Alright, alright, I've learned my lesson.
I hopped on my bike Monday afternoon and headed the long way home. The longer route goes down Tipton St. then left up Neubert Springs, and then right down Martin Mill Pike. It is a much more enjoyable trip than Maryville Pike at 5 o'clock. The pot holes combined with pissy drivers trying to get home stresses me out a little bit after a long day at work.
So I'm riding along all fine and dandy, enjoying the weather, and I'm about to hit Martin Mill Pike when, pssssttt!! - a flat tire. Now, I have always been "that person" who hardly ever carries the necessary items to fix a flat because "I always have my cell phone, and I'll just call somebody". Makes sense, right? But, it seems this doesn't really work out when A) people are still at work, B) people don't answer their cell phones, or C) live too far away to be helpful.
There I am on the side of the road, trying to figure out why I flatted. I check the tire - no holes or punctures or sharp objects. Alright, well, guess I'll start walking and try to catch the bus. I know I'm going to be walking for awhile, so I go ahead and put my running shoes back on and start walking down Martin Mill. (super fun! everyone should try it!)
I get down Martin Mill in one piece and I'm almost to the bus stop when I notice the construction that is being done on Maryville Pike. Hmm, me thinks there will be no buses running down here today. So I keep walking for a few more minutes when Rebecca Falls rides by and asks if I need help. THANK YOU LORD!!! Rebecca saved me a couple more miles worth of walking, and I will be forever grateful. Luckily, the 25c road tube didn't explode while being pumped up to fit a 32c cross tire. And, I would like to say that we changed that tube pretty darn quick - go us!
Anyway, like I said above, I have learned my lesson and stocked up on flat fixing tools so I won't have any more 2 hour treks home.
Now after all that, I commuted to work the next day and found some goodies along the side of the road. Jeremy refers to them as "commuting primes" (Prime: An award given for the rider to reach a certain point mid-race in a sprint. Pronounced "preem." French). The only thing I ended up keeping was a pair of wire cutters that I'm sure will come in handy at some point at the house. One less trip to Lowe's, right?.
4 comments:
Your story made me smile:) Glad your friend was able to help you out:)
oh poo...i was friend in category B. glad you made it back to the hood safe. reba
Hey Elizabeth,
I stumbled upon your blog via Dave's....very enjoyable! I must say, this has happened to me before as well...several times...
Back before cell phones (before I had one I mean), this happened to me several times when I worked at Dagger in Harriman. You can imagine what I went through walking through Roane County in spandex. One time I even had the balls (I mean guts) to ask some fine country good ole boys for a phone (I was pretty far out and I was on my one hour lunch break).
Be careful out there! Maybe if you had some cool pink argyle socks, this would not have happened... ;)
Commuter Prime!!!!!
Those pliers look pretty lightweight, better be careful Dave might stow them in his Jersey for his next 12 hr adventure.
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