So, I decided to commute in the other day. I'd been off the bike for two weeks and figured everything was all good to go. Bike...check. Helmet...Check. Shoes....check. Good to go. I am forced to take the short commute due to time restraints but decide I'll take the hilly route. It's a warm morning and I am feeling weak having been off the bike so long and also lugging the laptop. It takes me forever to warm up. Through the shady neighborhoods of Scottsdale I ride heading in to Paradise Valley. I am starting the hills and as I go to stand up.......... I spy one of my crank bolts sticking out of the crank. Yes.... in my zeal I had forgotten that I had moved the crank bolts from this bike to my Mountain Bike many weeks ago and just left one of the mountain bike ones stuck in the side of the crank loosely. I got a hollow feeling in my stomache as I thought about what could have happened when I stood up and stepped hard on the wheel. All the guys out there probably get the same hollow gut punched feeling just thinking about it too. To add insult to injury I could have gone down and broken a collarbone or something too. It was fortunate I noticed that.
What a wonderful opportunity to practice a nice round pedal stroke. There were about 6 miles left to ride and I had my fingers crossed I'd make it. I figured the good guys at the Trailhead Bike Shop Cafe would have me covered for new bolts on the way home so if I could just make it to work, I'd just coast down to the bike shop on my way back and be right as rain (of which I wish we would get some, this monsoon is really lame this year, other than the three days after my Dad died of course).
Up and down the hills I was on pins and needles but in the end it turned out fine. I waddled out of the heat and into the health club for a ncie cold shower before work. On the way home the shop did not disappoint me and I got back to the car without incident.
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