Vashon and Flat Tires

Randy, Gary and I met at the dog at 7. We had to catch the 8:25 ferry to Vashon for the Randonneur ride. Ten minutes later Randy got a flat. We weren't sure about making the ferry, so Randy gallantly waved us on. As it turned out, Gary and I got there a couple minutes after 8, and Randy arrived later with several minutes to spare.

The Vashon ride was terrific. It was a bit dicey getting on Burma road, because of the sand and grunge on the steep hills, plus the occasional car coming the other direction. But overall Vashon is a great place to ride. We had a good workout with all the hills. The weather was perfect. Not too chilly, semi-clear skies, and the mountains out in both directions. Your quintessential, beautiful Puget Sound day. I got a back tire flat somewhere on the east side of Maury, and my spare tube had a broken valve. I wound up wasting my CO2 cartridge not realizing that my problem was the bad valve. After a good while another rider brought my size tube. From now on I carry two spares! Then I had pump problems, probably as much from exasperation as anything. Finally got back on the road, but then took a wrong turn with some other guys. Miraculously I made the same ferry as the main group. Randy and I (Gary had to go back early) had a relaxing lunch at the Luna Cafe near the west Seattle bridge. Good place to go on a ride like this.

The next morning I discovered another flat, this time the front. Ordered new tires the next day, along with a new carbon pump!