Ann Arbor to Bar Harbor : Day 8

I got an early start on this cold morning, but after riding about 4 miles, I noticed my rear tire was low on air. I stopped to pump it up, but it would not inflate. I thought it might be the tube, but it was an overstrained pump. After several attempts, I had lost more air to the point where it was too low to ride. Now I was stuck! I phoned a bike shop, but what were the chances that one would be open so early? They typically open at 10 or 11 AM and it was only 8. The first shop was not open. I called a second bike shop, and much to my surprise they answered! I explained my predicament and the shop owner said he would deliver a new pump to me. He arrived in 20 minutes, inflated my tires to the proper pressure, and brought the new pump. He was only going to charge me for the pump, but I added a gratuity for the service call. I continued on my way thinking that I had just experienced another remarkable act of kindness.

I took Route 31 out of Niagara Falls, which has a nice wide shoulder. Even though there was a fair amount of traffic, I had a good buffer. When I got to Lockport, I got on the Erie Canalway Bike Path and rode it to Brockport. The surface is unpaved with hard-packed crushed stone. It was easy to ride on, but not as fast as pavement. To compensate, I had a strong tailwind all day. I finished the day in Brockport for a total of 67 miles.

First mechanical problems: A broken pump and loose spokes. The added weight on the tire from the panniers put too much stress on the pump. The loose spokes were also caused by the extra weight.