Leigh Who Saved the Ride: June 23, 2012

Leigh the Mechanic and Pata

So we made it to Dick’s Wheel Shop in Herkimer NY though “the kindness of strangers” and were standing in front of it when a young man rode up on a BMX bike and asked what was up.  I said that I broke a spoke and he said something about how that was a bummer.  He proceeded to open the shop and helped us wheel our bikes into the shop. Such was the beginning of an encounter that would prove to be our wheel salvation.

He looked at the bike and the wheel and said that he could fix it.  I sighed a sigh of relief. He admired the upgrades to the Fuji and the tires but commented that the wheels were the weakest part of the bike.  They were the stock wheels and the rims did not have reinforced spoke eyelets and the hubs were probably made in Taiwan.  We decided once we get to Rochester to get a new wheel.

In the meanwhile, he fixed what I had like a wizard.  He fixed the spoke, trued the wheel, made it right.   

P.S. It's been two days riding since the wheel was fixed and it is still true!


DW: Leigh you did an outstanding job with the wheel! Two days later as we ride the mostly empty Erie Canal bike path I ride behind Pata's bike and the wheel is perfectly true. You are the master of the spoke wrench! Much appreciation for taking us in and getting us out the same day; especially considering your shop is only open for four hours on Saturday.

Angels Named Tony and Kelly

Kelly and Tony

Yesterday was a very difficult day.  It started out okay.  We made our way out of the Albany area and worked our way to St. Johnsville -- a 60 mile trek.  Most of the day was on the Erie Canal Bikeway.  It was a very flat crushed stone and packed dirt trail for the most part.  The trail was off the main roads -- which was relief after the harrowing experiences in Albany where we crossed bridges which were under construction and had only one narrow lane. 

Anyway, somewhere along the way my rear wheel went out of true.  By the end of the day I had a broken spoke and a bicycle that was as David said, “dead in the water.” 

Luckily, we did make it to the very nice marina camp ground, but after taking the cassette off the wheel and trying to fix the spoke it was clear that the job was bigger than I could manage – especially without a right sized spoke and a lot of time. 

So we were pondering what the hell we were going to do, when David saw a man and asked him if he knew where the nearest bike shop was.  The man, whose name was Tony, answered that the nearest one was in Herkimer, which was about 17 miles from the campground.  He told us he was going there in the morning to pick up a wheel he had left there for repair.  David asked him if it was possible for him to give me a ride with the wheel so I could get it fixed.  He said sure, that in fact he could get us and our bikes and gear there because he had his cargo van at the marina and was staying overnight on his boat with his girlfriend Kelly.

The wonder van!

We couldn’t believe his generous offer and accepted it immediately.  We didn’t know if the wheel would be fixable or not, but we could only find out by going to the bike shop. 

We have no idea what we would have done if we hadn’t met Tony.

 

As it turned out, David and Tony were cut of the same cloth.  Both had been smokers who gave up the cigarettes for running marathons.  Both had blown out their knees and had to have meniscus surgery.  Both had returned to athletic activity way too soon after the surgery and their knees had suffered.  (Kelly and I also had a lot in common as partners of these guys.)  And both David and Tony had turned to bike riding, when they could no longer run.  Strange how these things happen!

Tony and Kelly gave us a ride to Dick’s Wheel Shop in Herkimer and dropped us off.  It also turned out that the owner Dick was a customer of Tony’s.  He owns a water and coffee company called Campione Water Company.  He told us to tell Dick that Tony sent us, in fact brought us to his shop, which we did.

I believe that things happen for a reason and that the Universe will provide what I need.  This was born true by this incident. (David said that the whole thing made him believe in a higher power.) Tony and Kelly were our angels and we are so grateful for their generosity and kindness.   May they be blessed as we were (without the broken spoke though)!  Thank you again, Tony and Kelly.  

Some Pictures of the Tour

Here I am on Day 2.  I don't look too worse for wear. . . yet.

Me after a big climb on Day 3.  Phew!

At the camp site with Rosie the Touring Bear

So David took this picture after we crossed this one lane bridge that was under construction into Albany.  

In Albany. . .the vendor took this picture.  It's really, really hot!

Tuesday: Climbed Goshen Mountian

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Okay, the computer was resurrected to some degree.  (It only works on safe mode and very slowly.)  Yet it functions, which is good.

We are at the DAR State Forrest and don’t have internet or electricity.  This will be posted when I can.

It was a hard climbing day, but short.  We went about 34 miles which is modest, but definitely enough. 

Computer Died

So my computer just died. Sigh. I will be posting when I can or very briefly with my phone. More trials I guess.

Day Two and Still Climbing

We are in Amherst MA on day two.  David got some sunstroke so we decided to get an inexpensive motel to stay the night and hopefully get a reasonable night’s rest.  Day one was rather grueling.  Not only did Google maps take us over the hills (literally) on roads that did not reach our destination, but the climbing was vicious and we got a late start.  We didn’t reach Wells State Park until close to 8 PM after back tracking a few times and getting slightly lost.  Unfortunately, a mile here and there off-course adds up! 

I also think that the fact that David was recently ill and that I had been too busy with my dad’s death, my daughter’s graduation, and getting ready to really train, play a factor in today’s exhaustion.  So the trip has started off with some trials – and David keeps saying, “and it’s just day two!” 

But I think the real lesson is that it IS really just a day at a time (and sometimes counted in hours or minutes).  We had to veer off our original plan and do a shorter day than we expected.  Yet, I am sure there will be many of these “recalculations” and they are to be expected.  Yesterday, the day was much longer than we expected – we went almost 70 miles when we expected to do 50 or so.  So, how to take things in stride is the key.

So, I am working on not stressing about the magnitude of the trip or the fact that my knee hurts  or how I will feel in two weeks of two months.  Right now, I am trying to rest after a shorter day of 45 miles (again with some tangential routes) and look at the route to Rochester NY to see how to minimize the climbing.  I am focusing on being in the moment and thankful for the chance to give this trip a go and for the support I have gotten along the way. 

Touring as a Tribute to My Father

About two weeks ago my dad died.  It has been a hard couple of weeks.  Now every time I get on my bike I start to cry.  Mind you, my dad and my riding are not connected in some special way. However, I think the reason I cry is because riding is a contemplative practice for me.  Riding is a time when I am in my body and quiet.  It is both active and reflective.  It is a time when I can ruminate.  Recently, my ruminations have been about my dad and my upcoming tour across the country and the connections between the two. 

My partner and I have been planning to ride our bicycles from Bedford, MA to El Segundo CA – We will travel east to west, across Adventure Cycling’s Northern Tier bicycle route, then to the Lewis and Clark trail, and then down the pacific coast.  We will ride more in one summer than I do most years.  It is a rather daunting trip and it is odd that in the midst of grieving, I am planning to undertake something so challenging for me.  Yet, I think this is a good thing.  It reminds me of things my father said to me, especially late in his life, about living for the day and following your dreams while you can.  I think he felt he didn’t do enough of that.  So, in a funny way taking this trip is a tribute to my father.