Five flat hell ride
Just got back from the worst ride I’ve had in a long time. It was a 100 mile ride over Mt Hamilton to Livermore, Sunol and back over Calaveras- about 8500 feet of climbing. Nomally not a problem. I did it with a group of racers from my club. Between six of us we had eight flats. I had five, one guy had two and another one. One of the guys had been ridiculed on the club mailing list for planning to bring a spare tire, but I wound up using it. I get to bring the spare tire next time.
Besides flatting five times, I also got pummeled by a bunch of big fit guys who could ride hard into a stiff headwind (I’m tall and light and not making much power even when I am going well, which I am not). Then I bonked and my clubmates abandoned me. I was a bit irked by that- getting dark, no tubes or patches left, and in the middle of nowhere- but it turned out ok.
Before I get well-meaning advice about watching where I am riding or looking in the tire for debris, I did all that. I didn’t hit anything and none of us (all with 20+ years of riding) could find anything wrong with the tire or wheel.
Right now I am going to drink. I’ll look at the wheel tomorrow.