Here is some reading material.
After my annual week off the bike for spring break I was itching for some chamois time, well perhaps more so because this time it was almost two weeks. Anyway, yesterday I had an awesome inaugural ride out to and island of the coast here in La Rochelle. It was just 50 miles but it was quality. I have made every ride quality over quantity because I fly solo on every mission here, no training partners lets you go at your own hammer pace all day long.
Sunday's ride was a rough one. I went out planning on about an hour and a half with 30-40 minutes of sustained efforts, but I didn't bring food because of the short amount of time. Perhaps I should have after playing and hour and a half of soccer just before. Just over an hour into the ride I was making my way back in the direction of home on a loop and prepared for the wicked cross-wind I had coming. I pass the spot where I flatted a few weeks ago and felt releif to be in the clear. However that didn't last long when I heard the dreaded sound...psssst. I had all the goodies to fix the flat rear tire but my Co2 canister failed and I was screwed. After having my thumb up for just a minute a lady pulled over but didn't have room for me and my bike. She offered me her phone but I don't have a single person to call in La Rochelle that has a cell phone, much less a car, mucher less an idea of how to get to me. After another 20 cars passed me up I put in both headphones and went for the long haul.
I was holding a snail pace of 11-14 mph with a 30 mph cross-wind blowing me around, try controlling a bike with a flat tire in those conditions, and the fact the road slants off to the ditch below. After an hour of riding and holding about 235 watts all I wanted was a baguette to bring home for dinner. Then I remembered no one is open on Sundays in France. Finally I pass a gas station and believe it or not they had fresh bread! I bought the larger of the two baugettes, 250 grams, and shoved it in my jersey pocket. I then demolished a Mars Bar (Brendan that one is for you) and finished the trek home. I ended up riding just over 12 miles on the flat tire down the highway.
Just before I got home I realized something. Just last week when I couldn't ride because of all the traveling I would have paid good money for the chance to ride 12 miles, be it on a proper or flat tire. I got in a better workout physically and mentally today than I would have otherwise and tomorrow I'll do it again, this time with a pump, not Co2.
Sunday's ride was a rough one. I went out planning on about an hour and a half with 30-40 minutes of sustained efforts, but I didn't bring food because of the short amount of time. Perhaps I should have after playing and hour and a half of soccer just before. Just over an hour into the ride I was making my way back in the direction of home on a loop and prepared for the wicked cross-wind I had coming. I pass the spot where I flatted a few weeks ago and felt releif to be in the clear. However that didn't last long when I heard the dreaded sound...psssst. I had all the goodies to fix the flat rear tire but my Co2 canister failed and I was screwed. After having my thumb up for just a minute a lady pulled over but didn't have room for me and my bike. She offered me her phone but I don't have a single person to call in La Rochelle that has a cell phone, much less a car, mucher less an idea of how to get to me. After another 20 cars passed me up I put in both headphones and went for the long haul.
I was holding a snail pace of 11-14 mph with a 30 mph cross-wind blowing me around, try controlling a bike with a flat tire in those conditions, and the fact the road slants off to the ditch below. After an hour of riding and holding about 235 watts all I wanted was a baguette to bring home for dinner. Then I remembered no one is open on Sundays in France. Finally I pass a gas station and believe it or not they had fresh bread! I bought the larger of the two baugettes, 250 grams, and shoved it in my jersey pocket. I then demolished a Mars Bar (Brendan that one is for you) and finished the trek home. I ended up riding just over 12 miles on the flat tire down the highway.
Just before I got home I realized something. Just last week when I couldn't ride because of all the traveling I would have paid good money for the chance to ride 12 miles, be it on a proper or flat tire. I got in a better workout physically and mentally today than I would have otherwise and tomorrow I'll do it again, this time with a pump, not Co2.
