So Far, So Bad

I went on my first bike ride into work this morning and it turned out a little less than perfect. I went about 5.5-6 miles and everything was fantastic. I was loving life... The wind was blowing through my hair, the birds were chirping... you get the picture.

Then, it happened.... I got to New Holland Pike and the road seemed to get a lot bumpier. I thought... man, the city really needs to think about fixing these roads. No sooner did that thought go through my head then I realized that I actually had a flat.

Don't get me wrong, I had considered this possibility. But, I didn't think it would happen on the first ride. To make matters worse, I had asked the bike shop to change my tires and tube and they told me that it wasn't necessary.. despite the fact that the bike hadn't been ridden in ten years. On top of that, they slapped a sticker on my bike when they were finished working on it. I'm going in there today and slapping a corporate sticker from where I work on one of their new bikes. You know... We're cool like that.

So... my last visit to Cycle Circle in Lancaster will be over lunch today (just because it's close). Then, I'm never going back to that place again. I'm going to get two tires, two new tubes (and one extra to bring with me) and a tire tool to change my flat when I get them.

This doesn't change my mind about biking to work... just makes me more interested in being prepared for the ride. I've always been one to learn things the hard way anyway. But, I'm still disappointed that I don't have a flawless story to tell at the end of my first ride.