The tiniest thing can interrupt a bike ride. I was on my way to Huffman when that happened on Pinehurst Trail Drive. The rear tire on my Cervelo Caledonia called out for help when it went flat. I found a shady spot on a side street and went to work. Getting the tire bead loose took longer than it should’ve but I got it off. Next was finding the leak. This is where the tiniest part comes in. I aired up the tube several times adding more air each time. Finally the pin hole made itself known about 8″ from the valve stem. I got out my new adhesive patch kit, roughed up the tube around the tiny hole and applied the patch. Feeling around the inside of the tire I found a tiny piece of glass sticking in the tire. I pulled it loose with my fingernail but couldn’t see it because it was so small. I aired up the tube to check my work and all seemed well. I put the tube back in the tire. Getting the tire bead back on the rim was as hard as getting it off but I did it. The frame up got the tire pressurized enough to pop the bead on and I was ready to ride. All of this took about 45 minutes, no Indy 500 pit stop for me.

I planned on riding the Atascocita – Walden – Huffman route but with time loss I changed to the Atascocita – Walden – E. Lake Houston Parkway route shaving about 4 miles off the ride. All of this began at 11:06 AM with warm weather and I finished at 2:18 PM. I rode 29.92 miles. Hopefully tomorrow’s ride doesn’t include the fat tire.

Weather: Start 83 degrees, humidity 64%, dew point 69.3, partly cloudy, wind SW 12 mph gusts 22 mph; Finish 85 degrees, humidity 60%, dew point 69.4, partly cloudy, wind S 9 mph.