The Agony of Defeat at 2.4 miles

This was the week I was bound and determined to complete the 60 mile ride. I wanted my odometer to read 60 miles. We were doing my favorite destination to date… Bernalillo to Algadones. The route was taking us through Algadones twice to get the mileage in. My husband and girls were following us in the SAG car. Bailey and MacKenzie were the best cheerleaders and Frank did a great job trying to keep track of three different groups of riders.

I felt good. I was drinking enough water. I ate my peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich I was jelling up. My cadence was about 15 miles per hour. I was on the home stretch when I heard pishhhhhh. Yes, a flat. No big deal because I had a spare tube. I called Frank and he came changed it for me and Debbie and I were off again. We were in the North Guadalupe neighborhood when I discovered I was having a hard time peddling. We decided that Frank hadn’t put enough air in the tire so we used a hand pump and taking turns, pumped it up. When we took the pump off the adjust-a-valve, it came off. No big deal, we had another tube. So, I turned the bike over took off the tire and Debbie and I started changing the tube again. For some reason we were struggling getting the new tube in the tire. We kept telling each other, “it shouldn’t be this hard.” It was so hot we were dripping sweat on each other. Once we got the tube in, we attempted to put the tire back on the bike before we pumped it up. Well, if someone had been watching us and recording, they would have won money on America’s Funniest videos. Somehow the chain ended up on the wrong side of the big ring, then, the back chain wouldn’t go through the back rings. Our hands were so black and we were both so frustrated.

I ended up calling the SAG back for me because we couldn’t get it. Then… a break through and we got the tire back on the bike. Yeah!!! All we had to do was pump the tire up. So there we went, taking turns with the hand pump. When we had enough air we pulled the pump off and guess what? The adjust-a-valve flew off again. By then the SAG was there, I loaded up my and bike and went back to the parking lot in total disappointment with only 2.4 miles left to go on my ride.

Lessons learned:
• I need to learn how to change a tire better
• Get Co2 cartridges for air
• Next time, find shade to change the tire
• Cursing your bike does not help
• Dripping sweat on someone doesn’t matter
• Zip all pouches on your bike before turning it over
• Don’t give up unless you HAVE to
• Sometimes God has a different plan for you – accept it

When I got home I tried not to be disappointed. I tried to rest but had too much adrenaline going on. Even though I technically didn’t finish, I know I would have.

I have a question for you. How do you handle disappointment?
Check out the pictures below.