A Good Lesson

Today's ride was a good one, but also was a good lesson. A wise person once told me that you can go out for a ride up the street, but when you go out for a ride of 15 miles or more, you must have everything you're going to need before you depart. A tube of the correct size, a patch kit, a multitool, tire levers, and a pump at the minimum. Some of you have other specific ideas for essential gear. Always carry a water bottle and keep hydrated. It's easy to become dehydrated without realizing it. And always carry a cell phone. If all else fails you can call someone to come and get you. We're all mature adults and have done this many times before, but sometimes we get complacent, and some item gets left behind. We left New Moorefield with seven, 5 on road bikes and 2 on footbikes. We quickly determined the route, and off we went. As per tradition, we all rode at our own pace. When we arrived at Catawba, there were only six of us! The group got strung out and one person took a wrong turn, and then had tire trouble. Fortunately, one of the Catawba regulars recognized him and brought him to the restaurant. So it all ended well and we all got a good laugh out of it, but it was a lesson learned.