Avoid The Broken Glass

Ride Stats

Distance: 64 mi

Avg Speed: 11.3 mph

Climbed: 2560 ft

Calories Burned: 3800 kcal

Temps: 65 to 85 F

Wind: Favorable

It's been a couple of weeks since I last biked, so I was itching to go. The weather reports were for rain, but inspired by Eric's recent ride, I was looking forward to it. Unfortunately, no rain materialized, so I've yet to test that "Cadillac Convertible in the Rain" experience. Clouds gave way to sun, and the temperature climbed significantly along the way. My legs felt strong, so I tried to keep up a good pace. I managed to increase my average speed about a 1/2 mph from the last time I rode this course.

I got a flat tire last time I rode, and got another one today. Rear tire both times & broken glass is the culprit. There's alot of it around. As soon as I stopped to fix it, a Mother & Daughter out biking came over to watch and help. The Mom is Giselle, from Costa Rica; and her daughter is Gloriana. Giselle grew up with bicycling, as it was her primary mode of transportation in Costa Rica. Now she's a Phys Ed teacher at a Kansas City Charter School working mostly with Spanish speaking students, and putting her bilingual skills to good use.

Gloriana is excited about learning how to bike, and was keenly interested in learning how to fix a flat. So far they've just been doing short trips. When I told her how I got the flat, she wisely recommended that I not ride over the broken glass. She says she's been able to see it and avoid it. Cute. Rookies think they have all the answers.

With all these extra hands we were able to access the tube without removing the wheel, find the hole, patch it and reassemble it in no time at all.

I took a little side trail off my usual route to get down to the Kansas River. It's full but not overflowing. Nothing like they're experiencing now on the lower Mississippi.

This longer route takes me quite aways out West of the city into Kansas. Here's a distant view of the skyline from one of the high points I hit along the way. I climb to this point from the valley below along a mile and a half road with about a 6% grade. It comes as close as I can get here to replicating what Eric and I are going to be up against out West. Even so, it pales in comparison.