Pics from todays ride and a lesson in humility

j williams

j williams

Joined
Nov 14, 2005
Messages
11,135
I awoke early this AM. Around 0530. I was stoked to get to go ride on of my favorite local spots with a buddy of mine, and to try out my new Camelback Chaos.

Well we loaded up the bikes, and gear and took off. We arrived at the park a while later and set out on the trail. This is a rolling 15mi loop of awesome singletrack, and gorgeous scenery. I was having a blast! Probably too much fun as I was getting pretty crazy on my bike.

Well, I always make sure and bring the neccesities on a bike ride. Bug dope, spare tube, multi tool, pump, tire levers, patch kit, Knife, food and water. Plus the PSK and a small FAK.

I set out today with no spare tube. :o Ive always had good luck and only a handfull of times in 20 years needed a tube. I had my new pack, and all items except patches and tube. Partially because I didnt have a spare for this size of new tires on my bike. Stupid. Never again. I pinch flated 8mi out on the trail.:grumpy:

My buddy I was rollin with was laughin his ass off at me. He rides a 29er so no way would his spare tube work. Too narrow, too big. I learned a lesson in humility as I watched him take off down the trail while I began to push my steed the 7miles back to the world. I was thinking, what if I had set off on an evening ride? Did I have the gear to pull an overnighter? Well, yes I did. I knew I would be ok in that situation. Lucky for me, I know this park, and I had ALOT of daylight left. Plenty of time to make it out. I started thinking along that walk of shame about Les Stroud, and the episode of Survivorman where he canabilizes the bike for items to use in his situation. Did I have the guts to chop up my 1500.00 steed? I am glad I didnt have to awnser that. You see, I look at my bike as a part of me. Lots of hours building, maintaining and riding her. Tweaking everything to make it "just right". All the time researching and choosing every part right down to the brake cables to make it just the way I want it. I might have a problem, but so what. Its just me.

Well, I learned that even with all the experiance, and fancy gadgets on my bike, it is a ticket to human powered bliss, that a 6.00 tube will turn it into a piece of rolling steel that can be a PITA to manuver by pushing it.. So, I will never get that cocky again. I will always make sure I have EVERYTHING I need to have a great ride.

Heres some pics for you guys....

My bike at her happiest, muddy and being rode hard. ;) Also my camelback Chaos. A great pack. I love it!
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The ride ender. :grumpy:
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Knife in tree pic!
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My riding partner today. He was laughing his ass of at me and my plight, but I told him to be carefull, the mountain bike gods are a fickle bitch. ;)
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That's a crappy way to take a 7 mile hike. :)

I've never had to do it myself but I've heard that, in a pinch (har har), you can stuff the tire with grass or leaves. It should make it rideable if not enjoyable.

I really want to get a Surly frame one of these days. The Trek I have is much too small for me.
 
You aint jokin! Singletrack, bordered on both sides by a crapload of Poison Ivy. Not a hiking trail at all. Pretty rough terrain on foot. Plus it was humid as hell. Not bad riding, but walking and pushing, I was drenched by the end. :rolleyes:

Dude Surlys are badass. I love mine. Best hardtail Ive ever rode. Steel is real! Full rigid, and 1 gear. Dont get more primal then that. :cool:

Im a hard headed SOB though, were heading back tommarow to do the ride right. ;):thumbup:
 
aaaahhhh... what a bummer Jake.... :o that sucks man... i have been there many times.... now i don't go anywhere on my bike, without a spare tube, patch kit and a pump...:)

don't worry, you're bike still looks bad a$$ even with a flat.....:D
 
Right on Mike...Thanks bro, it is a badass steed isnt it? :D

My buddy just called me, and said when he got his bike off the rack, it had a flat!! Hahahahaha, at least he didnt have to push his bike as far!
 
Sucks about the flat, bro. That will teach you never to do that again, though :D
 
Great post J. Sorry 'bout your luck.

Is that a RedLine your buddy has? I didn't know they were still in business. I had a couple back in my BMX 20" days. CroMo frames and bars but tough as nails. :thumbup:
 
Yes it is man, his is a Redline monocog. Factory singlespeed 29er. Damn nice bike. A great value fo sho! They only run around 450. They used to be alot cheaper, but have went up in the past few years. They also usd to make a Singlespeed monocog with 26in wheels, but no more. They are pretty rare. Redline is very much in busseness. They make road bikes, mountain bikes, cross bikes and of course, BMX....
 
