Monday, December 5, 2011

TdStJB Report

The Tour de St Jean Babtiste was a memorable one – for all the right and wrong reasons.  David, Steven and I enjoyed our Sunday morning gravel and dirt ride.  We were all warm enough, sometimes too warm although I did need to use some of Steven's hotpads for my feet.  The roads were in good to excellent condition and we kept a sensible pace for a two hour pedal to the promised land of curds and gravy.  The poutine was great - mine included sausage, fried onions and bacon.  Bistro 758 was a pleasant surprise for all newcomers and worthy of a do-over.  We could have biked home but our goal was to eat a plateful of comfy fries and not confict with the Athena SAR.  We were met by our families (minus Carr et al – sorry) for lunch and to get a ride home.  

 









Steven and my clan loaded up the bikes on my car and I decided to take the gravel roads home to retrace our steps and to look for better lanes for future rides.  I should have skipped this idea and taken the highway home – I know this now but isnt there something about taking the roads less traveled and being open to adventure or something?!  Anywho – on our way back there was a dip in the road that I slowed down for, but apparently not enough when you have a bike rack.  Four of the six straps holding the rack on the car ripped and to my horror when I looked in the rearview mirror I saw three bikes falling to the dirt road behind me.  OH SHIT.  The bikes had some bent brake levers, scrapped paint, and a broken spoke or two but all in all we came out ok (future reports may prove otherwise).  Steven and I untangled the heap of bikes, tied knots in all the straps, reloaded the bikes and continued home.  A few minutes later the car was making funny noises that I first attributed to the dirt road but soon realized was a flat tire.  Shitty.  So we had to unload/load the bikes so we could change the tire and limp home – this time on the highway.  Having Steven in the car with my family did add to the embarrassment level but he did help diffuse a tense situation and help me with the agonizing loading/salvaging/loading/unloading/changing a tire/loading duties.  In summary: the ride was great, the food was great, I’m sorry about your bikes, and I need a bike hitch.   Good times followed by less than good times.   JS  

Flat tire photo.  No shots of the bikes carnage.
I wasn't in the mood for documentation.

10 comments:

  1. Bikes falling off is shitty. I have a gently used trunk rack you can have in exchange for a 12. But Kokanee doesn't cut it in my neck of the woods.

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  2. Just read this while eating. My lunch almost came out of my nose.

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  3. I don't know what you're talking about. What's wrong with Busch? Taste? Bouquet? "Head for the mountains of Busch....Beeeeeer!"

    Your trunk rack might come in handy. Does it fall off? JS

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  4. Who doesn't like a rousing sing-a-long...
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WSjCj-lElA
    So good.
    JS

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  5. Johnny,

    Some scratches, broken spokes, f-upped wheels and bar tape, were a small price to pay for the chance to witness the epic downward spiral that was our ride home. Glad I was there to prevent you from shooting yourself or your family in the corn field. Are we going again this Sunday? That poutine was dynamite.

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  6. Shit. Sorry brother. That sucks. And yes, I am totally in for another ride. JS

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  7. Do you even have to ask? Little Scrapper is all us city sophisticates drink.

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  8. You're a classy guy Brad. LS was a tough sell with the Labbats Light crowd at the curling club. What do you drink at the TNR? Speaking of...why aren't you at the TNR? JS

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