voodoo flats

So whoever has the pins stuck in the Brad bicycle voodoo doll can remove them at any time. Last week I get an email from my nameless friend's wife. She says "Did you jinx my husband? He is getting flats all the time." Apparently her husband is on a bad streak. (Sorry to hear it R-O-G-E-R)

Guess what happens next? I broke a spoke riding home that day. Yesterday, out on a ride into Colorado, THREE flats. Yes 3. yes it was a long walk home. Yup, walking in bike shoes is awful. Bike shoes are made so that the sole does not flex. When you walk you actually want the sole to flex. So then it starts to remove whatever skin you have on the back of your heel. Or you could take the shoes off. It's only noon and 93 degrees with the sun bearing down directly above, the pavement is probably not too hot, right?

The first flat came on a steep descent, always an exciting time when you have a flat on a descent. Then about 20 miles from home, I notice my rear wheel is looking less than happy. Slow leak. Well at least the front is hanging in. Nope. Few miles later the front has a slow leak as well.

Baby them. I had just one tube and one compressed air cartridge. Instead of using up 100% of the cartridge on the flat, I used about 80%. It gets the tire most of the way to 80 psi on 80% and the last part doesn't seem to get you the rest of the way anyhow. So I saved it in case of a slow leak...which I used with about 18 to go on the front wheel. The rear was hanging in there. Sort of. I managed somehow to get through the last climbs and descents and got about 3 miles from home riding the rims for the last couple of miles. Coulda been worse.