Popular Post Thaddeus Kosciuszko Posted September 17, 2017 Popular Post Share #1 Posted September 17, 2017 Yesterday I rode an area MS ride, a century, and didn't finish the ride. The first time that's happened in doing 34 MS rides. The day started cool, although foggy. I bent one of my cycling rules - don't ride in the fog - to start the ride. A better idea of the fog, and lead group on the century dropping me like a hot potato! The route passed through small towns, but mostly ran through farmlands. Later, the last vestiges of the fog fought a losing battle with the sun. The weather cleared nicely but the temperature climbed to 85 with high humidity. Fortunately some of the rural roads were tree-lined and that made for stretches of riding in the shade. Vly Creek, typical of many along the route. Because of work and family commitments, I'd only been on the bike three times in the past month, and it showed. The high temperature and humidity were beating me up too. About mile 73 the route started a 2-1/2 mile climb. The last few hundred feet pitched up to a 10% grade, and I got about 200 feet into and had to stop. But I didn't quit. Another rider had told me about his daughter who had MS. She'd been diagnosed several years ago. We hadn't crossed paths recently since we usually did different rides so he updated me. His daughter's MS had progressed where it had first taken her sight. Then, recently, it had affected her brain so badly she lost all contact with reality. She had to be committed to an institution. So, I caught my breath, walked about 100 feet past the worst of the grade, got back on the bike, and rode on. Later in the route going down a hill going about 30mph I banged across a set of railroad tracks at the bottom of the hill. Soon after I noticed a thump-thump-thump in the rear wheel. I checked the tire, and it had a little squiggle in the tread. I thought perhaps the casing had separated in the tire. It didn't seem to get worse, so I rode on. About mile 70 I was pulling up to a rest stop and BANG! the tire let go. There was about a 1/2" slit in the tread. So I called the SAG phone number and asked if the bike shop that was supporting the ride had a tire I could buy so I could finish the ride. I was told the shop had gone home for the day, but I could take the SAG vehicle in back to the start. And I thought No, I did not sign up for this ride to quit at mile 70. One of the rest stop volunteers said they had some duct tape. I put in a new tube, partially inflated the tire, and wrapped the tire's weak spots with duct tape. I took off the rear brake pads so I wouldn't hit the rear brakes by mistake. Then inflated the tire enough to make it ride-able. Of course, the tire thumped worse than before, and I had no rear brakes. But it was that or quit. I promised myself I'd ride as long as the tire held out, or to the end. I rode the tire like that, at times getting close to 35mph on some of the steeper downhills. It was getting to be a long day. I was hot, probably more than a little cranky, and I no longer had any patience to simper down any of the hills just because the damn tire had duct tape all over it. The duct tape held for about 25 miles when the tube blew again. It was just over 3 miles from the finish. The tire, finally, was toast. I called for the SAG wagon. I was mad. If the tire had held I would have finished. Finished late, finished slow, but I would have finished. By the time we got back to the start I'd simmered down a bit. A bunch of volunteers had stayed even though everyone else was already done with the ride and they gave me a hearty cheer as I got there. It helped me feel a bit better about the whole deal. Here's the tire The ride profile So today I'm just hanging out a bit. Mrs. TK and I will go out to lunch. I'll take the rear wheel off the bike a little later today, strip off the duct tape, and put another tire on. Then perhaps I'll look for a replacement tire made out of sterner stuff than the tires I'd been running. I suppose if nothing else the ride was memorable, and if not that then at least it was a testimony to the usefulness of duct tape! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted September 17, 2017 Share #2 Posted September 17, 2017 Strong work. I would not have thought of using duct tape like that. Engineers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudge ★ Posted September 17, 2017 Share #3 Posted September 17, 2017 Hee hee. I TOTALLY understand the being really mad part. I was ridiculously mad I had to hit the SAG wagon during the 906 Polar Roll a couple years ago. I didn't have a truly good excuse like you did though. BTW, the pic of the group riding away?? Ya, that's normal for me. sigh.... Yup, I can relate to a few things in your day. Hopefully the rest of it was a good ride. As always, thanks for the write-up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Wheels Posted September 17, 2017 Share #4 Posted September 17, 2017 Great job, thats one you wint forget soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Come Lately Name Posted September 17, 2017 Share #5 Posted September 17, 2017 If YOU had to bail, I’m shocked anyone finished. First a spoke, now a tire. You’re a beast! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Wheels Posted September 17, 2017 Share #6 Posted September 17, 2017 You could have walked the last 3. The one (and likely only) time I did the hill ride, there were lots of mechanical issues. One guy ran, yes ran, past me in his cycling shoes, carrying his bike. He broke his chain, but refused to quit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudge ★ Posted September 17, 2017 Share #7 Posted September 17, 2017 2 minutes ago, Square Wheels said: You could have walked the last 3. The one (and likely only) time I did the hill ride, there were lots of mechanical issues. One guy ran, yes ran, past me in his cycling shoes, carrying his bike. He broke his chain, but refused to quit. Was that guy tall, blonde, ridiculously skinny, and spoke with an African accent??? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeman564™ Posted September 17, 2017 Share #8 Posted September 17, 2017 dang. I'm hoping my MS ride next weekend goes better 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur ★ Posted September 17, 2017 Share #9 Posted September 17, 2017 Still a solid ride all considered TK. Great job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted September 17, 2017 Share #10 Posted September 17, 2017 Did you put anything inside the tire to act as a boot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airehead Posted September 17, 2017 Share #11 Posted September 17, 2017 I admire your determination. You are a godo man. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Kosciuszko Posted September 17, 2017 Author Share #12 Posted September 17, 2017 1 hour ago, maddmaxx said: Did you put anything inside the tire to act as a boot? I put a couple layers on the inside, just for good measure... The first blowout And the second Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphie ★ Posted September 17, 2017 Share #13 Posted September 17, 2017 Holy crap! You don;t think of your bike as having tires that are roughly dime-width! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Further Posted September 17, 2017 Share #14 Posted September 17, 2017 That tire did not look worn. Not your fault, but sometimes things happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caretaker Posted September 17, 2017 Share #15 Posted September 17, 2017 Everyone loves a tyre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Come Lately Name Posted September 17, 2017 Share #16 Posted September 17, 2017 2 hours ago, Airehead said: You are a godo man. It’s Frodo and while he’s not tall, he’s no Hobbit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Wheels Posted September 17, 2017 Share #17 Posted September 17, 2017 5 hours ago, smudge said: Was that guy tall, blonde, ridiculously skinny, and spoke with an African accent??? Chris didn't slow down enough to talk to me. Remember, I was riding and this guy ran past me, carrying his bike. Not really sure how we even behind me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Posted September 17, 2017 Share #18 Posted September 17, 2017 Sometimes our most impressive accomplishments aren't the ones that look best on paper. Good job, TK 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groupw Posted September 17, 2017 Share #19 Posted September 17, 2017 War stories! Years from now, you won't remember the days that were sunny and 75, but this day will be one to talk about. And FYI, you didn't quit. The bike did! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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