Freewheel Day 5: Drumright to Perry
Sometimes you feel like a train, and sometimes you feel like the track.
Today I felt like the track. Four miles into today's ride, I had a blowout. I hate flat tires. Especially on the back wheel. And this morning's flat was on the back wheel, of course. I got it changed pretty quickly, though, but realized that the CO2 cartridges I had bought were the wrong kind. Fortunately I had an old one I was able to use, and was back on the road soon.
One thing that struck me today is that the flat gods were out in big numbers. The road was littered with cyclists and flat tires. I even saw an old farmer in a flat bed pickup with a flat. No one was immune. I told Spencer that if I have another flat, I was calling Lisa. Besides, it is written in my contract: no more than two flats a day. Well I should not have said anything, because by the time I reached mile 25, I had another one. This time on the front. And to make matters worse, I didn't have the right equipment to fix it with. I called Lisa, who had already arrived in Perry, and she started back my way. In the meantime, Jared from Sun and Ski Sports happened by, and helped me get the tire fixed. Fortunately, I was at the intersection of Highway 18, which leads straight to the turnpike where Lisa would be. So once I was back up and running, I ventured off the official course and made my way north for several miles, until I ran into my SAG support. We loaded up the bike, turned the rig around, and by 10:30 we were in Perry and ready for showers.
Here is the link to my Garmin site, pitiful though it may be.
The many flat tires we saw today is indicative of a bigger problem that exists with FreeWheel.
This is my sixth time in eight years to participate in this ride, and the last two times I have noticed that the routing method has changed considerably, and not for the better. It is easy to map out seven days of riding when all you do is take cyclists on the main roads. But that is not the safest method, and it results in more mechanical breakdowns (mostly flats), more frustration between drivers and cyclists, and potentially more accidents. Today we left Drumright and rode up highway 99, one of busiest rural highways in the state, mostly from oilfield workers, tanker trucks, etc. Then we turned onto highway 51, which is a direct link between Tulsa and Stillwater. Busy roads mean more time on the shoulder, and more time on the shoulder means more road debris, which means more flat tires.
The best routes on any ride, including Freewheels of the past, are the narrow, winding country lanes that knit this state together. I like them because it takes me back to a time before interstate highways, toll roads, and convenience stores. There is little traffic, and plenty of room to ride your ride. I realize that it is more difficult logistically to put together rides like that, but I'm afraid that if it doesn't happen, more and more people will opt for rides in other states, like Iowa, Kansas, and the Katy Trail in Missouri.
But enough complaining. Here are some pictures from today.
Spencer climbing out of the Cimarron River Valley
FreeWheel is a family affair. This mom doesn't pull her son with a trailer, she makes him ride. She
looks like a fit enough cyclist that she could outrun everyone out here, but with the heart of a mom, she stays
with him and encourages him along. Nice people.
Never wear a "peace" jersey in goat roper country. They'll think you're a hippie and run you down.
We are staying in Perry tonight, where this little girl sold us a plate of fajitas. They were good!
Perry is the county seat of Noble County. Timothy McVeigh was arrested only a couple of miles from here,
and this courthouse is the scene you probably remember of him being taken away in a flack jacket with hundreds of people shouting at him.
But today is about happier things, like the fact that I found an M&M ice cream cookie.
We found a booth where the Tuesday Afternoon Ladies Club were selling snacks. I don't know what they
do at the Tuesday Afternoon Ladies Club, and they weren't talking...
...but they certainly did look innocent enough, right?
Perry is a great town! The people have been very accommodating, and we have had a great time here. Tomorrow we will get up and ride to Tonkawa, home of Northern Oklahoma College. It is a 60 mile ride. There is a chance of storms, and the wind is due to shift back to the north, so we will see how it goes. I got reloaded with tubes and CO2 cartridges, and I really hope I don't need them.
Today I felt like the track. Four miles into today's ride, I had a blowout. I hate flat tires. Especially on the back wheel. And this morning's flat was on the back wheel, of course. I got it changed pretty quickly, though, but realized that the CO2 cartridges I had bought were the wrong kind. Fortunately I had an old one I was able to use, and was back on the road soon.
One thing that struck me today is that the flat gods were out in big numbers. The road was littered with cyclists and flat tires. I even saw an old farmer in a flat bed pickup with a flat. No one was immune. I told Spencer that if I have another flat, I was calling Lisa. Besides, it is written in my contract: no more than two flats a day. Well I should not have said anything, because by the time I reached mile 25, I had another one. This time on the front. And to make matters worse, I didn't have the right equipment to fix it with. I called Lisa, who had already arrived in Perry, and she started back my way. In the meantime, Jared from Sun and Ski Sports happened by, and helped me get the tire fixed. Fortunately, I was at the intersection of Highway 18, which leads straight to the turnpike where Lisa would be. So once I was back up and running, I ventured off the official course and made my way north for several miles, until I ran into my SAG support. We loaded up the bike, turned the rig around, and by 10:30 we were in Perry and ready for showers.
Here is the link to my Garmin site, pitiful though it may be.
The many flat tires we saw today is indicative of a bigger problem that exists with FreeWheel.
This is my sixth time in eight years to participate in this ride, and the last two times I have noticed that the routing method has changed considerably, and not for the better. It is easy to map out seven days of riding when all you do is take cyclists on the main roads. But that is not the safest method, and it results in more mechanical breakdowns (mostly flats), more frustration between drivers and cyclists, and potentially more accidents. Today we left Drumright and rode up highway 99, one of busiest rural highways in the state, mostly from oilfield workers, tanker trucks, etc. Then we turned onto highway 51, which is a direct link between Tulsa and Stillwater. Busy roads mean more time on the shoulder, and more time on the shoulder means more road debris, which means more flat tires.
The best routes on any ride, including Freewheels of the past, are the narrow, winding country lanes that knit this state together. I like them because it takes me back to a time before interstate highways, toll roads, and convenience stores. There is little traffic, and plenty of room to ride your ride. I realize that it is more difficult logistically to put together rides like that, but I'm afraid that if it doesn't happen, more and more people will opt for rides in other states, like Iowa, Kansas, and the Katy Trail in Missouri.
But enough complaining. Here are some pictures from today.
Spencer climbing out of the Cimarron River Valley
FreeWheel is a family affair. This mom doesn't pull her son with a trailer, she makes him ride. She
looks like a fit enough cyclist that she could outrun everyone out here, but with the heart of a mom, she stays
with him and encourages him along. Nice people.
Never wear a "peace" jersey in goat roper country. They'll think you're a hippie and run you down.
We are staying in Perry tonight, where this little girl sold us a plate of fajitas. They were good!
Perry is the county seat of Noble County. Timothy McVeigh was arrested only a couple of miles from here,
and this courthouse is the scene you probably remember of him being taken away in a flack jacket with hundreds of people shouting at him.
But today is about happier things, like the fact that I found an M&M ice cream cookie.
We found a booth where the Tuesday Afternoon Ladies Club were selling snacks. I don't know what they
do at the Tuesday Afternoon Ladies Club, and they weren't talking...
...but they certainly did look innocent enough, right?
Perry is a great town! The people have been very accommodating, and we have had a great time here. Tomorrow we will get up and ride to Tonkawa, home of Northern Oklahoma College. It is a 60 mile ride. There is a chance of storms, and the wind is due to shift back to the north, so we will see how it goes. I got reloaded with tubes and CO2 cartridges, and I really hope I don't need them.
Doesn't sound like you are enjoying free wheel this year.
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Actually we are having a great time. Other than the busy highways on Thursday, it has been great. Wish you were here!
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