I am working toward the goal of being a self-sufficient triathlete. That means being able to take care of my own bike. So far, the progress is dismal, as demonstrated by my effort to pump up my bike tubes. What good will it do me to be able to replace a flat tube (assuming I can learn to do that …) if I can’t pump it up?!
I know a few things. For one, my tires are supposed to be at 100 pounds of pressure. Being a solid 140 pound athlete, you’d think I could at least just put my full weight on the pump to get it to add pressure. Apparently not. Not even with the leverage of lemonade on my back.
Now, before you go lecturing me too much on technique, let me say that I have tried to put both feet on the base at the bottom of the pump, to hold it in place while I pump. I have also tried an array of other positions which thankfully have not been documented. My flailing is ineffective and exhausting.
Another thing I have learned is that if the road bike tubes are not adequately inflated, I am more likely to suffer from a compression flat. This is motivating to my pumping effort. My fear of being stranded on the course or on a training ride can be channeled to usefulness.
Last Saturday, I did actually get both tires fully inflated on my own. It was a lot like a high intensity interval workout. I’m not sure if it is a reproducible event. One of my fingernails got caught as I was trying to release the connection and barely escaped being torn across the middle. It is still tender. How is it that I can swim a mile, but not be consistently able to pump up my bike tires? Will I ever learn?! Will my husband despair of teaching me to be an independent athlete?! Stay tuned for the next episode of An Ordinary Helpless Female!! 😉
