Today’s ride was going along nicely when I noticed my rear tire was going flat around the 42 mile mark. I was riding on FM1314 and there was not a place with shade anywhere along the road plus I need a spot where I could be able to listen for escaping air to locate the hole. Finally I could not go much further so I stopped at a driveway going off the road. I began the tube repair and pumped up the tube to locate the hole. I found it and it was small. Searching the inside of the tire I found a small piece of the “mystery wire” that seems to be drawn to my tires. It was sticking into the inside of the tire just enough to get a hold of and remove it. With the problem found I patched the the tube. when I was looking for the hole I noticed some small stretch marks around the tube but they did not seem to be leaking so I reinstalled the tube, aired it up and got back on the road. Almost immediately I noticed what felt like a flat spot on the rear tire that was not there before the flat. The tire seemed to be holding air so I rode to the Valero station where I was planning to stop for a break and to eat some Fiber One bars and chips with a Diet Pepsi. As I was resting and eating I checked the rear tire for a flat spot. I found what appeared to be one and let the air out of the tube thinking this might help. Airing the tube up I got on my way but the flat spot was still thumping at each tire revolution. By around mile 51 I noticed the rear tire going soft again so I stopped at the Oakhurst Community Center where there was shade and a bench.

Removing the rear tire tube I pumped it up to find the leak but I could not find anything. So I pumped it up some more and then the tube went Ka-Boom. That solved the loosing air problem right away so I put my spare tube in, aired up the tire and got back on the road. The first thing I noticed was the flat spot was gone. I am not sure what was causing it but it must have been the blown tube. The tube blew apart right where the stretch marks were. So far this has not been my year for tube preservation. I think this is my third tube so far. The tube manufacturers in China may need to bump up their production to keep me on the road.

Today was a gorgeous weather riding day with 90 degrees, clear blue sky and a manageable southeast wind around 11 mph. Rain is still not in the forecast though we need it badly. We are pulling out all of the stops to get some rain: my wife had the Jeep Grand Cherokee washed and I put the bikini top back on the Jeep Wrangler.

May mileage is now 159.82 and the year to date miles are 1662.49. I plan on getting a ride in tomorrow before heading out for Mother’s Day lunch with my wife.

5-7-2011 Bike Ride Data and Route

5-7-2011 Home Weather Finish

[iframe http://connect.garmin.com:80/activity/embed/84083732 465 548]

[nggallery id=220]