I mentioned in my last post what a doozy this day was.
I decided it would be the greatest idea EVER to bike to L’s gymnastics class. It’s 6 miles one way. Should be no big deal, right?
WRONG!!!! Well not exactly wrong we’ll definitely bike to gymnastics again but maybe be better prepared.
We started off and everything was GREAT! We were about 2.5 miles in and had just finished a downhill ride. I crossed the street ready to head up a big hill and it sounding like something was rubbing against one of the tires… I better prepared and more knowledgable rider might know exactly what this sound is. I surely didn’t. I stopped looked behind me and didn’t think there was anything rubbing on the tires (that I could see). I started up the hill but stopped half way up. That noise can’t be good what’s going on? A big ole flat tire! ! NOOOOO!
Two options or three(this is all I could think of): We turn around and ride alllll the way up the big hill we just came down and not go to gymnastics. We had to go to gymnastics, we can’t skip! Ok so we could go into wal-mart, bike and ALL(No bike lock) to get a bike pump (And maybe a new tube? I have no idea how to change a tire… Doesn’t sound easy or fun or a way to get us to the gym in time). Ok go across the street and go to Lowe’s and see if they have an air compressor we can borrow… Across the parking lot is Endurance House. But they don’t open until 10. Gymnastics starts at 930; time is now 9:05. Crap. Lowe’s didn’t have an air compressor but they did have a bike pump I could buy… HAHA Just kidding they had one in the computer but none on the shelf. Well ok what do I do now? Lowe’s employee says go to gas station and use their air!
Great idea! Off we go. Time is now 9:15. CRAP CRAP CRAP. Liam is being awesome right now! He wants to hop back on the bike and go to the coffee shop like I promised we would. Gas station air worked and pumped up the tires but before we were even 1 mile down the road the tire was flat again. But alas there is another gas station. More air in the tire. Time is now 9:30. Too close now. We must hurry and get there- we have a flat we need a new tube. BUT we need to get to gymnastics NOW!
Off we go flat tire and all. Terrified now that I am going to have buy a new rim for the WeeHoo. How expensive will that be? Dang it maybe we should’ve just turned around? Almost there!
9:45 we made it to the gym! Hurry off the bike into gymnastics class.
10:15 class is done. On the phone- call one of the grandma’s. She dropped a tube off around 11:20am. A totally awesome maintenance guy fixed the tube and off we went about 12:20. To the coffee shop for breakfast/lunch/I-need-to-eat-so-tired!
We went home and I felt awesome once I made it up the hill that is a mile or so long. I kept telling myself once I’m at the top I can spin it out. Make it to the top- spin it out. Sweet! I did it! We made it home safely. No nap for L. But that’s ok we have to get ready to go now.
What a crazy, rather stressful day! But what I learned: Check tires BEFORE!!!! I go! Have some sort of patch kit in our bag that is attached to the WeeHoo.
Final total was close to 12.6 miles or so and 90 minutes RT(Filling tires with air takes a bit of time)!
Adventures With My Son 