Day 52: Easy Made Hard

Today we entered Canada.

We rode 20 miles from Richmond to Marine City, gathered at River Park, and took the ferry to Sombra. We all passed the customs check with pre-9/11 ease. I told them my name, showed my passport, and waited for them to find my name on the list. It took all of 30 seconds. Once past customs, a crowd of 200 supporters greeted us with applause and refreshments. My favorites were the cinnamon rolls and almond paste bars. From Sombra it was a short 37 mile jaunt to our final destination, Chatham, Ontario.

Inspite of the short distance, bright sunshine and warm reception, I found the ride tiring and frustrating.

My difficulties started as I left the parking lot in Richmond and heard a rubbing sound from my front wheel. When I looked closely, the wheel had a pronounced wobble. I decided to talk to the biking gurus when we gathered for the ferry ride. Biking 20 miles with a rhymic click and a wobbly wheel is not relaxing. The pitiful pavement on which we rode did not help.

Our resident experts looked at the wheel and said, "This wheel is bent!" We concluded that somebody must have stepped on it the previous night. The good news was that I could still ride on that wobbly wheel. We adjusted the brake and I was ready to go. At least I wouldn't have to listen to the annoying click.

After the reception, I discovered that the clip on my left shoe was broken. Apparently, it happened during the walk onto the ferry. It would no longer clip onto the pedal. When your foot won't clip onto the pedal, your foot won't stay on the pedal. This is a problem. I could still ride, but I had to push carefully on the left pedal, and couldn't pull up-which is the whole point of clip-on pedals.

For the last 37 miles I just wanted to finish the ride and get to a bike shop. "Riding to finish" is often my mindset at the end of a long ride. Doing it for 37 miles turns a biking into drudgery.

I hooked up with Nathan, who was slowed by the stomach flu-we were perfect for each other-and we wobbled into Chatham. We separated about a mile from the end, and wouldn't you know it, I missed my final turn. By the time I realized it, I was 1/2 mile past my street. I decided to conceal my inept navigating by going to a couple of stores and letting others think the miss was intentional. At the first store I bought some toothpaste and got directions to the bike shop.

I must have looked pretty funny coming out of the store: pushing a bike, hobbling on bike shoes, decked out in full cycling gear, and wearing sunglasses and a rear view mirror. A lady entering the store started to laugh and said, "You're with Sea to Sea, aren't you." "Do you know where you're going?" This was a good question, since I was 1/2 mile off course. I had a better answer, "To the bike store."

I told her which store I was going to and confirmed the directions I had been given. "Can I just take you there?" she asked. In view of the day I was having, that was an offer I could not refuse. We put my bike in her mini van and drove the 3 miles to the bike store. The attendant could not have been more helpful. He didn't have the kind of clip I needed, but he knew customers who did and called them to locate a pair for me. He straightened my wheel as much as possible and checked the bike over. I got back to camp in time for supper and enjoyed a wonderful meal provided by the churches in Chatham.

Moral of the story? Biking is unpredictable: Days that look hard can be easy; and days that look easy can be hard. And, more importantly, no day is without grace, even for people who try to hide their mistakes.