JB called in sick... OK, no hurry then, I had an extra cup of coffee.
Got half way down my street and realized I had my regular glasses on - turned around to get my sun glasses and extra warm gloves.
Got half way down Walnut Ave and punctured - piece of glass I probably picked up on the Dam Road Tuesday. While I was fixing it I thought "Well, that'll probably be my last flat of 2013".
Got a half mile past the North Gate and flatted AGAIN! Jeez, maybe I didn't get all the glass out? Didn't find any more glass and couldn't find the puncture... I think I left the valve unscrewed though so maybe the air just leaked out as the core wiggled around. I always have two tubes and three CO2 carts in my saddlebag so I was prepared, but now I had no more reserve... I think I'll get a glueless kit to go in there too.
By mile 3 the wind was just ferocious. Bits of dirt and gravel were pummeling me around some of the corners. At least it had warmed up a mite.
Above Junction it got almost bad enough to make me think about turning around at Juniper... I finished my Clif Bar there and it was difficult just to stand still. But I didn't come this far just to quit.
Mercifully, the Summit Wall was kind of calm - I don't know if because it's shielded or the wind was taking a break. The ride back down was a real white-knuckler, but I've done it enough times to know where all the tricky bits are... and no more flats!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPwI1dwXqL0lYI44gtg1p9PfG8sGarxLr5ddfS5z2HUhfz87wZttR_IP4uFEV8n8MzeEXWCdSoC8UQ-sB_WY9aaYQUMTfuFvvWNbyub65UVSDX-k5W-pMCa36PLjmvZAvgRc/s320/1.jpg) |
New Christmas gloves! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00ljR8cXzqH9Dk430LiDPOnR70Ex_QB6-rGrxbfaqI3a-iXoAr9ALrXeLDv8YiU9RLjYnrLl09UDuMQAC4xflVcdLclAcE00vu5W1lnblP327DnBg5EVbNzYUhe4ew4d_cAU/s320/2.jpg) |
Walnut Avenue Puncture |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAAQhF9kBAIAhgzI1u7R1hlfvBkEseZpi1jxr5DKs6idcTCVVssnPW4G-AqazW5lKUgn94SFDDmb4iKpHfWkV07nBxJif_vqQuRedohFksuQA8-PQ1PfVLpmYiOFrLIWUbEs/s320/9.jpg) |
I like this shot because you can see the "sharp turn"
sign up above for folks coming down. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBqzF3bsBfkhJnDveE9uPalILMF1kvuQxdnzdiy453egVN3zRlg85ULDKp9JGFzo5xHJFQxBMMMVvx5eQt_b2Rd7T5578OHdOk2_GUYueYiDqYIjSN7BQUaXyLgIY-nGpMBc/s320/8.jpg) |
I love it when a capture a rider in front of a great background. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4weWEYtO0cl1d018KwIl94qMCFF9GPijaOhWuU00T5DBB81gQj_UbWSBhlg-EIY2S6SpCblS-5Gk_DqN2Y2kgEn4g3fTUcTbgxu0OaaEN3n4FACdN1RrpLsWnJvAQ4K88cQ/s320/7.jpg) |
Passed-me #5 or 6 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuySKOOVHkRhr-b4YZOfm43l0_dC5Uz4JP7x1aiwjioUJnMPVQ0UyLizuKVKC5gzlNiNlMcEnKl-uL_9VYmA40LM76VHYHv_fTuQm9-qJHZxkvLp5F7VFEl6V6e78-Yn2q-A/s320/6.jpg) |
#6 or 7 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6-qH_c4EwYE36EJxQSWlRxhfItnPjpuXzScVotbXq1CaJBrybtmEQ7RSMEZ5H8aKtJCU1og-gkLhCWrCEmCXETl8wLv2mAeoMqEpprOTLa0dqUeKljZNnbN1X3YoitWwD3A/s320/5.jpg) |
7 or 8 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHPkodZak6yJlgrBRTYRtrf0J6DRs7GpW6rU_GzWU7fbkAd5sJzpuQZc6R0EDSy0P10BRCGdGddWc9wyhWzpY_1xkCHvlm_4x0b2ejmYkvEXpRIViSdbsx-7gOG15zGDZA4Q/s320/10.jpg) |
Don't try this on a horse. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WKKw3h2dLiPOsbURFN-6Z06kn9INo9YlRoM-y0IsGf6QYekrbDpcQVGlH8iRlLxCf05AtriAbPClqnKpT_9d0kmbRhBHPiKHG9JNUwI7TRIs7zoqDTIg0cjQsIFeoiM6daM/s320/12.jpg) |
These guys asked me to take their photo on an
iPhone - I don't know if they noticed my handlebar
cam was getting the same shot. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCqAT0M3Qj7JgTCtRW-76YUpOQA16pjLfspoGnLIfROgIPIjU3Rfq_PJIkgZ-MIXom9aS1trLhigLFY8k_Cm8iJ0V2XrQ-lSoVavm9ALgsv5voWswqz3z_lP-m5pYJmvn0QQ/s320/13.jpg) |
Winding AND windy |