Velowander

Day 18 afternoon (Bowling Green, OH)

(Picture: Maggie reviewing the Adventure Cycling map in Bowling Green, Oh.)

This morning, Maggie set her alarm for 6 AM and we got up shortly afterwards, packed up and we were on the road leaving the Heritage Church (322 Justice Street Fremont, OH 43420 419-332-6878) by 7 AM saying goodbye to our generous hosts pastor T. Stacey and his wife. We decided to have just a snack so we could push some miles before having our typical stuff our face breakfast in a supermarket or a 2 meal per person breakfast in a greasy spoon.

The morning air was cool and the winds had not yet started for the day so we quickly had 10 miles under our belts for the day. We agreed to try to get up early more consistently and get on the road more quickly so we can cycle more in the morning and increase our daily mileage a bit from our approximately 50 miles per day average (slower than the other cyclists we encountered, on the other hand we were often staying with families).

Around 8 AM just short of Gibsonburg, Maggie got a front tire flat. I swapped the tube in the weeds by the side of the road. Maggie was dismayed that there was a large gash in her front tire; she put a Clif bar wrapped on the inside to reinforce it. After her wheel was back on her back, about 40 minutes had passed.

We had lost a bit of our morning momentum but pressed on quickly to Pemberville where we stuffed our faces with food (I stuffed my face more than Maggie stuffed hers, granted, but both of us were stuffing). By 11 AM we were on the road again to Bowling Green, OH another 11 miles past.

Maggie and I went to the bike shop in Bowling Green (Cycle Werks 248 S Main St Bowling Green, OH 43402 419-352-9375). The owner dismounted her tire and installed a tire boot to, we hope, allow her to continue using the tire without blowouts. My own front 20" x 1.5" 100psi Primo Comet tire was bald and had a few gashes, so I replaced it with a new 20" x 1.35" 100 psi generic tire ($12.78 with tax), keeping my spare 20" tire in reserve. The new tire is quite a bit narrower than my Primo Comet; so far the ride is a bit harsher than before.

After the bike shop, Maggie went to the post office and we both met at the library.

I'm relieved that Maggie has apparently recovered from her back problem.

Labels: Bike Touring

posted by David @ 12:28 AM