Lots of Flats

When I get a flat tire it tends to happen more than once in the same ride, which is why I usually carry three tubes. Today when I left I looked at my rear tire and thought it was almost time to replace it but I thought it would be OK for one more ride.

Half-way down the street it didn't feel right so I went back home and put on a brand new tire. Still plenty of time to make the ride. I get a mile down the road and I flat suddenly. Probably because I pinched part of the tube. The hole was next to the valve stem. So I put in a new tube and still had enough time to make it to the ride and avoided a big pile of glass. I met the group but then when we were about to leave I noticed my tire was low so I added air. We got about 5 miles along and I had to add air again. Before the big hill I decided it was time to change the slow leak. But then somehow the tube got pinched again and popped loudly. The hole was opposite of the valve stem this time. So I let the guys change the tube - but this time the valve stem broke. By now I wasn't too popular with my riding buddies. We changed it the last time and headed up the hill but my tire had a weird hop in it. I decided not to push my luck any further and turned around and went home. My teammate and her husband came with me to make sure I made it because I was now out of spare tubes.

I got a new tire and a new rim strip when I got home and will use the unlucky tire on the indoor trainer.

Yesterday I rode rollers on my track bike. Mark had me do some intervals at 120 rpms. I was really sore after. It takes more energy on the rollers to keep yourself up. So I didn't mind the shorter ride today so much.