put tire back on bike, make sure to put the chain back on original gear:  Henry made this look very easy when he did it.  I knocked my chain loose from not only the rear derailer but the crank as well.  More big sighs and very dirty hands.  Yet i reigned supreme and absolutely made it happen.  So CHECK!

That took a half hour.  At that point I was soo off schedule.  I started booking it, went up past 44 into Simsbury and then proceeded to read my map wrong and miss a turn.  Big oops, kept going made my own little path around.  At mile 20 ish I was soaked, my feet were soaked and freezing cold, the wind was going crazy and it had started to rain a bit heavier.  So giving in to my major concerns of foot damage, and illness, I cut my ride short to 30 miles.  I did decide to take care of the tire check up while I was out and stopped at the cycle shop in Simsbury for 10 minutes to pick up some more tubes, replace my spoons and get the rim looked at.  It was fine, very strange.

  So I feel a bit like I failed today out on my own, but I did ride the farthest I have ever ridden alone.  I guess there is a bit of a silver lining there.    I am going to hop on the elliptical at home tonight and make my legs do some more work so that the cookie ride won't kill me this weekend.  Yay for cookies!

Praying for no rain tomorrow and Thursday!  If not spin class it will be:)