Flat tyre

This riding gig is all fun and games until you get a flat tyre. Luckily I'd managed to get to and from my second job and I was heading home. Still, very inconvenient. Of course I am completely incapable of changing a tyre and all I could manage was a sigh of frustration. I locked my bike and took the wheel off. I was pretty proud of myself for managing that much. The next day I rode hubby's bike to work while (don't laugh) I took the flat to the bike shop for them to fix. So this morning hubby gave me and my fixed wheel a lift to work. Now, this is something they don't tell you at the bike shop (and for ages I couldn't work out what was going on). I THINK a tyre should really be fairly flat in order to attach it to the frame, because otherwise the tyre doesn't fit between the brake pads. Well I learnt that the hard way after struggling for quite a while to get the goddam tyre on. It's all experience. And the batteries in my front light needed changing. Yes, ok, I must be pretty silly because I didn't know it took batteries (I don't know what I thought the power source was) and then I couldn't work out how to open it. I had almost decided to just buy a new light when - pop! - the thing opened and two AA batteries fell out. I had bought AAA batteries so d'oh again. I'll learn. I'm now dreading getting a flat tyre on the BACK. I don't even know if I could get that tyre off. Mind you these "quick release" things are handy. Still, nothing quite like the feeling of incompetence when you take a flat tyre to a bike shop. It's that whole look of pathetic sympathy.

I've finished MAR's book "Footprints on the Water". An interesting read. These elite athletes literally live, eat and breathe running. I love running, but I don't LIVE running. That level of committment is incredible. And natural talent was not something I was blessed with either. Still the moral of the book seems to be that being an Olympic Champion means nothing unless you are true to yourself - and a kind of like that philosophy. I am happy to send this book to the next lucky reader. And just to be completely random, I'll send it to the first person who posts a comment that they would like it. If you are an Ausrunner, PM me your address.

My new gym is still not open. Waiting, waiting. My leg is still not better. Waiting, waiting. The latest accessory on my bike is a pouch thing that sits on the crossbar. Good for the mobile and the swiper thing to get into my workplace garage. And my latest "wishful thinking" accessory is trouser clips so I can ride to my second job already dressed and save myself 10 mintues.

For note: I must be getting better at cycling because I love the downhill ride home more and more each day. I'm getting more confident and am braking less. I am confortable hooning down the hill at 30km/h! I can sort of see cars a bit through the trees at some points, and the cars are generally stationary at that time of the evening in peak hour. Love it!!

For second note: I am NOT getting better at yoga. Patience.


*Edit* Gosh I almost forgot!! I had the BEST bike ride on the weekend when I met up with Hann. It was such an amazing experience to meet up with another blogger. We had so much in common! I was quite surprised. But then again, I'm bound to have something in common with someone who has the patience to read my blog!! Or perhaps it was because she already knew so much about me and vice versa! Anyway, more meetings planned on the agenda!