Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Never Ever Talk About Flats Before A Ride

We all know that rule. It's a good rule. Cycling 101. Never talk about flats before or during a ride.

I got lazy and forgot about the rule. Just two days ago, I was talking to a friend about the advantages of running tubeless w/ Stans. I was bragging about how it's been over a year since my last flat. As soon as I heard those words come out of my mouth, I knew I had cursed myself and there was nothing I could do to reverse it.

The very next day on my lunch ride, I sliced a hole in my sidewall big enough that the Stans couldn't seal it. That tube that has been wrapped around my seat post for the past year finally came in handy.

I can't wait to see what happens on today's ride. I'm going to carry a tube in all three jersey pockets.

6 comments:

krissycoco said...

hahaha, I almost went back and got it done.

Rick Sunderlage said...

Jeff- Don't tempt me to engage in that conversation again. I refuse to curse myself. But do it...it's worth it.

Aaron said...

For me, thinking about it has been enough, and for better or for worse, I seem to curse others. Twice in the last year, I have thought "hmmm... I can't believe none of us has had a flat all day today", only to have a friend flat within seconds of that thought. The problem is that it's hard NOT to think about something that you know you aren't supposed to think about, you know? Because thinking about NOT thinking about something is often enough think about it sufficiently to invoke the curse. It's a crazy world we live in.

KanyonKris said...

Thanks for soaking up some flat karma - your service to cycling community has been noted.

Hope you had a good ride today.

Miles: said...

Dave and I wondered what happened.

The fact you forgot to "knock on wood" also affected Brannen as he gashed his sidewall on dragon's back.

Anonymous said...

Rule #1 of cycling - you do not talk about flats. Rule #2 - you do not talk about flats.

Two years ago during a ride, while the group had stopped to fix a flat caused by goatheads (small thorns which are common on the trails around here), I said that while living in Northern Colorado, I have never gotten a goathead in my tires. Doh! Not 10 minutes later, I got a flat and checked my tire. Yep - not 1, but 3 (yes, three) goatheads.

mtb w