First group ride - a disaster!
Woke at 8 am, to go on frst group ride. I had worked 8 hours yesterday, then spent from 5 to 12 pm baking and cleaning for a party.
When I woke up, it was gale force winds and raining. So I say to myself, would Lance ride in this?yes! So I get up and go.
Swooped by magpie on way to pick up ( they are size of large parrots, and they are SCARY, dvng at your head and ears and sometimes draw blood.)
Then met up with several other equally insane middle aged genial people,to ride in what seemed to be a gathering thunderstorm. Black clouds, gales, sleet. Thats was just in the parking lot!
It was far too cold and windy to do the normal ride( 25 km) so we went for the long way thru suburbs to coffee shop , because all of us were so cold and damp, just starting that we wanted the full brekkie!
So it rained, then sleeted, then hailed , then sun then rain, then snow( I swear!), then sun.The wind blew so hard that riding up the road( chip and seal and next to traffic) we were riding slower than someone could walk.
then I got my second flat in one and half years.( yes, just two!)
In fact, the tire seemed to be glued on.The wind was blowing so bad, it was hard to hold the bike up. My gentleman cyclist helper, stayed behind to help out( too old for me but sweet) thank god,as it was so windy it was hard to hold bike still to get wheel off, as it was so cold it was hard to get the tire off.
We ended up pinching the tube between the rim( after 2 co2s and one broken co2 pump and one pump with missing piece) which meant it couldnt be inflated again( no pump, co2 or tubes left).
But bike shop was 2 blocks away.good thing I had mtn bike shoes on!:)
Then I had to go home and spend 3 hours cleaning house for party.
