Time to find some Copper.

Ah, friends!  It's time for some bike riding, tent sleepin, mountian pass conquerin' epic times.  Otherwise known as the Courage Classic.  Starts tomorrow, and includes Vail Pass.  Forecast calling for 50% showers, so I'll try to ride down the mountain once I get to the top rather than slide down.   I've got some promises to keep, and staying alive and in once piece I think I can handle.

So yesterday I went for another test ride on my 'flat producer' bicycle.  Or at least, that's what I have dubbed it now.  Cant' seem to get a break, even after changing out the rim tape yesterday before the ride.  I have now experienced this:

For you avid bike riders, you'll notice that it appears that the tube has come thru the tire.  Nope.  This is actually in the tire itself, independent of the tube.  And I had to puncture it to get it resolved.  I decided to ride on, and didn't have another issue.  I did, however, patronize the local bike shop for a new tire, new tube, and a new pump.  I seem to have a knack for losing pump parts on rides that make my bike pumps useless.  Yesterday was another example.  So I have purchased yet another pump, hopefully this time I will not lose any parts. 

I did see this while I was having tire issues:

 It was a good day to ride all in all, and the brief sprinkle of rain after this pic on the way down was wonderful.  Another pic of my Thursday ride:

My next post will be from the thriving metropolis of Copper Mountain, Colorado.  Most likely it will be after the first day of riding (Saturday) but you might get lucky.