A July Ride
Missouri usually gives a couple of days each July that are just wonderful. The temperatures are moderate the humidity low, the winds light. Yesterday was one of those days. I took advantage of the opportunity and rode a loop north and west of my house.
I cheated, and had my wife take me to the end of the gravel road so I could take the road bike. The road district is sure proud of it's grader. They like to use it frequently. Just about the time there is a path through the gravel, they grade it all again. It is like riding on a pool table covered in marbles....I can handle it on the mountain bike, but it is a bit of a pain on the trail bike, and down right dangerous on the road bike. It is a 2 mile stretch of gravel, but after that it is a series of paved roads with light traffic and friendly people, accustom to seeing people on bikes.
It was a wonderful ride! The farmers are haying and harvesting wheat. The corn is shoulder high, and with all of the recent rains the grass is green. There is a diversity of flowers.My pictures do not do them justice, but the view as a ride are really nice.
I did break a spoke. The second on the rear wheel of the road bike. Last time was catastrophic, and the wheel was far from true, and made riding impossible. I had not put the tools into the bag to handle the situation, so I was forced to call for a ride back to my truck. When I got home I outfitted each bike with the minimum necessary tools to handle the possible problems while riding. That proved to be valuable yesterday, when I was able to true the wheel and open the brake a small amount, and make the bike ride able. I was about ten miles from home when it occurred, which would have been a long walk.
I have not been stopped very often on a ride. The most frequent problems have been flat tires, and after that broken spokes. I broke a pedal once, which made a very bizarre ride home. It broke at the crank arm, so I was forced to pedal with one leg. I rode a tour once with a man who only had one leg. He rode a lot faster than I did, so I did not ride with him, and did not observe his technique.
I broke a stem once. I was riding down a hill at some speed when I found the handlebars in my hands unconnected to the bike itself. I was able to slow and stop the bike, but was more than a little scary. Luckily I was close to home. That was over 30 years ago, when drilling out parts to "lighten" them was more common. I had obviously over "lightened" that stem....
On one tour I kept loosing the bolts that held my bag carrier to the bike. I carried extra bolts and nuts. I had even used lock-tight. Managed to loose the same bolt three times. Noticed it was always discovered in the morning as I prepped to ride. After some time I caught a man taking them. I mentioned this to the tour organizer, and it seemed like there were several people with similar issues, that suddenly stopped after the man was confronted.
I carry spare spokes, tubes, chain links, and the tools to repair if necessary. What I don't carry is a shady cool place to repair the bike, so you end up on the side of a hot road in full sun, with sweat dripping into my eyes. I see many riders without even a spare tube, or tire pump. I guess if they have a problem, they hitch a ride or call someone.
With this being the second spoke I broke in the same wheel, it is time to replace all of the spokes. I ordered some new spokes when I got home last night. Most things on a bike have gotten cheaper over the years, that is not true of spokes. They ranged in price from 55 cents to $1.55 per spoke. I know that I am heavy, but I should not have an issue with broken spokes. Wheels take a lot more abuse when ridden fast on poor surfaces. This spoke broke on a flat stretch of smooth road. I was not even making much effort at speed, just enjoying the view.
I think that I will change it to a three cross. It is currently a two cross. I use to build all of my wheels four cross, and also tied the crossings with wire. When you tour you carry a significant weight, and some of the roads I faced in north Missouri were really abusive on wheels. There is nothing like a hilly road, covered in cold patch road surface! Abusive to the wheels and to your butt....
The last time I had covered this route there had been several dogs that paid attention to me, yesterday there were almost none. I did meet a couple of other riders, which was unheard of ten years ago. It shows that it is a lot more acceptable now than years ago.
Unfortunately even this relatively short ride did a number on my legs, tells me I need to be riding more!
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