This was the first 40-mile, local ride for the season. Things got fairly uncomfortable toward the end, with tired legs, sore back and ass, along with some achy wrists and shoulders. Admittedly, I did not stop for a break at any point, choosing instead to ride straight through. It is indeed fortunate that there were no tire incidents. While replacing the rear Pro 4 Endurance last week, the bead popped right at the valve stem, with the inner tube exploding violently! There was the distinct possibility that the tire was defective, but this extensive outing has put to rest any doubts regarding the tire’s integrity. What a day for a ride though - temps in the upper seventies, low humidity, and spectacular cloud formations. The only drawback was the SSW wind ripping at 15-20, making the southbound return leg a bit challenging.