This is a ride Greg did with his fast group. His average speed moving was 16MPH a level I am not sure I will ever reach in this hilly area. So it would be a nice challenge for me and a recovery ride for him. We met at Cycle Folsom on Auburn-Folsom Rd and were on the bikes by 7 because of the heat. The parameters of the ride are in my range with a couple of spots being challenging. The grades weren’t too steep but a couple were long. Off we go. Things went well for a while but as I was climbing into Penryn it got tougher than it should have been for that grade and I actually had to stop. Caught up with Greg at Trailhead for another break then a long 5% climb up to Newcastle that I have done from the other side several times. Ground to a halt for some reason. A check of the tires showed the rear one flat. Plus the tread was showing. My guess is I had been flat for some time and all the recent climbing. Always carry a spare and as I was just finishing Greg came back (will be interesting to see his track as he had to double back later for me again). All that effort with the flat left me with nothing and it was a real struggle to make it back.
Managed to average over 12 MPH even with all that. Flat tires may not be fun but they are great exercise.
Good Samaritan: I had stopped along Auburn-Folsom, leaned my bike against some mailboxes and was sitting on a rock resting when a truck pulled in and the guy stopped and offered me a drink of water. I told him thanks I had water just no legs. It is nice to know that there are people like that.
Got back to Cycle Folsom and the service guy was able to put on two tires and true the rear wheel while I had two cold drinks and a bagel in their coffee shop. Perfect place.