Another Day Down

Another Day is Done!! And we are sitting here in the bar, eating dinner and having beers!! Yes, we really did ride!!

This morning Mark started the ride beating into the wind. Fortunately, after an hour, it then blew into his back and pushed him along.

Then Cindy started. Generally an OK ride. Yesterday beat her up a bit; however, yesterday's average for her was 17.1 mph for 71 miles. Really good for her!! Until the end.
Let us back up. As Mark was helping Cindy get her bike ready, a-ha!! The back tire was flat. Not a big deal as Mark, with the speed of SuperCyclistBoy, changed it. He mentioned during that procedure, "Hm..m... Tonight we should change the whole tire as it appears just a bit worn".
So off Cindy goes for the 71 miles. Generally, a very good ride for her. Love that FreeWay riding!! Actually very safe once you just focus on a forward point, totally ignore semi's brushing by you at 70+ mph, ignore the Rumble Strip staying far to the right of it, weaving amongst the garbage (amazing what people throw out onto the Freeways!!). Why is it safe?? Because it has a clearly marked and measurable shoulder!!
Until the very end (she was suppose to go 75 miles). The back tire blew out.

Thee problem with this scenario: Cindy is a bit tired, a bit punchy, a bit shaky with low brain cell functioning. She has been riding 4 hours straight (never getting off of Thee bike). So standing off the sloping side of the rode, with multiple 18-wheelers racing by, she removed the back (cyclists appreciate the difference between 'back' -vs- 'front' tire) wheel. Yes, took WAY more time than most novice anything. Now totally covered with bike grease. Still a bit shaky, punchy, low blood sugar, and actually needing to find a bathroom.
Part of the process before putting the wheel/tire/tube back onto the bike, is being sure that whatever caused the flat is no longer in the tire. Sigh. Multiple finite glass shards that just wouldn't be removed.
OK...Plan B: call for Thee Van to come to her aid (Picture Thee knight in shining armour). Sigh. They were another 1+ hour away. Damn.
Put the wheel back onto the bike without the tube, and start walking the remaining 2 miles into Burley, ID. Amazing ... no cops; no one stopped to offer assistance. I have been there now over an hour.
Finally, within 1/4 mile of the off ramp, a very nice man who just competed in a Triathlon, was driving home from the race in a truck. He tossed my bike into the back, I dragged my sorry-body into the cab, and he drove me to the Motel.
Life is fine again. The guys showed up, Mark changed-within-a-few-minutes the full back tire/tube, and I am ready for tomorrow again.
Today's adventure after Mark endured the wind, and I generally did just fine (I am getting tired with upper/lower body cramps: where is my favorite chiropractor Brian???? And my favorite massage therapist Jim????)
Ken jumped on his bike as the last leg of today's ride, raring to go, high energy, skies look good!! For another 30 minutes. Yes, the Caribbean skies with all their FireMen shooting their hoses directly down onto the earth opened up!! What a great experience for him. Ask him about that sometime.
So, again, we are now back in the hotel bar eating, having a few beers, planning tomorrow's trip and will be seeking our motel room in a few minutes.

I again tried with Google to follow our travels through their maps. Please link on the below Link and see if it makes any sense. It didn't break it up from day to day, however, the total route is there. Hopefully, for those of you who are so inclined "To Know", you might find the recorded route interesting.
Oh, we won't be riding through Sturgis.


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