In Which Six Miles Ends When Bike Repair Fails

Wire stuck in back tyre of hybrid bike.

Patch on tyre tube.

New tyre installed.

What a difference a day makes!

Despite rain in the forecast, none actually fell today, although it was cloudy, windy and much cooler than yesterday. I spent some time midday fixing the flat tyre on the hybrid bike. As it turned out, I mistakenly got the wrong tube—the hybrid bike, unlike the road bike, has the older, fatter valve, and I had gotten the right sized tube, but with the wrong valve.

So I decided to try a patch. When I looked at the tyre, there was a small wire stuck in it—so my theory that I was merely unlucky may not be so. Months after our big storm, random bits of metal are probably more common the mean streets of Cedar Rapids.

Well, I took the old tube out, and placed it in water in the kitchen sink. I found the leak fairly quickly. It was small, so I thought a patch would work. I applied said patch, reassembled the bike and aired it up. I decided to let it sit for a while as a test, and so went on a shopping errand with my wife before, about 3 p.m., pulling the hybrid bike out of the garage. The new tyre was still inflated, so I felt pretty good.

I decided to do my delayed Marion trail inspection. I had read in the local paper that the south end of a nearby trail, cut off from me by a construction project, was now paved, and I wanted to see that.

Riding towards downtown Marion on 11th Street. Rumble, rumble, rumble.

I rode through the town of Marion, stopping at the cute art alley downtown for some image making and to check the tyre, which seemed to be doing fine.

Downtown Marion. The coffee shop is closed Sunday afternoon, but I like their bike decoration out front.

Art alley in downtown Marion, this and next two images.

 

 

Then I rode down Grand Avenue to get to the trail—which was closed. So I backtracked and rode via streets to Hanna Park. The Boyson Trail was open, but very rough. While the limestone surface was dry, it was pockmarked with tyre tracks and footprints from when it was recently mushy.

I crossed Indian Creek and the trail ended where it branches to go to Menards. There was indeed new pavement, on a closed stretch of the trail. Well, the trail inspection did not end with the hoped for ride on a new surface—but it’s good to see this paving, a promise of smooth future rides. That surface will sure beat the limestone.

I made some images and then got ready to leave—but wait. The back tyre. At the end of 6 miles, it was suddenly again flat. I don’t know if it was punctured on the rough limestone surface or the rough passage proved too much for the new patch, but there you have it, a flat.

South end of trail--which is not open. They are paving it, I assume.

I hop off bike to make image of end of pavement, which I do not ride on. In this image, it appears to me that the back tyre is inflated. A few minutes later, after I shot a few more images, it was flat.

Flat back tyre at Hanna Park. I walked back there to await rescue.

I had originally planned to possibly head across town to the Grant Wood Trail, but instead called my wife again for a rescue.

So yesterday I claimed the slow pace of the ride was due to the slow bike—but today’s ride was slower. Of course, it was all in town, and in-town miles, which their frequent stops and starts, are always slower.

Then again, maybe yesterday it was the rider than the bike that was the slow one ….

Pi Day ride. Was rescued, went home and ate pie.