Today was kind of "aaargh."

This past week, I've been having a slow leak in the back tire of my bike. This morning, I noticed that the little screw-down bit on the Presta valve looked a little bit cockeyed, but I didn't really think much of it. Well, I aired it up, and when I was pulling the pump head off the valve, that little stem-and-cap bit broke clean off. So I thought, "crap, I broke that firm and proper, but no biggie, I've got a spare tube, I'll just swap it out and get a new spare tube on my lunch hour" Fine thought, but when I dug into my tool bag for my tire levers, not a one could be found. So I checked the pocket I used to keep my tools in in my backpack. No luck. I looked on my desk, in my sewing room, on the dining table, on the windowsill by the front door, and on the shelf where the CDs are...these are all the places I am liable to just set random stuff, but no, no tire levers.

I'd been aiming to get to the office at 7:00 a.m. this morning to work on a special project, but by the time I'd rent the house asunder looking for my tire levers, it was already 10 after. I cursed, grumbled, and resolved to drag out my old bike, top up the tires, and take my flat with me on my backpack and get a new tube and another set of tire levers, 'cause goodness only knows where my old ones are. I have two cats, which means I'll probably find 'em behind the sofa, fridge, or under the toilet sometime weeks hence.

So I take off for work at about 7:30. Halfway there (around Prospect Ave.) it starts raining. Two miles later, I'm at the office, dripping mud, spitting grit, but feeling a lot better...I'd worked a fair amount of frustration off, and at least it wasn't hot out. Plus, my new wheel is significantly lighter than one of the ones off a mountain bike. It beat the heck out of the day I had to haul my bent rim down to the bike shop to determine that it was too torqued to save.

After work, I took my wheel down to the bike shop (another 3.5 miles) to have them take a look at the tire. It's got a little cut in it, and I wasn't sure if it was that or the damaged Presta valve that was causing my slow leak. Turns out the tire's okay enough, and I had a free flat-fix coming to me anyhow on account of so recently having bought the bike there. So I got out of there just a fiver lighter, after having bought another pair of tire levers.

I learned today that I'm already totally spoiled by my road bike. My old trusty Trek 800, which has seen me through countless miles, just about felt like riding somebody else's bike.