Great post indeed Jake :thumbup: Although pushing it back 7 miles sucks, it's good to have these reminders now and again...keeps one from getting complacent :thumbup:.
 
I have a lot of obese patients that would love to be able to walk 7 Blocks--much less push a bike 7 miles.

Consider it a test of will and physical ability--which you passed BIG TIME.

Going to show my patients this--in the attempt to motivate them to exercise HARDER.

Rock On Bro

Dr.Bill
 
I read somewhere many moons ago that you can take a dollar bill and slide it into the tire where the puncture is and it will keep the tube aired up for awhile. Don't remember the source and have never tried it to see if it would actually work????
 
Nice Surly, but where's the Hardrock?!

I've been tempted to pick up a Crosscheck for a city ride for a while now. I want to try a steel frame.
 
Surlys are awesome winter bikes.

I hate to tell you this, but you can actually get a 700cc tube to fit in a 26 inch tire. you have to make a bunch of small folds in it. There's a rather high risk of pinch flatting it though.
 
Snow said:
Nice Surly, but where's the Hardrock?!

I've been tempted to pick up a Crosscheck for a city ride for a while now. I want to try a steel frame.
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I sold the Hardrock to a guy in Topeka who is in the Earthridrs club with me...

Dude I have a vintage steel motobecane roadbike I flipped into singlespeed, you need to check it out!!
 
Katdaddy said:
I read somewhere many moons ago that you can take a dollar bill and slide it into the tire where the puncture is and it will keep the tube aired up for awhile. Don't remember the source and have never tried it to see if it would actually work????
Click to expand...

Hmmm....Thats interesting. Im gonna have to remember that!

Munky88 said:
Surlys are awesome winter bikes.

I hate to tell you this, but you can actually get a 700cc tube to fit in a 26 inch tire. you have to make a bunch of small folds in it. There's a rather high risk of pinch flatting it though.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Ive heard that too....I didnt try because my tires are waay wider then his, and with making it fit I didnt want to buy him a new tube, plus 2 for me.....:o
 
WILLIAM.M said:
I have a lot of obese patients that would love to be able to walk 7 Blocks--much less push a bike 7 miles.

Consider it a test of will and physical ability--which you passed BIG TIME.

Going to show my patients this--in the attempt to motivate them to exercise HARDER.

Rock On Bro

Dr.Bill
Click to expand...

Thanks Dr Bill!!
 
Look at it this way Jake, you got some cross training in. ;)

j williams said:
Ive always had good luck and only a handfull of times in 20 years needed a tube.[/IMG]
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You're pretty lucky if you can say that. I always carry at least one tube, a pump and a patch kit and it's saved me more times than I can count. I've had flat tires in the yard....&^%(# goatheads are everywhere. I remember a road ride where my new stupid light (and expensive) latex tube split along the seam.


Katdaddy said:
I read somewhere many moons ago that you can take a dollar bill and slide it into the tire where the puncture is and it will keep the tube aired up for awhile. Don't remember the source and have never tried it to see if it would actually work????
Click to expand...

I can't see how that would work. Maybe what you read was about using a dollar bill as a tire boot where there's a cut in the sidewall to keep the tube from poking through.
 
BlackHills said:
Look at it this way Jake, you got some cross training in. ;)



You're pretty lucky if you can say that. I always carry at least one tube, a pump and a patch kit and it's saved me more times than I can count. I've had flat tires in the yard....&^%(# goatheads are everywhere. I remember a road ride where my new stupid light (and expensive) latex tube split along the seam.




I can't see how that would work. Maybe what you read was about using a dollar bill as a tire boot where there's a cut in the sidewall to keep the tube from poking through.
Click to expand...

Ha! Thanks man!

Yeah, Ive reallynever had too bad of luck with flats. I usually carry a spare, just was lazy and didnt stop this am to buy a spare. I was to ansy to get out and ride.:o

I had a pump though! I wanted to whack myself silly with it!!! Nah, seriously, it wasnt too bad, just makes ya think...
 
j williams, you had a bad luck and sorry for unexpected hike.
But front flat tire is much worse than rear that I think you had relatively good luck.
Maybe there could be a case of serious crash and breakage of some bones (which happened to me
some years ago :( ).
 
I had an old school Motobecane until it got stolen. :(

I didn't know you were in Earthriders. :thumbsup I am too.

I just won an old school Rockhopper steel frame on ebay.
 
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