Today was probably the worst commute in a while. I started out 20 minutes late, which isn't a big deal since I leave early enough to allow for an unforeseen situation. I was all pumped to ride since I had just watched an alleycat video. Half way to work, I felt like I was riding on sand. Yup, rear flat.

Let me rewind here. Before I left, I checked my CO2 cartridge and it was empty and I didn't have anymore. So I threw my mini-pump in my bag on the way out. I looked for my extra tube, but remembered I used it last month when I got a flat. Back to the commute.

So I pull over and look for some shade which at 11 AM is basically non-existant. I get the flat fixed with a speed-patch. This is about the time I start cursing my POS mini-pump because it won't get the PSI up to where it needs to be.

Thankfully the LBS (lone bike shop) was on the way and a block north of my regular route. The lady in the shop (bless her heart) was so damn slow in finding the tube I needed. She pulled out six tubes, unrolled them all and checked to see how long the valves were even though the size was on the box and I was telling her I needed two 700X20-25 medium length presta valves. 15 minutes and $10 later I had short length presta valves. By the time I got the tube in, I had 10 minutes to get 5 miles. By some miracle I made it to work on time with a half inflated tube.

Cliffnotes: Left late, got a flat, fixed flat well enough to get to LBS, bought tube, installed tube made it to work by the skin of my teeth.