The morning is cold and overcast, but I still wanted to soak in a hotspring before taking off on the bike once again. I’m feeling groggy, my legs are sore, and my butt has started to feel the pain of this trip, bikepacking from Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney. It’s day four.
Fueled up on coffee and after a quick soak in the Mammoth Hot Springs, I am ready to bounce down the dirt road back to the highway, so I can cover some serious ground. So, I loaded up the bike put on my gloves, and started pedaling down the road.
Sadly, less than a mile down the way, my tires were low on pressure. What the heck! I thought to myself as I recalled the day before when I get a flat. This is a brand new tube, maybe 20 miles on it, why is it flat already?!
Breaking out the pump, I inflated both the front and the back. They wouldn’t hold air and I was out of extra tubes.
Thankfully, Kristin had not gone far with the van, so I loaded my bike and hitched a ride back to the town of Mammoth instead of walking.
In the middle of a Starbucks parking lot, I poured fix a flat into both tires in hopes of getting back on the road ASAP. Nothing. ERRRRRR!! I was getting pissed. This happens everytime head out on an adventure like this it feels like!
All I want to do is ride, think, and enjoy the beauty. But, not right now.
As the morning is still early, I have to wait for a bike store to open and when it does, I snag a few tubes.
With the new tubes in hand, I mount my trusty stead and head south. I’m about three hours behind and need to make up some time… fast. So, I put my head down and grind away as the pavement zooms past under my perfectly inflated tires.
Thankfully Kristin was close that I could catch a ride, pushing my bike back to Mammoth would have been a b!@#$!
As the road blocks fall to the side and I reach a cruising speed, a smile returns to my face. There is nothing better than flying down a road on a bike.
Then it hits me. The wind. Strong. Very strong. So strong it almost forces me over and grinds my progress to a halt. What the heck! What kind of day is this? First, I have flat tires, next the wind, who knows what will come after all of this. But, for now, all I can do is continue pedaling. So, that is what I do.
In a comical manner, I pass a few construction workers fixing the road. I am not moving quickly, I am crouched down, and in my lowest gear pedaling as hard as I can. My speed was about 4 MPH. Laughable. Together the construction workers look at me and bump elbows to take a glance at the show I am putting on for them. At first, I was embarrassed, but then I started to laugh with them from behind my BUFF. If you can’t beat them, join them. Right?
After a few more hours of horrible head winds, I was granted easy passage making quick time to Bishop, CA winding through a variety of backroads and a short-and-sweet mountain pass.
As my belly rumbled, I knew it was time for me to take a break. So, I tucked into a church parking lot and snacked. There was still a long ways to go, that feeling of defeat was setting in, and doubt continued to creep in with every bite.
Looking at my watch, it was time to go. I was going to fall short of my goal for the day, but that is okay, at least I got out there and gave it my all.
