This is a shameless attempt to save the the most advanced civilization in
history from imminent self destruction by eliminating carbon emission,
dependence on foreign sources of fuel,obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
Cycling accomplishes all those things at once and helps us develop a better
understanding of ourselves, each other and our relationship to the cosmos.

Oh, horse puckey!
I like to ride bikes, have been doing it all my life.
The rest of that crap is just a fringe benefit,
and the blogosphere gives me a chance to share my interior
monologue with virtual rather than imaginary friends.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Another interesting incident on the MUP

     I was talking to a couple women riding on the MUP and accidentally hit a huge pothole near a rail crossing.  At first nothing seemed wrong.  We rode on, and parted at the local coffee shop where they stayed.  I went on and noticed my front tire going flat within a block.  After the usual tirade of embarassing obscenities, I sat on a park bench and replaced the tube.  I fully expected a "snakebite" from the tire pinching.  After changing the tube, I rode on home and found the other tube going flat.  Now I was worried.  I was afraid the rim was damaged,now just a few days before I was going on a four day trip!  I took the other tube off and inspected the rim, I could find nothing.  Now I was really confused, after a pothole the tube would usually blow out, not slowly loose pressure.  I thought the second tube was my fault and I must have pinched it myself when I installed it.
     After I patched the tubes and set them aside to be sure they held air, I noticed something odd.
Both punctures are in exactly the same place on the tube.  Now I was sure something was wrong with the rim.  But I found instead a small wire fragment (probably from an auto tire belt) stuck in the tire.  What are the odds that that would get loosened and embedded because of the impact.  Or, was it just a huge cosmic coincidence?  Things like this make cycling seem as frustrating as golf.

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