Misadventure

Today's ride was... an adventure of sorts. Started off very nice, cooler weather, no dogs chasing me down. Towards the end of the ride I was really struggling. I thought the wind that was coming from the north-west had taken a toll or not riding a long ride for a couple weeks, etc. Then I noticed my front tire didn't seem balanced, it was skirting out to the sides. I stopped, and it was flat, very flat. I was only a mile away from my car at this point so I tried to just add some air to the tire, rode a minute or two and it was totally flat again. I took a sip of the last of my water and sat down. I was tired, warm, and frustrated. But, at first I was also eager for a hands-on lesson of changing a tire. Will had "showed" me how to do it before, but to save time out on the road he always did the actual changing. A few people offered help, but I said I had it. I was wrong. Finally I called Will almost crying, when I wasn't saying loudly things like "I have no idea what you are talking about!" Anyway, after 10 minutes or so of this I decided to ditch and hide my bike and walk in my bike shoes the mile to my car. Will offered to come get me but this made me feel like I was doing something.. and nothing could feel worse than sitting there, helpless on the heat of the road. Luckily, soon after I began the walk a couple offered to drive me to my car. We are about to go outside and get my bike and Will is going to sit at a distance and give me instructions. So, my lesson today- learn to take care of your bike if you are going to go on long rides by yourself. I feel very grateful the flat didn't happen at mile 15 in the boonies.

26.4 miles
1 hr 51 m