PdalPowr

A pleasant roll?
well that is what it would probably be to most serious bikers here.
Its my first metric quarter century. That sure does sound like a lot right?
Though all it is is a twenty five K round trip roll. 🤗
The only preparations necessary to be made will be,
to stock a minimum tool kit and a couple of liters of water.
Wish I had me a portable pump.🤔

Its between cities along the waterside with nice scenery.😀
The fun goal of the ride is to get to a different supermarket.
They carry jalapenos at half the price of my local market.😮
If I run out of steam on the way back I will chew up a couple of those peppers.😉

Ross520

I'll sure you'll do fine, just make sure you pace yourself.

It worries me that you're going out with no pump though. I would strongly recommend investing in one before the ride. Only time I roll pump-less is when I'm putzing around in the neighborhood because it's a quick walk back to my house.
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Chuckles1

I rode for 38 years before I ever started carrying a spare tube and CO2 inflator; still don't on my gravel bike, as am always within ten miles of home with that. Only two longish walks and a few shorter ones in all that time. I don't use clipless pedals on gravel or road bikes, so I can walk just fine in my MTB shoes. Worst was 8 miles in 90 degree, high humidity weather. Was glad to pop into a school to refill water bottle mid- way home. All depends where you are as to how important it is to have spares. Out in the boondocks, a flat is just another little adventure.

livedarklions

I love your enthusiasm!

Have fun, and get a pump in the next couple of weeks. Probably won't need it on this trip, but I suspect this is the first of many trips and they may get longer.

blazin

Never misunderestimate the fearsome quarter metric. You can find tips here to make sure you get your training and nutrition right.

In all seriousness though, distance does not reveal anything about a ride’s measure. The hardest ride I’ve ever done was only 40 miles.

livedarklions

If the OP gets a rough headwind or something, I'm really liking the pepper=energy plan!

PdalPowr

Speak of the devil.😮
Today I rode the opposite way from my planned goal.
Mostly to keep up the training but also to find where the riverside trail was.
Nice tail wind behind me so I pedalled 'til my butt said stop.
The head wind on the way back acted like it wanted to take over the North Wind's job.🤗😮🤐😮🤗
But you know what? My legs feel great. A bit heavy but thats to be expected.
Tomorrow is bike maintenance day.😉

PdalPowr

Edited to add.

Yes once my planned ride is doable it could become a weekly or biweekly trip.

My cannondale floor pump will probably last a lifetime.
However since I moved there is only Canadian Tire for gear.
I don't order off the Net so its local only.
They have a CCM and a Supercycle portable pump.
CCM used to be reliable if certainly not anywhere near top of the line.
From what I can tell their gear is now a very short ride away from crap city.
The opposite side of that coin is I may never use the thing.

Ross520

I'm sorry, but that is just bad advice. Just because you went unprepared for 38 years doesn't mean it's right.

I've had flats that would have resulted in a 50 mile walk home, and I'm sure most serious riders have at some point.

Can't understand why you would think it's a good idea to recommend your bad habits to a new rider.
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livedarklions

Oh c'mon. He's basically saying he wasn't riding far enough that a walk home was going to be much of a problem. If that's the case, not packing a pump isn't a bad habit, It's a reasonable decision.

OP is going to max out at 7.5 miles from home on this ride. I wouldn't want to walk a bike that far, but it wouldn't be a huge ordeal.

My rides can take me 50-75 miles from home, I carry a pump and multiple tubes. In my case, not doing so would be a very bad habit.

livedarklions

Maybe make an exception to your online ordering rule? A bad hand pump is worse than useless.

Here's a gpod cheap one:

https://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Pocket...eation&sr=1-62

Ross520

I thought he was doing a metric century for some reason (I'll concede that my reading comprehension wasn't great on that one).

Still wouldn't want to walk 8 miles with a bike though, that's a serious PITA, not an adventure.

livedarklions

I hate walking a bike so much that one time I got a flat at 99 miles of a century, I considered fixing it roadside instead of walking it the last mile. I decided to walk it only because there wasn't a good place on the side of the road to set up shop.

Don't get me wrong, I love a long walk, I just don't want to have to handle a bike while doing it.

PdalPowr

Its not a rule. Its almost a necessity.
I don't have a credit card. Though I may have heard
its now possible to open an Amazon account with a debit card.

That does look like a great lightweight pump.

Way back when I found a CCM floor pump someone had tossed.
It looked to be almost new. The only wear being on the gasket that seals the valve into the head.
Lord it was a pain to use but when its the only pump you have it was much better than nothing.
I tossed it myself after half a dozen uses. But it sure came in handy.😉

When I was a kid fifty years ago CCM was alright for your average bicyclist.
Now its just shameful.

Miele Man

Hey there OP, Canada is a rather big place. Whereabouts in Canada are you? I'm in South Central Ontario.

I got a mini-pump from Canadian Tire and that pump works pretty well. Last year I went to my niece's and forgot the pump and bought another mini-pump from Giant Tiger. That one doesn't pump very well at all. It might be designed for MTB tires.

I highly recommend having a pump. When you flat without one it's usually at the worst time such as a hot humid day far from home and no shade on the roads you have to walk to get back home, or shade to rest in whilst waiting for a ride.

I carry a spare tube and have a cotton ball in mu patch kit. the cotton ball is pulled along the inside of the tire to catch on any sharp object that caused the flat. Once the source of the flat has been found, I put in the spare tube and inflate it. I path my punctured tube at home. It's much easier to change a tube in the rain than it is to patch one.

Cheers

Miele Man

Unfortunately CCM is NOT the same company/owners that it was 50 years ago. Shortly after C.C.M. declared bankruptcy in 1983, all of the assets of the Company were purchased by Procycle Group Inc. of Québec who retained the bicycle division.

Cheers

wsteve464

OP Amazon will let you use a debit card or sign up for a paypal account with the debit card. Only problem it makes it so easy to buy stuff that you really need

PdalPowr

I have a bad foot. Getting me to walk would involve getting a bear to chase me. 😉
Really though if it wasn't a very big bear I would rather fight than walk.😐
When I was in basic training my foot was fine. Running on our own or
in a group was one way of exercising a little freedom.
Now biking went from a necessity to having fun.
"Its deja vous all over again." 🤗

livedarklions

Definitely invest in the hand pump now then. Walking a bike with a bad foot really sucks.

PdalPowr

Walking my dog is a rare treat.🤗😮😣😮🤗
Good thing he has his own yard.😉

Yes and I get a lot of flats.
Not since I upgraded from stock to schwalbé marathon plus
but as you indicate its just not worth the chance.
That pump on Amazon is a goodie but
I found one locally which saves me a headache.
Its an Air Strike 550 from Bell. Good review on Youtube but
then again the video is sponsored by Bell.🙄
Same price as the CCM offering and a better reputation.

I was actually thinking of backpacking my Cannondale floor pump.
I have a good daypack but since I want to grab a few groceries,
packing something the size of a pogo stick just pains me.😉🤐🙄🤐🤗

PdalPowr

I ordered that air strike 550 from home hardware.
Lucked out on a two day delivery time.
I see a road trip early next week. 😉