DAY 12 - COWRA NSW

COWRA NSW

DAY 12

CANOWINDRA - COWRA

35 km (approx.)

Total Time – 08.00 – 11.15 (3h 15m)

Time on Bike – 1h 55m 38s

Max. speed – 70 km/h (approx.)

Av. Speed - ???


35km isn’t far really.

It’s not.

But here’s how to make it a challenge:

• First pick a route that includes 20 km of protracted uphill climbing.

• Second, on a bike whose makeshift rear derailleur has made its shift and does not behave well at all on 20 km of protracted uphill climbing.

• Thirdly, get 3 flat tyres in the space of 500 meters.

• Fourthly, well….it wasn’t really an effort but I managed to turn a 90 minute ride into a 3.25 hour ordeal. Easy as this.
  
  Still, I got to Cowra all in good time – just not as early as planned.
  
  Now, back to these flat tyres – I need to elaborate on this, as it is far too uncanny to be true.
  
  In over 600 km of riding so far, there hasn’t been a single flat tyre. Not one. This is not a bad record at all. Another 600 km without a flat would be even greater, but not to complain so far.
  
  Sure enough, about 12 km from Cowra the right trailer tyre was first to blow.
  
  Fair enough and 25 minutes later, with problem fixed, onwards to Cowra.
  
  Not even 500 metres hence, stereo hissing from front and rear had me hopping mad.
  
  Very naughty words indeed, but the biggest tantrum ever was not going to get me further towards Cowra.
  
  Double trouble – this time the OTHER trailer tyre AND the left front trike tyre together.
  
  It’s almost a shame all did not go down together in 3-part harmony.
  
  Another 45 minutes and with just a little carry-on, I chose to make a prayer at this time.
  
  It must have worked, as I was in Cowra 30 minutes later.
  
  Now, why exactly had this happened?
  
  Well, I don’t really know, but there some ugly little critters called “Catheads” and they are everywhere in this part of the world.
  
  They don’t breathe, but they are 3-pronged spurs (in the shape of a cat’s head) – something like a noxious weed but it does stand to reason that these are the things that pierced my tyres so.
  
  Why it happened in the space of 500 meters?
  
  I think this part is just bad luck…..