Four Flats in Three Days: Perhaps the Universe Wants me Off My Bicycle?

We have all been there... out with some friends, doing a training ride, or just transporting ourselves in to work. You look down because something just "feels funny," and you realize that air pressure is dwindling in your tire. It could've been glass shards on the road, a random nail or screw that you just didn't notice, or a sticker/goat head that just managed to find its way into your tire. It's that moment of realization that you have no choice but to stop and attempt to patch the flat.

Today's flat - flat tire #4 in 3 days

Unfortunately for me, this was my third and fourth flat in a matter of three days. {sigh} As I was rolling up to my morning kickboxing class, I noticed that there was a goat head sticking out of my front tire. I muttered a curse under my breath and figured I'd deal with it after class. "Hopefully, if I leave it in, I can at least make it home," I thought as I went to lock up the bike. Just as I finished the thought, the sound of rushing air filled the silence. Another obscenity came rushing out of my mouth (I have been known to curse like a sailor when the timing is right). "Seriously?!" I said aloud. I got close to the goat head, expecting that, of course, it was coming out of this spot. But, as my head got closer to the area, the pssshhhhh sound seemed somehow farther away. "Weird," I thought, "It almost sounds like it's coming out of the rear tire."

I thought nothing of it and went in to class, ready to kick some butt. We finished up and I went out to check on the bike, assuming that I'd probably need to put a bit of air in the front tire to make it the slightly more than 2 miles home. I squeezed the front tire, and while it had lost some air, it seemed as though it would be okay to get home. I went to grab the pump out of my saddlebag and realized that there was another goat head in the rear tire, and that the tire was completely flat. "Well, at least my senses are working, and it was in fact the back tire I was hearing," I proclaimed to no one as a big sigh came out.

My attempt at putting air in the tires was futile. As soon as I pumped them up, the air came rushing back out. I knew that I'd either have to pull both wheels off, both tires, and patch the tubes, or just walk the bike home. As I started calculating, I figured it would take me about 30-40 minutes to patch both of the tubes, assuming that nothing went wrong (Yes, I am slow- but hey, at least I considered patching them), or I could walk home in about that same amount of time and not deal with the glaring sun and heat on me. I opted for the latter choice. I have to say, I probably should've just patched the tubes, as it really isn't fun walking in these summer temperatures.

Apparently, the universe is trying to tell me something. These two flats are in a series that have taken place entirely too close together, and I'm beginning to think that either 1) I need to stay off of a bicycle for awhile, or 2) I need to consider different tires with a bit more protection. Each of the flats has been due to goat heads, and while I love the Grand Bois Hetre tires, I simply cannot deal with having a flat every single day. While it is the season for these little buggers here in Colorado, I'm not sure I can endure another month or two of this taking place on a daily basis.

Have you found yourself with more flats as summer starts to fade, or are you also spending more on Super Patch kits than just picking up a more thorn-resistent set of tires?

Ride to the Auto Parts Store

Things are completely crazy for the next few days while I attempt to get everything done that is coming to completion. At least I'm feeling a bit better about abstraction. Last night, a small group of us decided to go to First Friday in Denver's Arts District to check out the sights and to get a feel for current ideas and art work. While in the car driving, I realized that my passenger side headlight was out, and though I knew I had a bulb at home, there was nothing I could do about it at the time. In addition, my interior light has been out for some time now, and since I spend a great deal of time driving in the dark from campus, we thought it would be a good idea to replace it. Since I was letting paint dry this afternoon, Sam and I decided to ride over to the auto parts store to get the interior bulb that was needed.

Waiting outside for Sam to purchase a bulb

I realize there is a bit of irony in riding our bicycles to an auto parts store, but if you consider that most people who are there are purchasing something for a car that isn't working, or has some kind of broken part, it doesn't seem that off the wall to me to be riding a bicycle to the auto parts store. Of course, there are no bicycle racks, so I amused myself by watching the traffic go by and admiring the bicycles.

Surly and Pashley sittin' in a tree, er, sittin' on cement

I feel as though the Hillborne has taken over as the most ridden bicycle in the house, but I do enjoy the Pashley too. I also realized how heavy it is today while we were riding. Good for building leg muscles, definitely. While waiting for Sam to return, I also noticed that I managed to get two goat heads stuck in the rear tire. Ugh!

Two goat heads (one barely visible lower on the tire)

I am such a magnet for these critters, especially this time of year when all the weeds are dying off and these thorns just end up in the shoulder where we're riding. I pulled them out, so I could test the durability of the Schwalbe Marathon tires.  As I was pulling them out, I looked up at the sky and was in complete awe of the strange cloudiness that had formed around us. It was beautiful and eerie all at once.

Cloudy Autumn skies quickly formed this afternoon

Sam finally managed to make it back outside, despite being told by two different assistant managers that they 'couldn't' ring him up.

Sam has bulbs!

We headed home, shaking our heads but laughing about the ineptitude of some workers. The ride home was pleasant, as we pedaled along, both of still being able to wear shorts during this gorgeous time of year.

Riding home (that nice bruise on the left leg from falling on the Hillborne seems to be healing nicely though)

After arriving home, my tires seemed to be in good shape, but unfortunately, Sam had also picked up a couple of goat heads, and his tires didn't fair so well. As soon as he pulled them out, the air came wooshing out quite audibly. I felt bad, but at the same time am grateful that I can trust the thorn protection of the Marathon tires. I think the extra money is well worth it to have the extra protection. And now, I have exterior and interior lights once again. I am very happy that I'll at least have a way to see my attackers in the late night parking lot now.