An underlying theme has been plaguing the trip, which we have only alluded to so far. It seems that Jon and the Tandem have been running a little contest to see who will fall apart first.
It all started on the Canal du Midi when Jon started getting a rash, and the tandem broke a rear wheel. After a Pharmacist, a Doctor, and 3 tubes of goop, Jon was ready to move on. The Tandem however took an extra day to find and replace the wheel.
The next round was on the Atlantic coast when an oyster shell slashed our tire, and we had no more spares. It took two days to find a poor substitute for insurance, and we ordered new spares from a bike shop in Tours. So, Tandem 2, Jon 1.
The Tandem problem continued when the bike shop turned out not to have the right tire, and Jon added one when the rash started to spread, we saw another Doctor, and another tube of goop. 3 to 2.
Jon finally caught up in Bourbon-Lancy when he did his own research and realized the problem started with Tick bites in Gumligen just before leaving. So a third Doctor and antibiotics for the rest of the tour made it 3 to 3.
Not to be outdone, the Tandem retaliated with a grinding in the front crank that started before Dole, but not able to fix until 120k later, when it turned out to be a lose crank. We were also able to find a tire that looked like it would work, as a spare, at the same bike shop. 4 to 3.
Jon was able to tie the score again, at dinner in Dole when he broke a tooth. Fortunately, it has not exposed any nerves, so it can wait till we return to the US next week. 4 to 4.
Finally, today we knocked the scores up one more. The antibiotic Jon is on makes one sensitive to the sun! Imagine what it takes to stay out of the sun on a bike tour. His attempts the last several days has been to cover up in the morning, then put on 50SPF sunscreen when the temps rise above 90. But this morning was so hot he almost had heat stroke. After 3 water bottles, shedding the long sleeves, and slathering a white coat of 50, we were able to continue.
As for the Tandem, our hopes of making it the rest of the way without even another flat – were dashed in Olten. Jon had the brilliant idea to put on the new tire, and leave the old in Europe. After an hour in the hot sun, it turned out the new tire didn’t fit, and we are back to the insurance spare.
We hope that we will complete the tour in Gumligen tomorrow with the current 5-5 tie. We cannot remember another tour with so many problems. Guess that happens when the equipment, and the riders, are both getting older.
And MC, well she wisely decided to stay out of the contest. It was enough to just have to ride so many days outside of the ideal cyclist’s comfort range: cold, rain, 9 days straight with headwinds, flooding, bad paths, lack of signage, and now heat.
But it still beats work, and the rewards, food, wine, scenery, Chateaus, Museums, physical exercise, sense of accomplishment, and time together – makes it all worth it!
Besides, how else can you get one of these cool bicyclist’s tans …
Or get to say Hi to cows every day …
An additional perk when cycling Switzerland.