Now my tire-changing Homer moment:

I was on my way to meet Mighk for lunch. Leaving from Maitland with barely enough time to get to White Wolf, I knew I was pushing it. I was turning from Howell Branch to Lake Howell when the bike suddenly didn’t feel right. Sure enough, the back tire was going flat.

I pulled over at the shopping center and found a tree to work under (it was August). I’m capable of being very quick with a rear-wheel tire change… when I’m not in a hurry.

I removed the pannier, set the chain, released the wheel and then discovered that the bike was unwieldy with the trunk on it. But rather than stop and take the trunk off, I fought through it, knocking the chain off the chainring in the process. I laid the bike down and then realized I needed the tool kit out of the trunk, so I reached under the trunk and pulled the zipper… and out into the grass came a cascade of coins and loose bits I had stuffed in the top pocket. I pulled the wrong zipper (DOH!)

The tire change, including finding the culprit still stuck in the tire, took about 3 minutes. But cleanup of my mess and then having to reset the chain, all because I didn’t take a second to take the trunk off cost me a lot more time.

I hate to be late, so I hammered to lunch… on an empty stomach. And very nearly puked on the sidewalk upon arrival. That would have been a grand entrance.