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Observation and Perspective
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| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
16.50 miles
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Time: 01:41:00
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Max Speed:
0.00 mph
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Avg Speed:
0.00 mph
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Temp:
Min: 55
Avg: 62
Max: 70
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Category: general: commute -
solo
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Route:
Commuting to and from Hilton
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Weight:
232
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Altitude Gain:
0 ft
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Avg Power: 0 W
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Calories Burned: 1,000
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Avg HR: 0 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Flat
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Bike: Dahon 32lb-Cadenza Folding
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Club: Commuter Cycling Century |
| Weather Conditions: Xtra nice conditions; SSW winds 10-15mph; |
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Distance:
16.10 miles
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Time: 01:30:00
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Max Speed:
0.00 mph
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Avg Speed:
0.00 mph
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Temp:
Min: 60
Avg: 65
Max: 70
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Category: general: commute -
solo
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Route:
Commuting to and from Hilton
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Weight:
232
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Altitude Gain:
0 ft
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Avg Power: 0 W
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Calories Burned: 1,000
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Avg HR: 0 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Flat
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Bike: Specialized 40lb-Globe 700c Hybrid
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Club: Commuter Cycling Century |
| Weather Conditions: Overcast, temperatures falling after 4PM; SW winds 10-15mph; |
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It was a fast "by my standards" ride in bound, at least until I flatted...
I was doing well on the ride this morning. The weather was perfect with 55 degrees and a 10-15mph Southerly wind.
Making excellent time, I rounded the intersection of Town Line and Route 18. The odometer speed indicator read 13mph. I had traveled a distance of 6.2 miles in about 25 minutes -near 15mph average.
Feeling a surge of adrenaline, I poured it on as I rounded the bend on "18". That's when a vibration sensation set in on the handlebars. I was rocking the bike side to side with acceleration effort. Sometimes when doing that I can feel the side wall tread pattern vibrating. It was my hint of concern which sent me into "analysis mode", thus allowing clear recall of the moment.
Concern about road debris, and worrying about getting a flat on the way to work are always in the back of my mind. A consciousness specifically about getting a flat tire and the ensuing reaction scenarios are on my mind -especially when I am having a good ride, "flying" along at a good pace.
Near the bend lies an Opossum, dead, -road kill. It has been in that spot for days -just right of the white line. I have swerved around it several times in recent days.
Feeling the "vibration", I was peering at the point of contact where my front tire meets the road surface, where "the rubber meets the road" so to speak. I could not see my front tire in the pre-dawn illumination. Apprehension was growing, coming to the full realization that something was amiss. Simultaneously, in my peripheral vision loomed the road kill. Heading directly for it. There it was mouth agape. A toothy slack-jawed, grimace of death. The Opossum carcass lie in the path of my front wheel. I swerved and made no contact with the dead creature. The swerving tactic felt ever so "Spongy. It seemed as if the front tire was losing air.
Thinking back to those moments now, in quick chronological succession, My first inkling of concern occurred before encountering the Opossum carcass...
I am pedaling furiously trying to close the distance from where I am to where I need to be (on bus 10 at work). The realization is that at 6.5 miles into the ride, I need to make another 1.5 miles...
At 7.3 miles I was flat out of air in the front tire. The rim was riding on the flattened tire. I pulled over and used my seat-post pump to try and put some air in the tire. Hoping to add a sufficient amount of air, enough to nurse the bike another .7 miles -that's all! Precious time is ticking. I can't get enough air into the tube!
Activating my cell phone, I make a call in to Paula to inform her of my situation and to request that someone "pre-trip bus 10 for me. I walked the last .7 mile to work, pushing my bike. After the morning bus driving I returned to the transportation compound and fixed the flat sitting at the picnic table behind the bus garage office.
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