Crossing into Colorado - THE BIKE SHOP CLOSES AT 6:00

Stats Wednesday Aug 18 – Blanding to Delores, CO. Day distance 83.2; ride time 6 h 32 m (9 h 15 m); ave speed 12.72; total distance 1214.8

Surprisingly we both felt fairly good considering the long ride yesterday. In fact we pushed ourselves from Blanding to Monticello (the tailwind from the south gave us a fantasy sense of strength). Our goal is to be in Durango, CO by Thursday afternoon. In order to achieve that, we need to arrive in Delores today.
Our maps told us a bike shop was in Monticello. But no – it had gone out of business. The duct tape on Mickey’s front tire was still holding. But we didn’t know how long it would last. And now his back tire was bubbling and looking very tired. We are out of fresh tubes. We are feeling vulnerable. But there is a bike shop in Delores. That gives added incentive to make it there by 6:00.

I had called the bike shop in Delores. A recording came on stating that its business hours were from 12:00 to 6:00. And the voice greeting said the shop was going out of business.

About 1:00 we crossed into Colorado from Utah. Yeah! Another state accomplished. We will miss the desert beauty of Utah. But we are anticipating the mountains of Colorado.

Thirty miles from Delores – SHPEEW! Mickey’s rear tire was flat in 5 seconds. No fresh tubes. The bike shop closes at 6:00. Mickey has an old tube we saved the valve of which leaked air. We also have a patch kit. What are we going to do? Mickey decides to just put in the old tube instead of attempting to repair the punctured one. His tube blew because his rear tire was so worn it did not protect the tube.

Mickey desperately needed new tires as well. THE BIKE SHOP CLOSES AS 6:00!! I never talked with a person at the bike shop. I’ve only gotten a recording on two previous calls.

While Mickey is changing tubes I decided to call the bike shop repeatedly until someone answers. I figure, if I call 6 or 7 times, if someone is in the shop, they will eventually answer.

I call. I call. I call. I call.

Finally, the guy answers. I explain our situation to him and what we need. Tubes and two 700 x 32 tires. Does he have them?

Yes, he does. BUT, he has to leave and close early because of an appointment. What can we do?

The owner tells us that he will leave the tubes and tires at the local grocery store in Delores. We can look at them there and if we want them buy them at the store. The store will then pay him.

As the saying goes – SWWEEET! We arrived in Delores as 6:15.

Part of the experience of bicycle touring – we have learned – is dealing with whatever we are confronted with and finding a way to solve it.

Snoop around a seemingly abandoned service station for bolts and nuts. Super glue a tire. Duct tape a tire. Call. Call. Call. Point – don’t ever give up. Keep thinking of options. Keep pedaling, spining. Shift! Shift ideas. Shift possibilities.