I think I got my first flat tire while actually riding today. Well, I know I got a flat tire. But thinking back, I don’t think I’ve ever been actually riding when I noticed one. I’d always been stopped.
That’s pretty darn good luck. I don’t ride as much as some folks I know, but for the past few years I’ve been putting in a goodly number of miles on my bikes, both in the form of tours, commutes, and exercise.
Today, I was 3.5 miles away from home when I noticed it – 10.2 miles out. I decided to ride another mile on the flat to shorten the walk I’d have to make. Not good for the tire, and I’ll have to look it over closely to see how it fared. Also possibly not great for the rim and spokes. They’ll be due a good inspection too.
Once I got up to the 2ish mile mark I started walking. Milestone intersections that sped by so quickly when I was riding seemed to take forever to arrive at.
I paused in some of the shady spots, relishing the breeze. At one point I stopped and sat down, knowing I was overheated.
It was then I realized I needed to poo. Probably a combination of eating some ice cream before I left and being overheated. I was in a purely residential area, so I started getting nervous about my situation.
I crept towards 26th Ave S & MLK (9th Street S), where there’s a little shoppette. Hallelujah, a bathroom! As I entered it, I noticed it said it was out of order. Too bad. It was an emergency. I did my business, hoping it would flush. The gods were with me. The toilet functioned perfectly.
I bought a couple of Gatorades while there and walked the final half a mile home.
I made it home. Soaked through with sweat and craving the cool, conditioned air. Now here I am.
When you’re riding, you make your own breeze. Evaporative cooling happens even if it’s pretty humid. It feels so different from walking. I don’t even normally carry water with me when I go out, because I just rehydrate when I get home. I won’t make that mistake again…
It was too damn hot for a flat tire today…
