Grants…the glories of a frontage road



 I have a confession to make. I made it through the first nine days of our tour without a single flat tire while people around me were having 2 or 3 or 4 flat tires some days.  Being superstitious about it, I didn’t say a word to anybody indicating that I had been flat free.  But TBH, I was feeling pretty smug.

So, like an idiot, I had a lengthy conversation with Jim at dinner about exactly how I managed to remain flat free for the previous nine rides. He had a tough day of flats.  And I of course, was full of wisdom on how I had managed it.

Flash forward to this morning… Woke up to a flat. A piece of wire maybe 2 mm long had created a slow leak in my front tire. So with some help from the Crossroads gang, I got that fixed. And rolled on out for the morning, route rap. Where upon I noticed that, Oopsies, the tire was flat again. Either the tube was defective, or I screwed up, putting it in and caused a pinch flat. 

By the time that was fixed and I was rolling, the rest of our peloton was a couple of miles up the road. So instead of having a modestly paced climb up the first 27 miles, I was hauling ass to try and catch up.  Which I did, conveniently here.

Spilled some water to confirm


The next 35 miles were a glorious descent. Steady downhill bit of tailwind. On the smoothest road imaginable. With no cars!



 Frontage roads like this are a gift from the highway gods.


As John and I were rolling into Grants, it started to rain so we made our way to a Hawaiian surf themed pizza place. In New Mexico.  Because of course. 

We over ordered, but I refused to leave a perfectly good half a pizza behind. So we rigged up the leftovers attached to my Camelbak and started for the hotel.

Who needs Door Dash?


And, the fates paid back my hubris one last time by having me run over a massive nail a quarter-mile from the hotel.  I was going to walk it in, but John being a good egg convinced me to put in a tire boot and finish rolling, not walking.

Hey kids, going flat free is luck not skill.

But you know, I didn’t even care because what a glorious day of riding. I am told that the next 2600 miles will all involve smooth roads, downhill tailwind, and no cars. Right?

And one last view of the spectacular scenery.   


Ps  I’m having Hawaiian pizza for breakfast  



Comments

  1. Joe BalagtasMay 15, 2024 at 7:58 PM

    Sounds like Jim didn't love your lecture and took it out on your tire after dinner :)

    Really enjoying your posts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DavidMay 16, 2024 at 3:54 AM

      Ohhhh….i didn’t even think of that…keeping a close eye on him now.. 😂

      Delete
  2. Spencer CountissMay 16, 2024 at 9:08 AM

    Karma is a tough mistress.

    ReplyDelete

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