What was supposed to be an easy errand day, didn’t quite go as planned. Well at least I got a small ride in before the Goat Head Curse trashed my transportation. You see my brisk four mile ride to the .local Trader Joes found a few of the troublesome thorns.

I was regrouping  at my hotel when all of a sudden a small explosion startled me. I looked at my bike and the front wheel  was deflated. I went from the feeling of triumph over just having gotten the video audio to work on my iphone to a bike that needed help……

Quickly, I got out my patch kit and went to work. The three holes that went off all at once were too much for the Slime I bought yesterday. Each time I pumped up the tube it held air. Until I put it inside the tire when each time a new leak would become apparent. After eight patches in two days, my valve then decided it had had enough. It went on me too..

All of a sudden I was stranded. So I tried doing the unthinkable. I needed it to hold air long enough to get me to a bike shop so attempted to put the tube in the rim and patch the valve. No Workee ……

So I called REI as they were the only Reno shop open according to Google. By now it was 5:06 and they closed at 6. Google also told me the three mile walk would take me 55 minutes so I told Alex there, I would try to make it on time.

By the time I got down the busy weekend elevator to the street, I had 45 minute to get there. So I walked and ran and walked and ran. I was pretty sweaty in the 90+ degree heat but I made it with five minutes to spare! Alex had everything ready for me, including tire lines and 25 dollars later, I was ready for the long walk back. 

Here are some of the neighborhoods I passed through –

Here now at 10PM, after a well needed rest and creating this report, my bike is ready for the road again tomorrow where I can explore more of this fun city…