Crossing the Mississippi on Hwy 82 at Greenville is no small undertaking. It is a mile and a half long steel truss, two lane road with absolutely no shoulder. We were either going to shuttle our bikes across in our SAG wagon, or get a police escort. Arkansas State Trooper, Terry, was the man of the hour.
Everything was going fine until we got near the top of the bridge. One challenge we didn't anticipate was crossing the expansion joints of the bridge on a bike. Most of the interlocking, steel fingers were tightly meshed, navigable even with narrow road bike tires. But one joint was a little wider than the rest, taking us a little by surprise. Some of us crossed diagonally, others like myself "bunny hopped" the front tire. Edwin "bunny-hopped" but the rear wheel hit the opposite side of the narrow, steel gap hard enough to "pinch" a flat. He was the last one in the group and none of us noticed that he dropped off the back of the pack until he and his bike reappeared behind us on the hood of the patrol car. He was planning to walk his bike down the last 3/4 mile or so, but it's illegal to walk on the bridge. Instead of putting the bike in the trunk, the trooper told him to put in on the hood --quickly. Edwin's reply was that it would fall off unless he held it.....and that is exactly what he did! I got the picture, but since I don't have internet tonight, you'll just have to wait.
Your prayers are being answered. We've been blessed with beautiful weather and many safe cycling miles. One of them on the hood of a patrol car.
Everything was going fine until we got near the top of the bridge. One challenge we didn't anticipate was crossing the expansion joints of the bridge on a bike. Most of the interlocking, steel fingers were tightly meshed, navigable even with narrow road bike tires. But one joint was a little wider than the rest, taking us a little by surprise. Some of us crossed diagonally, others like myself "bunny hopped" the front tire. Edwin "bunny-hopped" but the rear wheel hit the opposite side of the narrow, steel gap hard enough to "pinch" a flat. He was the last one in the group and none of us noticed that he dropped off the back of the pack until he and his bike reappeared behind us on the hood of the patrol car. He was planning to walk his bike down the last 3/4 mile or so, but it's illegal to walk on the bridge. Instead of putting the bike in the trunk, the trooper told him to put in on the hood --quickly. Edwin's reply was that it would fall off unless he held it.....and that is exactly what he did! I got the picture, but since I don't have internet tonight, you'll just have to wait.
Your prayers are being answered. We've been blessed with beautiful weather and many safe cycling miles. One of them on the hood of a patrol car.
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