Java Journey & Flatastrophe

OK, who would have guessed that half the crew would get a flat tire on the Java Journey ride today? I didn't see it coming as we happily spun along Citrus Avenue... first one flat, and while stopped to fix that one: another, and another, and another... Yikes!! I heard the count got up to nine flat tires - all from thorns. Wow!  The good news was that we only had to stop once because they all happened at the same time. The bad news was that Colleen and Lisa had to call for a ride home when it became apparent that their wheels were going to be problematic for us (one tubular and one deep carbon rim with valve problems.) What a way to welcome our new rider, Rob (...really we don't usually have nine flats per ride... but I'm going to start carrying two tubes!)
 
But hey, other than that, it was a good day to ride... nice weather, a big hill to climb, and cool drinks at the top!
 
This week's ridership: 11 Cyclists (5W / 6M)
 
Next week we're going out to Oceanside and then returning on the Sprinter!  
Sprinter Special I
Date: Tuesday September 17, 2013
Time: 8:30am
Start: Escondido Transit Center  (Sprinter Info) (Transit Center Map)
NOTE: We're going to start from Escondido Transit Center (not VV Park.)  We'll head north on Old 395 to Lilac Road then go west to Oceanside. Some riding will be on the San Luis Rey River bike path. Returning to Escondido on the Sprinter.
 
We'll purchase our tickets in Oceanside - the one-way fare is $2 for adults (bring some dollar bills for the ticket machine.) If you're over 60 years old, the fare is just $1.00 (bring proof of age.) Hopefully, we can all get aboard the same train, but if it fills up then some folks may have to wait for the next one. Also, the train personnel can sometimes ask bikes to detrain mid-route if space is needed for disabled persons. Anyway, fingers crossed: we've been lucky before and the worst case is that we arrive back to Escondido at different times.
 
Cheers,
Steve