Cycling With Susan

It probably goes without saying, but properly inflated tires are essential to an enjoyable ride.  Overly-inflated tires are dangerous and under-inflated tires make me feel like I am biking through sand, expending way too much energy for the results I am getting.   Both of our bikes have a maximum inflation pressure of 100 psi, so based on our bike shop recommendation, we inflate to 70-80 psi. We also wanted something that would easily inflate both Schrader and Presta valves without a lot of effort.  Thus began our search for an inflation device that would make me happy. With floor pumps you typically need to choose between pumping to high pressure with many strokes, or low pressure with few strokes.  Sadly, low pressure means something less than 70 psi and would not be a good option for us (something like the Topeak JoeBlow Dualie for about $60, below left).  A high pressure pump (such as the Shimano Pro Team HP for about $75, below right) would work, but a...

  Susan and I love the serendipity that accompanies cycling a new trail: a surprising and amazing view of the water around a bend, a section of trail with unexpected quick dips and turns, a little shop on the trail that caters to cyclists, a home that has stacked water cups beside a cooler on their front porch on a hot day, or wildlife scurrying across the trail. But sometimes the serendipity comes off the trail.  We had gone into the High Bridge trail having done plenty of research.  We knew the length of the trail, locations of the trailheads, and had looked at a lot (and I mean a LOT) of photos of the High Bridge.  Especially important since one of us is terrified of heights.  (For the record, the other one of us is terrified of hills, but  that’ll have to wait for another post.)  By the way, looking at pictures of the High Bridge did nothing to lessen the anxiety.  But all this is to say, we knew what to expect from the ride and by and large, ...