A Flat (not mine) in the Rain

Monday I bailed on a ride with a number of excuses.  One of those excuses was the light rain that was falling.

This morning, there was light rain falling and it did not matter.  Seven of us were out to ride and enjoyed almost every moment of it … even the one flat tire that needed to be fixed.

I think I’ve posted before about how our group fixes a flat, but I always find it fascinating.  There are specific roles people step into.

• Grubby Hands: Handles the wheel, checking for sharps, installing the new tube (all usually performed the the owner of the flat … especially in the rain where one is going to get very dirty).
• Blow Hard: Reinflating the tube with the hole to determine where the flaw is.  This person also rolls the tube and returns it to the owner.
• Tool Jocky: Invades the saddle tool kit for a new tube and CO2 if it will be used.  Often slightly inflates the new tube to make it easier to install.
• Stand Around and Hold the Bike: Keeps the bike upright and the chain off the ground.
• Peanut Gallery: There are only so many jobs.  The rest of the group stands around and more often than not critiques the job being done and how long it is taking.

This repair didn’t take long at all.  I was the “Stand Around and Hold the Bike” this time, arriving after the repair was initiated.

The pace of the ride was quicker than yesterday.  It felt like a lot of work, but then, isn’t that the goal of exercise?  I was tempted to turn into The Big Bean for coffee, but instead made my way home.

This Ride: 21.9 miles
Malaria Campaign: 833.9 miles
Funds Pledged: $416.95
Contributed in support: $1,437.60

Total = $1,854.55