So, I get up to do a bike ride and notice I have a flat. Okay, I have tube right on the shelf but it needs a patch. Where's the patch kit? I spent 20 minutes looking for the patch kit which I could swear I knew exactly where it was. Just when I was thinking I would have to wait the LBS to open to go get a tube and another patch kit, I find it--fantastic! I patch the tube. I begin to pull off the rear wheel and it seems like it's fighting me. I get it off, and after some stubbornness, get the flat tube out and insert the patched tube. I begin to inflate the tire and I notice the tire wall pushing away from the rim...what? I let out the air and adjust everything and get all back correctly, at least I thought so. After getting the tire inflated and back on the bike, it appears I need to adjust the brakes. I adjust this way, that way and then suddenly, BANG! the tube blows loudly and I see that the bead of the tire near the stem all messed up. I'm never getting a ride in at this rate. I remove the wheel again and remove the tire and tube before going to the LBS--brought the tire to show the guys at the shop. At least the tire didn't blow while I was riding it and miles from home.

So, I get out of my biking gear, get into street clothes, mess around on the computer for a bit and then throw the wheel, tire, and tube into the trunk of the car and head off to the LBS. I arrive about 10 minutes before they open and not wanting to just stand out there and make them feel the need to open early, I sit in the car. Wait, there are two people approaching the door on the inside, and they come right out. I could of gone in 5 minutes earlier. So, I tell the story and get a tire(with flat protection), 2 tubes(to have a good spare), and another patch kit(always good to have extra). The guy(who I've not seen before) says he'll just put it together and he does. I do a few errands and return home.

I see that I have time to go for a ride, start to put the tire back on when I see the guy put the tread going the wrong way(not a biggie and shop has never done that before)--I put the tire on the right way. I get the wheel on and start to spin it so I can see if I need to adjust the brake(rubbing--I really need to get a new wheel). I'm leaning the bike on the kick stand so the wheel is off the ground, and the kick stand breaks! I think the cycling Gods are saying to get the new bike now and not in 3 weeks. I finally get things set, go inside, get dressed and get on the rode.

I had a good ride at least.


P.S.
What's annoying is spending money on this bike when in 3 weeks(maybe sooner), I'll be getting a road bike to ride instead of this comfort. I had the original tires in the garage, but when I was using those, I was getting flats every week, sometimes twice. I certainly didn't want to mess with that for the next 3 weeks.

I'm thinking the nice thing about living in Newport News is there are lots of sailors there who can teach you the kind of vocabulary that tends to come out of my mouth when I'm having the kind of day that you described.

Hey, many more live in Norfolk and Va Beach. I edited out some of my choice words, .

There once was a fellow from Newport News.
He had him those flat tire blues.
After he blew it he had the LBS do it.
Now he's merrily riding through Newport News!

Nice Bowdlerized version of the real limerick there, Cranky. We can come up with the original version on our own, after all I think most of us have been there, done that. Glad you got a good ride in after your trials and tribulations, Bikey.

Yes, I'm glad I got a ride. This week has been the first time back on a bike after a month to let my hand heal from surgery.

I kept expecting some zinger to finish that story off. Glad you finally got the ride it. It's cold an rainy by me, so I'm just working on some bikes that have been waiting for repairs and overhauls.

Mikey,
Well at least you are back on the bike after the surgery and that the hands is healing. Now sounds like a good time to look really hard at an N+1 so your limericks don't go over to the dark side. (We Marines know some choice words for times like that, too.)

Bill

I think it's time to offer up a blood sacrifice to the Cycling gods (I'm reading through Leviticus, and as a Mayan pagan deity worshipper I'm learning a lot about sacrifices and stuff. Sorry if it makes any of you nervous).

Volunteers? I'm sure the mountain bikers wouldn't mind.

I had a day similar to this today. Yesterday I flatted while going down Pope Lick hill. When I changed it, I could not find any evidence of puncture, either on the tube or the tire.

Today I vented out most of the CO2 and tried to pump up the tire with genuine Kentucky breeze. The cheap foot pump I had would not cooperate. I had to trek out to the LBS and buy a new one, this time a gold-plated collectors edition pump that will survive a nuclear exchange and the ensuing Zombie Apocalypse.

Then I had a pretty decent ride.

The End

Have to tell myself to cheer up. Life could be worse.
And of course, life will get worse.

Uh - "If it ain't broke .......

On the positive side, that old foot pump was ready to die anyway. At least you were able to source a replacement and still get to ride.