No Knuckleheads
The No Knuckleheads bike ride today was a blast and a half. Or perhaps I should say "I wasn't boring" to explain it? We rode 65miles.
The ride leader Dale chose our route via Google satelite mapping and promised "no dirt" and a possible climb. This was not accurate. There was dirt. About 1.5 miles of it. There were flats, as in tires, there were short, tough climbs, sprints and pacelines and everything a girl could ask for. The pace was just hard enough to be working, but not so hard that I wanted to quit.
I did have a flat tire and was surrounded by men determined to help fix it. I can change a tire. I pulled out the glass, while the boys watched avidly, got it off the rim and pulled out the tube and.... they grabbed the wheel and started searching for the hole the glass had created. They were searching for quite some time, determined to put a patch in there for me so I'd not have another flat while exclaiming "but, that hole was huge!" in disbelief at not finding it. Well, my back tire has kevlar siding, and that puncture hole just closed back in pretty as you please. A larger cut and it would have needed a patch I'm sure, but as it worked out, it was all good. Still, it as a good ten minutes before we could get the tube in. They let me do that part, but cheerfully took my wheel from me again to reseat the tire's bead and pump air in it.
I'm not so stupid as to tell a bunch of good looking men they aren't allowed to help me when their southern brains see "damsel in distress." Helping makes them happy. Its a small price I pay. Heh.
So, for a maiden voyage with my new "pack" in the Velo, I'd say it was a pretty good day. I can see riding with these guys will provide me with challenge and improve my speed, strength and skills over time.
So, 65 miles... I think it was a relaxed 17-18mph average with rolling hills and despite the promises, some dirt.
**There, now there should be comments allowed.
The ride leader Dale chose our route via Google satelite mapping and promised "no dirt" and a possible climb. This was not accurate. There was dirt. About 1.5 miles of it. There were flats, as in tires, there were short, tough climbs, sprints and pacelines and everything a girl could ask for. The pace was just hard enough to be working, but not so hard that I wanted to quit.
I did have a flat tire and was surrounded by men determined to help fix it. I can change a tire. I pulled out the glass, while the boys watched avidly, got it off the rim and pulled out the tube and.... they grabbed the wheel and started searching for the hole the glass had created. They were searching for quite some time, determined to put a patch in there for me so I'd not have another flat while exclaiming "but, that hole was huge!" in disbelief at not finding it. Well, my back tire has kevlar siding, and that puncture hole just closed back in pretty as you please. A larger cut and it would have needed a patch I'm sure, but as it worked out, it was all good. Still, it as a good ten minutes before we could get the tube in. They let me do that part, but cheerfully took my wheel from me again to reseat the tire's bead and pump air in it.
I'm not so stupid as to tell a bunch of good looking men they aren't allowed to help me when their southern brains see "damsel in distress." Helping makes them happy. Its a small price I pay. Heh.
So, for a maiden voyage with my new "pack" in the Velo, I'd say it was a pretty good day. I can see riding with these guys will provide me with challenge and improve my speed, strength and skills over time.
So, 65 miles... I think it was a relaxed 17-18mph average with rolling hills and despite the promises, some dirt.
**There, now there should be comments allowed.
posted by WarKitty at
5:42 PM
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