Another ride ... another flat!

We managed to crank out 23 miles today but only averaged 8 MPH while moving. We lost a bit of time changing yet another flat!

The TT Cruiser developed a punctured tube on the same rim/tire as last week but in a different location on the new tube. So I don't think it's rim related maybe just bad luck in finding thick thorns?

I think this week I'll be investing in several quick fill CO2 cartridges and possibly some "flat fixer" canisters. Maybe some goo in the tubes will at least fill small holes automatically.

New moon rising

This week I started reassembling the Duffy Moon. Here is how she arrived:





















After going through all of the parts and applying a little elbow grease this is what I took to the local bike shop for an official tune up:











From what I can tell only one small nut was lost in transit. I'm sure the local shop can provide a new one. I'm going to use the head rest from this trike on my Catrike Pocket until the Duffy Moon returns from the shop. Depending on the cost I'm going to have the local shop replace the grip shifters with bar end shifters & a new rear derailleur. The grip shifts & existing rear derailleur are functional but I've come to appreciate the bar end shifters on my GT3 more. After our Best Buddies ride I may swap out the rear cassette for a faster set of gears opting to keep this trike for faster rides and my TerraTrikes for "touring".

Just in time learning

Most of the time in life you need to know how to do something when you need to do it. Knowing how but never needing the skill seems like a wasted effort in learning. So when learning comes "just in time" you are quickly applying your new found skills and the effort of learning has immediate value. Such was our experience today.

Late in the afternoon we decided to take the trikes for a quick 20 mile or so round trip ride. I had no idea I'd be using the basic repair skills I learned just last week at my local bike shop.

I thought we were fully prepared. We travel with tools, spare tubes, patch kit & pump. So when we had the first trike I summoned my new skills to remove the rib, remove the tire, check for what caused the puncture and reached for the new tube. OOPS! The type for the 20" rim was the wrong type and the valve stem wouldn't fit the rim. Still no problem, I used my still fresh tube patching skills to patch the tube and put everything back together. Well almost, my old bicycle pump decided to break apart and even after repairing it I couldn't get enough pressure to fill the tire completely. "Oh thank heaven for 7-11." A block away was a 7-11 with an air pump, for a fee of course. Now 75 cents later and at least 80 PSI in the tire we continued on our ride.

About 3 more miles down the trail and one of the other trikes got a flat! No use reaching for the tubes so out with the patch kit again. Enough air to ride, definitely not permanent but back on the road and heading back to our new favorite 7-11. Another quick 75 cent pump use and it was at least ridable.

Now it was getting late and we were about 7 miles from home with darkness quickly approaching. We pushed each other hard and made pretty good time getting home just before it was unsafe to be riding but it was close.

Now I have two rims sitting in the garage to take back to my local bike shop for new tubes. And, of course, exchanging the other tubes so I have viable spares.

I guess I'll be getting a new portable bike pump and some of those fancy CO2 cartridge things for my birthday.