Today, I got all ready to ride. I knew the winds would be in my face or driving at me from the side, but I was ready to see how far I could get -- mostly because I haven't ridden in a couple of days and I miss it! So, I packed the car, attached the cart to the bike, got Remy inside (which wasn't difficult with treats), and started out. Tayler took off by car toward Jamestown, which was off from my map but the best place to find lodging. I figured I probably wouldn't make 50 miles in the wind, anyway, so she could pick us up and drive us to the hotel, and then take us back to a satisfactory spot on the route again in the morning.
No such luck. We started out from the hotel, and after about .1 mile, Remy was scratching at the inside of the cart. I talked to him. I soothed him. I finally stopped and, when he stopped scratching and whining, gave him a treat. The wind was brutal, absolutely howling through and around the cart. That, combined with the minimal paved shoulder and (fortunately not too many) semis, explained to me what he was complaining about. At .2 miles, I stopped again. I talked to Remy, etc. And I started up again. This time, I noticed some pull back from the cart, as though it wasn't as firmly connected as it needed to be.
At .3 miles, I stopped again. I noticed that the plate on the cart that was attached to the bike wasn't very firmly connected. I guess I hadn't gotten it screwed into place well enough. I screwed it in. I got on the bike. It wouldn't go. It was as though the brake was on. I got off and looked at it. Seemed okay when I wasn't on it. I got back on. It still wouldn't go. I got off again. (Fortunately, I didn't fall over any of the times when the bike wouldn't go, but the first time was a bit of a close call.) I disengaged the cart and flipped the bike over. Seems the rear wheel hadn't gotten very well seated when I loosened the axle pin to adjust the cart plate. I messed with it for a while and finally got it back where it belonged.
By this time, I had decided that the wind was prohibitive to Remy's comfort and to me, so I messaged Tayler to come and get us, crossed the highway, and without peddling much returned to the hotel parking lot .3 miles away. As we were going, though, I noticed that the front tire appeared to be out of true. Yes, that certainly seemed to be the case. When we got back to a safe spot, I got off the bike and spun the wheel. Definitely a wobble. Sigh. I was pretty well bundled up, So Remy and I stayed at the picnic table outside the hotel for a while, but finally it was too cold and we went inside. Tayler showed up shortly after that.
The cart folded up easily, and I stowed it in the backseat of the car. Tayler suggested just driving on to Bismarck and finding a bike shop there, but that would cut out at least two more potential days of riding. Also, I had already made a reservation in Jamestown for tonight that I was unable to cancel, and I knew that there was an outstanding bike shop in Fargo. So we drove back to Fargo for the bike repairs, a really nice lunch (Hodo's on Broadway - Tayler had a veggie burger with some of the best fries I've ever tasted; and I had a cup of vegetable beef soup and a side order of "field mushrooms & bacon." Yeah. Interesting, and delicious.), a little shopping (I got two more Harry Dresden books, and Tayler got a bathing suit. The power went out at Barnes & Noble, and they checked me out using the old-fashioned "imprint-style" credit card thingy.), and headed to Jamestown.
Turns out this hotel was a great choice. It's not a chain, but it appears to be the center of community activity -- a place for weddings and receptions, with it's own decent restaurant and a central pool/spa/gaming area. So now we're off to supper.
Tomorrow, 22 mph west winds AGAIN, so probably more driving, but I'll wait till morning to decide for sure. After that, it looks as though the winds will die down and the sun will come out. I feel as though I haven't even really started the meat of the riding yet.
And I want to meet more people. Here's hoping. But I'll take what I get and make something of it. Missing you all.
No comments:
Post a Comment