Realization per my values hit home during today’s ride. I have put up with numerous times of other riders’ self empowerment in not practicing lifestyle etiquette and concern for others getting only something for themselves. Today I learned more lack of concern for other riders.
Starting writing with a rant. Harshing a good ride that turned broken.
Life was good starting with wake up and breakfast. Today was earlybird to OTE to have my rear brake bled. Rolled out of here arriving at their curb side shortly after opening. I wheeled my bike in thru the shop door which is not wide enough for modern wide handlebar. After I softened up the wrenches establishing critical rapport Dan, a Formula brake expert, took my bike from me and placed it on a stand. In a short while he had released the entrapped air in the brake system then went further to correct brake settings. Rear brake has some bite to it now. Provisioned for a ride out at Kokopeli then back out to rd S. I put 5 gals of water in the tank, I seem to use maybe 2.5 gals per day. Water pump likes tank above empty. Drove out to Kokopeli TH which was not plugged. Plan was to ride Wrangler climbing the face then riding Steve’s CCW returning on Mary’s. The climb was a hump pushing me to several blow stops. Windy full exposure buffeting line altering ride. Beautiful warm day. Today I ran into the most riders on this trail, all were well mannered as was I. Peter told me to ride Steve’s CCW which I did.
Steve’s hangs on to side hill going away. I rode against the grain encountering riders. Pushed up the exit ramp up to Marys for the return.
I believe that I am a light rider not subjecting my bike to violence. Riding Mary’s today I committed an act that I am unable to recreate. The result was a jarring landing and a Stans emptying tire puncture. What I went ove should not have caused this tire flating. I stopped immediately watching Stans gush out of the tire. I recalled Stans advice which was to spin the tire which would spin Stans to the tread to seal the hole. I spun to no avail, seems the hole or plural were too big to seal. What to do? I attached my hand pump to the valve stem and pumped and pumped never stopping the leaking. Seemed that I blew the tire bead away from the rim. Recovery plan implemented: Pull out slimed tube from my pack and install. I was able to break the bead and saw plenty of Stans. I installed the tube then pumped up. The inflating tube pushed out the stans in a spray that wetted the rotor which prolly would contaminate the new pads. Tube seemed to be holding air, I planned on riding out gently. Decided spraying Stans was not good for the brake rotor so I tried to break the bead to remove the tube and drain Stans. My hands are not strong enough to break the bead. I needed help. I walked onto the trail just as 2 riders were approaching. Lead guy asked if I needed help. Yes, I asked him to break the bead which he did lickity split. I thanked him. He did what riders should do in helping those in need, or at least asking how they were. By now the tire was empty. I rebeaded the tire then pumped the tube up. I was able to bead the tire. Good to go. Except the tube didn’t hold air. I had run my hand around the inside of the tire before putting in the tube, I removed a big thorn and a piece of rock at the previous tire puncture. The tube would not hold air. Plan C was to walk me and my bike out popular Marys. Plan D was a rider would offer to help and had a 27.5 tube. I walked against traffic, never a rider passing me. When mountain biking became a sport as about half of the riders going by offered help as I am walking my bike the others made no recognition of my distress, sport riders. I walked the entire way out including the dirt road climb to the main TH. I pushed my bike up that hill in view of several riders at their rigs who could have offered me a ride. I label those who passed without offering help as Sport riders.
Any way I walked for days back to my van. Edge does not gather data at walking speed.
Storm clouds blowing in. No time to dally. I put the bike on the rack then drove out to anchor spot. I put the cover over the bike. Fixed late dinner. Winds have picked up and I seem to broadside to them as the van rocks.
I listen to a group of riders telling about conditions on the Plunge which are not favorable to riding from recent snow and beat up trail down low.
Showers possible tonight. Put on new tire then ride.
Film was shown Friday night at 10 Barrel. I contacted Freehub to ask about response, He said 10 Barrel loved it. release date to public is Nov 9.
My body is worked from the walking and pushing my bike with a flat rear tire.
MTX brake pads perform much better than the Formula semi metallic but wear out quicker. I know as I keep a spread sheet recording rides distance and parts replacement and maintenance. The spread sheet knows. I did buy 2 more pairs to arrive via USPS here in Fruita.