An Ode to Preparation

Yesterday was a driving day. Driving days are more and more unpleasant for me, not due to gasoline prices, but to the energy I am not using and the stamina and muscle I am not building. I can almost feel it seeping out of me, like air from a flat tire.

SPEAKING of which...

On the way to work this morning, I was setting speed records at the splits intil I heard the sound no cyclist likes to hear.

Phss, phss, phss...

I was surprised that with the volume of all the 'phss-ing' I had not yet hit rim to ground. Pulling over to inspect the tire, I was secretly hoping my mind was playing the 'Flat Fakey' game with me. The look on my face must've been something to see, for I had been stung by what looked like a very small, sharp railroad tie - one inch long, a quarter inch wide and thick.

I had no patch kit (other bike has this), no tire levers (other bike), no cell phone, and no money (other bike, other bike). It took me 20-25 minutes, a few naughty words under my breath, and some dirty, sore hands to remind myself...

Get two sets of everything and flats won't be that much of a hassle.

Except bikes. As you can see, two bikes can be hazardous. Thank God I at least had the right size tube.