Dear Dogmama:

Sorry to hear about your flat. I was in a similar situation this weekend minus the water and I was convinced that I would end up with a flat. But I was very lucky, my husband got the flat. Although not wet, traffic was such that we had no choice but to go through the broken glass same as you.

I felt incredibly lucky on this trip though because I made it up some hills, one of which was very very steep. Actually it was a drive way into a winery tasting room but it was very steep and longer than average. I ran into an unforeseen problem coming down. I was trying to feather my brakes not realizing that the hill was to steep to feather and I kept gaining momentum until I was up to my husband who wasn't giving me any room to pass him up by so I stayed to his right. But I didn't see the warning sign about a large foot high curb like bump. My husband screamed at me, Watch out for the bump! But by the time he yelled I was already hitting that bump at a really good clip. I didn't have time to stand up out of my seat so I hit that bump with tremendous force expecting my bike to be damaged. My husband expected me to crash, especially since my bike and I went flying up into the air. It felt like a foot but my husband said it was only six inches. I don't know how I managed to stay on, especially with one foot jarred off the pedal, but I did and when I hit the ground I was able to regain control immediately. Can't say I liked the feeling much but I was gratified that I stayed on was able to regain control as soon as I hit the ground. Checked my bike immediately for damages but there weren't any. Not even bent tire rims! But a good endorsement for me to keep to my bigger tires until I get better.