Trip Report:Winter Haven/ Orlando (Or "A Tale of Two Tires")

A while back, I mentioned my being tired of riding in
circles, and wanting to "go somewhere".

I have a daughter who lives in Orlando (Had two, actually,
but one just moved to New York City. Which, of course, is
another story ;-)).

It is hard to find a bike route in central florida
without having significant portions on busy two lane
roads. After lots of recon, I found a route that seemed
fairly safe to me. Last Saturday, with a good weather
forecast and two cups of coffee under my belt, I began
the trek of around 60 miles.

Clear blue skies, little or no wind. We were looking good.

I took my normal local routes across town to US 27 then
north for the first part of my trip. I have found that 4
lane divided highways , with a paved shoulder, are pretty
safe feeling. Saturday morning the traffic was moderate.
Things were looking good. the first 20 miles went well, then
came the I-4 intersection.

Why are interstates always under construction?????
(Rhetorical question, of course) There was more traffic than
I like when the shoulder disappeared. I had to "take the
lane" with a 3 inch drop off into sand on my right. All the
cars gave me a considerate amount of room. but this kind of
riding requires an amount of faith I'm not comfortable with.
At the actual overpass, things necked down even more.
Luckily, there was one of those pedestrian walkways,
surrounded in screen (so you can't throw rocks at the cars
passing underneath) I got off, climbed the curb and took the
walkway. Other than rows of sandbags ( EPA mandated to
control rain water, I suppose) The sidewalk got me across in
good shape.

Another half mile of scary no shoulder riding and I was
good to go. No more problem roads.

About 3 or 4 miles further , as I was pedalling up one
of the rolling hills ---POW FLAP/FLAP/FLAP. An
inspection showed that I had picked up the mother of all
nails. A huge framing nail into the tread and out the
side wall.

I changed tubes and fitted a boot into the area that had
the big holes. Aired it up and hit the road ( someone
was nice enough to stop to see if I needed help. Wasn't
that nice??)

Off we go. two or three miles and the rear wheel feels
squishy again. On dear!! I stop again, patch the old tube.
The in and out holes require two patches close together. I
don't like it but have no choice. Of course, It didn't
work. So I tried too patch the second tube. It wouldn't
hold air either.

Note: By this time, I was beginning to get wild eyed and
P****D off. My patching technique may have been
substandard. Squatting in the sun, it is hard to
wait patiently for the cement to dry. Eventually,
the glue and patches ran out. I had to call my
daughter to sag me.

In Orlando, we found an open bike shop. I bought a new tire,
two tubes and a patch kit. After a nice dinner that evening,
I retired early, got up a 6ish, had the requisite two cups
of coffee and hit the road for home.

Guess what???

four of five miles down the road, still in the city, events
conspired to make me ride over a broken beer bottle (A POX
upon all drunked clods who throw bottles at overpass
concrete abutments) (Could this be Karmic debt incurred in
my own youth being repayed??) I stopped as soon as I could
and inspected the rear wheel. There WAS a large shard of
glass embedded in the tire. I pried it out, said a prayer
and 'continued the march' . Ten miles later, the rear wheel
got squishy. I changed out the tube and aired it up. the
place where the glass had cut the tire looked stretched
open, so I took it all apart again and put a boot in that
area. Off we go again!!! I successfully negotiated the maze
of roads through Windermere. This is a new community of
palaces, mixed with old normal homes and was rather
interesting. I finally made it to the route I researched
when I got caught in the Iron Man race last month. I was in
known territory!!

From there, I only had one stretch of road I was unsure of.
5 miles of Avalon road. It was now around nine am. I have
found that when church gets out, you don't want to be on the
road. The Christians want buffets. Don't get in the way!!!

It went pretty well. The danger, on two laners with no
shoulder, is the cars behind the slow car they can't
get around. When cars are coming at you and a "parade"
approaches from the rear, that's the most dangerous
condition. this time there was only one or two of
those situations. One guy in a Porche, in the number
two position, and not happy about it, came around me
on a curve and stuck his hand out the window. It
looked like a "thumbs up" but may have been the
"finger". Who knows??

Anyway, back to US 27. It was around 10 AM. No way was I
going to cross I-4 again, so I took Dean Still Road. This is
a light use road through the swamp (Green Swamp: home of the
muck fires a few years ago). Nice. Trees. Shade. (It's now
85 reaching for 90). The trade off is some two lane with no
shoulders and a lot of traffic at the end of the ride.

15 more miles of forest riding and I reach a gas station,
where I get a soft drink and refill my water bottles. Now I
have 7 or 8 miles of two lane, no shoulder road connecting
the interstate with My area. With a quick prayer, I'm off.
It's not too bad. Very few trucks. Traffic is light enough
that they can give me lots of room as they pass. It's kind
of nerve wracking to have to watch your rear so carefully,
but I was prepared to "hit the ditch" if any real bad
situations occurred. (that would be semis on both sides of
the road. Or a road rager blowing the horn like a mad man).
I reach Lake Alfred. Five miles later I'm home at noon. 60
miles, five hours, one flat. Not bad.

I may equip my bike with more tour stuff for rides like
this, including a spare tire. I was really surprised when I
couldn't patch my damaged tire to at least limp in on.

Now, my urge to avoid riding in circles is sated. The old
trails look pretty good for a while.

Miles of Smiles, Tom