A couple of friends and I had signed up for the 63 mile route of a benefit ride scheduled for today. The weather forecast last night looked "iffy" but we woke up this morning to beautiful blue skies and temps of 48 with a predicted high of 57. While we were enjoying a few snacks at the mile 38 rest stop (which was the far northwest corner of the route and as far from start as possible) it started to rain. We got to the 51 mile rest stop and the ride director was there suggesting a bit of a short cut just to get people off the roads and out of the rain. We ended up riding 59 miles instead of the full 63. By the time the ride was over, we looked like we took a shower with our clothes on.

After the ride, we took advantage of the post-race meal and dripped all over the floor of the bike shop which acted as the start and end point of the ride. When I got home, I hosed off my bike before bringing it in, but it still needs a good wiping down and lubing. Bike stuff is laying out drying all over the house. So glad I put my cell phone and drivers license in a plastic bag before the ride.

At mile 24 I had a flat, but it was a front tire and still sunny out. So now I have experience changing a flat roadside in addition to in the comfort of my living room. My friends pitched in too, and we had it taken care of in no time. Just as we finished, the SAG came by One of the roads had recently been resurfaced with something that seemed to be made of ground up glass, rubber and wire (maybe ground up tires?). We did find a piece of glass in the tire.

One of my friends had recently been on a well-attended, two-day charity ride, and they had encountered similarly surfaced roads. The SAGS on that ride provided and replaced 328 tubes before they ran out, and in addition many riders replaced their tubes with tubes they carried. Some suffered multiple flats. Quite a few riders were unable to finish that ride.

Considering the weather and the flat, we still had a good time. At this time of year, the opportunities to ride are limited, and a day on the road is to be cherished. Leaves are starting to turn, cornstalks turning brown, geese flying, cranes in the fields, it was just pretty.