New Tires & May on the Trail~

We'd taken my bike to The Bike Way on the 22nd to have my flat front tire repaired.  Since we had to purchase a new tube, the staff suggested Stan's tire sealant for inside the tubes.  Butch purchased two additional bottles & added it to his tubes too, which seemed fine at the time.  Thursday though - when Butch looked at the bikes - he found his front tire flat!  He took it off the bike & found a locust thorn had pierced through the tire & into the tube.  He removed the thorn, aired the tube & after a couple rotations, the sealant worked & the hole sealed.  

His Adventure Neo 2 EQ came with the tires Cannondale had advertised with the bike. The Kendra Kwick Seven.5 tires had the K-Sheild puncture resistance lining.  They lasted long enough for him to ride the 2 miles back to the car & held air for another two days.    

My new Schwalbe Marathon Tires!

I checked to see exactly what tires my bike was supposed to come with.  The tires were not Kendra tires with puncture protection.  When I called Cannondale, they explained the Kendra tires were out of stock.  They had substituted with a Schwalbe Hurricane tire.  The Hurricane does not have extra puncture protection.  Since the tires were e-bike rated, they would do nothing about replacing them with a better tire. (They offered me two free water bottles.)

Butch did some research & found Schwalbe had a highly rated tire & ordered the Marathon's.  When they arrived, I drove to REI in Gretna to get the tires changed.  The staff in the bike shop agreed with us.  The tires that had come with my bike were inferior quality.  My new ones not only have thicker rubber but have Smart Guard puncture protection.  (They also recommended Stan's tire sealant for inside the tubes.) 

Shadow with new tires~

I really like the look of the new tires & the reflective sidewalls.  I was anxious to try them on the trail. We've received 1.53 inches of rain since the first!  The last week of April - also gave us several good rainstorms. The grass is growing faster than I can keep it cut!  

Stunning beauty~

I drove to Silver City & parked at Happy Trails.  Mari Jo came out to talk & I bought a tin of saddle conditioner for my newly recovered leather bike seat.  Once I was on the trail, the change was incredible.  The greens so bright & vibrant they were glowing.  The new tires seemed to be rolling along easily.  I didn't think I noticed much of a difference in resistance from the heavier tire & thicker tread.

Prunus virginiana - Chokecherry 

The Chokecherry is now in full bloom & the second sweetest smell on the trail!  We have some in our woods & I hope they spread!  There were high, hazy clouds filtering the sunshine, making the greens stand out even more.

Silver Creek from the Trestle~

As you can tell from the above photo, the water level of the creek has risen.  The water is full of silt from the runoff, but it's nice to see enough water flowing to cover the bottom.

Burning terraces~

Just about a quarter mile south of the trestle, I could see & smell smoke in the air!  So thick across the trail I could hardly make out the lone rider coming towards me.  She stopped & I did - both of us said the same thing.  Commenting on how easy it was to ruin the clean, fresh air we'd been enjoying up until we reached this area.  With the winds blowing strongly, I was amazed anyone was burning.  But with the recent rains I guess the opportunity was there...

The pond~

I didn't stop at the pond until I'd make my circuit in town.  The park was a busy place on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  A troop of Brownie Scouts were walking around the pond, notebooks in hand, observing the birds, bees, geese etc.  It was fun to watch them & see how excited they were when they found a bumble bee :-)

Shadow on the Trestle~

Back at the Trestle, it was getting later in the afternoon.  I'd stopped several times trying to keep my seat post in the correct spot.  Every time I hit the transition bump on or off a bridge, it would settle further in the seat tube.  My knees let me know immediately when it dropped too low.  I have the clamp so tight it's almost impossible to open it, so I know it's not that.  Another thing to tweak when I get home.

Otherwise, it was another beautiful spring ride & Shadow did a great job.  Mari Jo told me her husband has purchased an electric bike.  I was surprised since we'd both talked about riding a self-peddle as long as we possibly could.  I'm sure Mari Jo will outlast us all in that regard - lucky lady!  I didn't get to see the new Day 6 e-bike, but I'm sure I will soon!  

Imogene to Shenandoah ~

 Another perfect day this week!  Butch came home Saturday afternoon & by Sunday we were loading the bikes.  It would be Butch's first ride on his new e-bike & pulling Finn's trailer.

Butch & Finn - ready to rumble!

We decided to drive to Imogene & ride south to Shenandoah.  We'd ridden north from Shenandoah March of 2021 & not made it quite to Imogege before turning back.

On the trail~

It didn't take Butch long at all to decide this bike is a huge improvement over the first one he'd tried. Finn though, was not happy we'd forgotten his flat pad & instead had to use his travel bed.  It was hard for him to stand up.  He loves standing the whole ride.

Very low river!

Riding a pedal assist bike didn't slow my trail companions down much.  Finn likes going fast too!

On one of the longer bridges~

The wild Plums were still in bloom,  it was a cloudless day & so nice to be out in the countryside. 

East Nishnabotna River~

As we rode closer to town, we were soon on the longest bridge of the 64-mile length of the Wabash trail.

On the East Nishnabotna Bridge~

We'd seen no other riders all morning. 

Butch's new bike & Finn in his trailer!

Once we entered the park, there were more families out enjoying the day.  Finn barked at some boys & they got a kick out of seeing him in his trailer. 

Butch continued on from the park.  We were soon riding down the main street of town.  I finally figured out where we were going!  Kats Koolerz ice cream!

Parked in Shenandoah~

There's a nice grassy area with picnic tables in the shade.  Our first ice cream of the season really hit the spot!  We started back toward Imogene.  This section of trail is a nice climb, but the bike's made it doable with greater ease.

Taking a short break on our way back - I returned to Shadow to find my front tire totally flat!  Butch tried to pump it up, but it lost air as fast as he could pump.  My Garmin said we were only two miles from the Explorer.  

Butch & Finn went on ahead to get the car.  I told Butch I'd start walking the bike to the nearest road.  As luck would have it - the trail crossed over on a high overpass.  The way down to the road was steep & totally overgrown.   I continued on - thankful for the "walk" setting on the computer.   That gave me up to 3.5 mph of assist by the motor. 

Shadow- lame in front :-)

I walked on to the next road at the edge of Imogene.  Butch had driven to the first road, but when I called, soon came back a mile & found me!  

When I opened the back door of the Explorer to see Finn - he leaped into my arms!  Butch said he had been SO upset when he realized I wasn't with them.  He'd whined, barked & tried every way he knew to tell Butch they had forgotten me!  

Butch was sure Finn would have taken off in a split second to go find me!  He insisted on sitting on my lap for the trip home!  What a loyal little guy!  I was so very lucky my husband was riding with me & we weren't further out.

We spent some time on Monday at The Bike Way in Omaha getting the flat fixed.  It was a Locust thorn that had ripped almost a 1/4" hole in the tube.  The tires Cannondale put on this bike were a substitute for what it was advertised as having & not as good...  We'll be changing them out!