I went for a little ride yesterday. After doing some business at my bank I was on my way out of the shopping center when things get strange. There's a noise like something is caught in my spokes and the bike starts to ride funny. "Hmmm, I must have picked up something in my tire" I think. But the tire isn't losing air. Well, I've taken to riding with a camera so as they say a picture's worth a thousand words.

Well, I have to pull the nail and as I do all the air rushes out the two gaping holes the thing has made. Unfortunately, I've recently purchased this bike and neglected to get a spare tube for it. So it becomes a test of my patching skillls to place two patches next to each other on the 700x28 tube.

As I'm fixing this mess. I notice a unique truck pull into the Burger King drivethru. Since I've got the camera out, I'll figure I'll snap a shot. Just as I ready to take the picture a car pulls up behind the truck and blocks my view. Oh, Well.

I'm finishing up the tube repair, when this same truck drives slowly by and the driver starts beeping his horn. The two guys in the truck don't stop. They just drive by beeping the horn with the young guy riding shotgun waving at me with a goofy grin.

Now I have no idea what this is about since a car horn is not a good at communicating sophisticated messages. No problem, I know exactly where this distinct vehicles resides. I figure I'll just swing by and see if what they wanted.

Just as I figured, they were headed home. I ride slowly by the house and think about what I'm doing. If I had a horn or a bell I would have started ringing it. As I'm going by, out of the side door comes one of the guys. I can't pass this up. I stop and ask the guy if I can take a picture of the truck. He's more than pleased at the suggestion. Jeff, as I find out he is named, never asked how I knew where he lived but he is amazed at how quickly I made it to his place.

Actually, I'm just using the camera to get my foot in the door, really the yard. I just like to send the message to motorists that cyclists are people and that we are tuned into our enviroment.

As I'm taking a few pictures the conversation turns to THE WAR. Jeff remarks something to the effect that my interest in his auto-expression must mean that I am in support. "Well, I definitely support the troops, anyway" I reply. No sense in starting a debate here I figure.

Jeff then confides that he really wanted to write "Protesters are *******" but he decided to be nice. What can I reply "Meeeoooww"? Jeff then goes into the tirade about those lousy actors who make all that money in the USA but don't support their country and finishes it off with his accessment that they seem to think this is Vietnam.

"Nostalgia, maybe" I remark and Jeff seems to like this. I decide it's time to leave and get a handshake from Jeff. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have shook my hand if we had met last month in D.C. but that's to be expected when our leaders decide to divide the country.

If I were a suspicious type, I would say maybe they had something to do with the nail in your tire. It obviously didn't get there just by riding over something.

The Thread is 'Unbelievable' flat

One more picture. I figured I had to test the dirt capabilities of the cyclocross. Um, I'm not used to the top-tube being that high. OOOWWW. Yes this is Jersey, Smithville park, home to the Star bicycle.

Star bikes had a little wheel in the front and a big wheel in the back.

https://www.metzbicyclemuseum.com/bike3.htm

I ride a bike every chance I get. I have picked up a nail just like that and ruined a tire. I agree with the guy who owns the pickup truck!
I have two first cousins in the US navy and friends of my children who are in the navy and marines.

Gosh! Yellow helmet and gloves just like me!

No, I definitely picked up the nail while riding the bike. I felt the tire pick up something and immediately the bike handled strangely.

While I don't agree with Jeff's position on protesting. I certainly want to see everyone fighting for our country return home quickly and safely. Actually, the truck has been painted patriotically ever since 9/11. Jeff told me that a friend was killed in the WTC bombing and that's when he turned the old Toyota into a rolling star spangled banner.

Heh...I never saw a nail go in sideways like that. Are you sure there wasn't a sniper with a nail gun stalking your route?

Cool pics! Thanks for posting them.

I love the paint job on the truck - especially the registration plate.