Friday, July 4, 2014

A July Ride

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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