Bicycle Monterey ~ Remembering Lessons
Just the other day only a few days ago, I took a bicycle ride with my brother out to Monterey, CA ~ a route we have followed more then one time but always made for a great day’s ride. This ride was no different, except that it also helped me remember from experiences before at how important it is to always be prepared for the worst.
As was the case this time, as we had begun the trip just as we usually do following Old Boronda Road through the fields and away from the traffic, and took the turn to connect to California Highway 183 which is the route from Salinas to Castroville which also connects to the well known Pacific Coast Trail that goes South to North and back again. The reason this part of the route was chosen was because it adds some miles to the bicycle ride and it’s a nice way to go when you have the time and just want to enjoy each rotation of the pedals. Not to mention it also connects directly into the Marina Section of the Multi Use Path that goes from Castroville to Pacific Grove. All seemed to be going smoothly, as we traveled through the cities cruising at whatever chosen speed until we were just leaving Sand City’s Edgewater Shopping Center when it happened.
Although it did not come as so much of a surprise, as really it was expected, when his rear tire went flat, as a result of low air pressure or a faulty tube the valve broke at the base, not a sharp object but simply the valve breaking at the base. Considering he is riding a Giant Rincon with Disk Brakes the fix was not so difficult then you might imagine following is the steps taken;
How To Fix A Flat Tire @ Helium
We were able to get back on the road quickly. Though it also helped me remember preventative measures.
In that article there is detailed instructions on how to fix and keep going when riding even a short distance, using the key element and simplest fix possible though it is also one of the most important fixes each cyclist should know and can do blindfolded if you catch my drift.
The lessons learned, have been many of the same lessons regular cyclists experience day by day … to get out there and ride is to be self sufficent mostly, from being able to fix your ride to quick jerry rigging to get you where you need to go. On that point below is a list of some of the things I never leave home without when on a long distance ride;
The extra tube I have found to be ome of the most important things, as I have never really liked dealing with patch kits, whether it was because I was using a lower quality patch kit or not hard to say, but what I do know is that it is better to have another tube make the switch and take the ride home then try and patch it and see what happens. Not to say patch kits are not handy, since even with a new tube it is possible that it may puncture or pop, rather I would use it as a last resort, which would mean I should carry at least one besides. On my earlier 110.71 mile ride on my old Schwinn I was fortunate as the worst that happened is the tire went flat in Watsonville, I had a separate tube and there was Air Compressors at the nearby gas station so I fixed it and finished the ride, with a Burger King Cheeseburger no less.
The first aid kit, you may think there is no chance that you could get hurt on riding a bike, but I have found this is not always the case, as you never know, my own experience on the road has taught me albeit the hard way that I need to be prepared, as road rash happens, regardless how good a bicyclists you are. Even on some earlier rides out to Monterey coming down from Veterans Memorial Park I misjudged a turn, as the ride from the top of the hill is fast and curvy there, and went over the railing. Blood dripping I still made the ride down and got home all on my bike even with blood flowing. When I got home I realized how important even a basic First Aid Kit was a necessary part of the whole process. Since then I have always carried it with me in fact it came in handy on the ride I made a video on;
Remembering the journey over Old San Juan Grade which still remains one of my favorite routes even though it consists of some major climbing, the top of the hill has a nice little area to relax, once you reach the top and the view is well worth the ride up, as it goes from Salinas, to Old Stage Road and up over Old San Juan Grade, will go into more detail about that route in another post. But in the video it does give you an idea about the injuries my younger brother experienced on the downhill run of that exciting hill.
It was truly a remarkable experience and worthy of explanation, of climbing a mountain descending a hill and losing it on a corner nearly there at the bottom but kept on riding even after that. Fortunately for us when we got into San Juan Bautista we met a couple of Officers from the local precinct who after talking with a us a bit understood that my little brother needed some medical help. The rest of the story can be found A Ride and an Unexpected end which can be found at the original blog on blogspot. as it is a bit out of the scope of this particular article, as the lesson learned from one experience and others was that it is good to carry a First Aid Kit wherever you may go particularly on rides at distance, along with the knowledge of how best to use what you currently have in the smallest of cases. Some of the basics I carry;
That should also work well for you in whatever journey you take by bicycle,or on two wheels by human power from point A to Point B and back again.Which generally speaks to the medical carry on for any journey by human power. As well as something learned from my own experiences in traveling and following through on the choice made not so long ago to experience life on two wheels.
Some other suggestions are more or less, pretty self explanatory;
- Purchasing and carrying along a portable pump with an extra tube.
- A patch kit, as a last resort ~ because often it only good enough for single use.
- Carrying these things along with a simple Mini Tool can help with most basic repairs that are necessary on a bike.
- And of course carrying a book on bicycle repair, is also helpful in most matters.
In closing, there are many things that should become a necessary part of every bicyclists, hiker, or walkers standard tool belt, to be prepared for the better or the worst.
