Out of the Ordinary

A Sunday morning to myself and what could be better than a leisurely ride around the river to Fremantle Beach and back. However with the temperature set into the high 30's (Celsius), I wanted to be back early.

The first sign that it was going to be a different ride than the norm was my cycling clothes were all over the house. Why weren’t they neatly all together next to the bike?

Jersey in one room, knicks in another, put my shoes on and check the tyres.
Where’s the sunblock? Outside. Shoes off to trapes through the house.
Shoes back on and wait where is helmet and cap? Shoes back off and I go searching for these two elusives. They are always in the last place I look. J

In case I forget anything else I pump up the tyres before shoeing up.
Hmmm, pump not getting air into either tyre. I fiddle for 15 minutes and for some unknown reason the pump works fine and desired psi is achieved.

By this time a little voice in my head is saying, “You know, maybe you just don’t ride. Like, rest in bed, have breakfast, read?”

But I held true and whatever happens on the ride happens and I will cope with it. And then I checked my puncture kit, tools and credit card.

The first unusual was a forward crash into a doggy poo wheely bin. 200 metres from home I turn hard left to get onto a PSP (public shared path). On the right of the turn is said bin chained to a pole, usually half a metre from the path. However, today it was on the edge of the path and as I turned in, my right crank it cushioned into the centre of it, pushing me back. With one hand on the ground, I steadied, pushed up and kept going. I didn’t even unclip. I hope it looked elegant.

The ride over the narrows and along Mounts Bay Road was cool and picturesque. There must have been more than 20 boats of people dropping crab nets in the vane hope of catching a feed. I set a steady but low average pace and sucked in the fresh air and scenery.

Just before Fremantle came the second unusual event. What was that tick, tick ticking noise?
Something in the tyre? Stop and check both tyres. Nothing. Check the front wheel. Oh a broken spoke. Well that is the first time for 5 years. No problem, just tuck it in to get stealth mode and go and enjoy the beach. Half an hour of laying, dozing listening to the waves was quite invigorating. Next time I will bring a bike lock and go for a swim.

On the return leg I consciously remind myself to take due care and protect my wounded front wheel. Then I here that infamous tick, tick, ticking. Stop. Sure enough a second spoke gone on the front. No worries, I still have 18 doing there job. Five minutes later more ticking. Stopping I find broken spoke number three. At this rate I will run out of spokes before getting home.

Mmmmmm, taxis time or put it in the lap of the gods?.... Lap of the Gods. I still have 17 spokes out of 20 holding on. Surely with care that is still enough??? Thank goodness the new tube in the rear wheel is behaving itself.

Riding along now I have 15km from home and decide to take a few shortcuts due to the very hot temperature and front wheel. Half way along Kintail road there is suddenly two bumps from the rear and then an almighty bang!

Yep! The rear wheel tube has let go. I stop without falling off and scamper to the cool shade of the nearest tree. I find to my misfortune that the tube has split along a seam and is not salvageable.

It is at this time that I discover my bike pump will work for Schrader and not Presta valves. When did this happen? I was perplexed. I tried turning the opening around etc, but  no luck. Unusual circumstance five.

Okay I am about 1km from Canning cycle shop. The choice is to leave the split tyre in place and walk there or change the tube and walk. Not wanting to damage the spare tube I leave the old tube in and start walking to the shop. I am impressed by the way I can hold onto the top of the seat and steer and push the bike as I walk.

I go into the store and purchase an adaptor to convert from Schrader to Presta valve.
Outside I go and install the spare tube. I start pumping and in my energetic efforts the pump handle says goodbye to the pump!!

Into the shop with wheel and kindly has to use a floor pump, which I did. Thank  you Canning Cycles for your generosity.

The rest of the ride home was slow and hot and without anymore dramas, thankfully.

It was super super hot by this time and after gallons of water, a swim and lunch I felt much better and laughed and reflected on a ride to remember.