The glamorous side of bike racing: Sitting on your butt waiting for a ride.
by Clint Hosman on March 27th, 2008
After a long boring day at work I was looking forward to a good recovery ride out on the road. I put in some monster hill intervals last night and my body was telling me it was time for a few hours of spinning. I got home, geared up and out the door. 30 minutes into my ride though I blow the tire.
It’s a little hole so I figure it can be patched easily and I would be back in action. I change the tire pump it up and the new tube goes flat as well and my ride for the day is officially over.
The wife is at work so here I sit for the next 45 minutes while my brother in law comes and picks me up. There is no shame quite like having to have some one come and pick you up off a ride. The shame is increased at least two fold when the person who has to pick you up is a none cyclist. They don’t have to say anything but you know they are thinking “I knew this cycling stuff would end up badly.” or “This is why I don’t ride a bike, well this and the spandex.” On top of the shame I now owe him lunch tomorrow.
At least I flatted out right beside an orange orchard so I had something to eat. I guess its karma for talking crap about the oranges yesterday that I flat in front of them today. I think its the sitting on your butt portion of bike raceing that really builds carector and heck who knows what sitting around saved me from further down the road.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Tough luck. 45 minute wait with only oranges for company must have been interesting though??
March 27th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
you dont have to lie to make friends, we all know you punctured your tire so you can sit around and feed your face instead of riding.