Final Ride For the Red Vittorias

The mighty Vittoria Rubino Slick.  Only one flat ever for me since I put them on in June of 2015.  The lack of rubber over those threads was not the cause of the flat tire. This tire retailed for $45 USD in Des Moines.  2708 miles hauling my fat arse.  I got more than my money's worth and I am not revealing that I paid much much less than retail for this tire.  But you would have too for the price I got it for.

After 2708 miles the Vittoria tires had their first flat.  And last one for that matter as they will swapped out before tomorrow's ride for the new pair I purchased last year.  I went another season waiting for that moment when I knew it was time.  Fortunately, I was a mere 9 miles away from home and had a pump, spare tube and 2 levers for just this sort of occasion.

We were on on fast bikes heading east on highway 5 heading to Indianola.  Just a mile outside Avon Lake and passing the on and off ramps for the bypass when it happened.  The ride got rough.  No noise or explosion, just a rough ride that tells one that the tube is out of air and the rim is riding on the tire only.  A quick glance down confirmed the suspicion.  Crap!  At least I had enough speed to finish crossing the last ramp and coax the bicycle to the shoulder away from traffic to amend the situation.

Look for a safe spot.  Up shift to smallest rear cog.  Stop on shoulder.  Move the brake's quick release lever to the top.  Flip bike upside down.  Remove wheel.  Run fingers over tire and visually look for the trouble maker.   Use two levers (tight tire as it is a 700x23) to remove one side of the tire.  Remove tube.  Run thumb through the inside of the tire to find the trouble maker.  Install new tube.  2 minutes of pumping.  Place wheel back on bicycle.  Forget to lower the brake's quickly release to the normal position.  Abort ride to Indianola and ride back home.

The Trouble Maker!  Blaming a pothole or rough road spot.

Yeah.  Abort.  The flat gave me an opportunity to examine the tire.  Threads were showing.  Not a time to go further.  Just get home.  New tires have been on the work stand for 11 months.  That was the last tube.  Not sure if I had patches on me.  Better safe than sorry.  About 2 miles into the return trip I recalled that I did not put the brake quick release back to normal.  Just as well I thought.  saves me a step when I take the wheel off to replace the tire at home.

Of course we detoured to Fareway and Graziano's on the way home.  Needed fixings for lunch and dinner.  The tire held.

Not a bad ride, BTW.  It was great.  I was strong and fast.  Climbed well.  Scored a GeoCouch.  Got home without further incident.  Tomorrow I will ride this bike again albeit with fresh new tires!

Nothing on TV anyway!

1 mile before the flat I scored this GeoCouch just east of the Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative on the outskirts of Des Moines.  Yes, Iowa is a great place to study apes in their natural environment!  Despite this wasteland of debris I climbed a steep hill and descended at speed the other side and then rode on a highway for about a half mile before the tire suddenly went flat.