Last weekend I rode on the Fork Area Trail System (FATS) for the first time. After a few good miles of trail riding during our recent camping trip, I was eager to try this new set of trails. I’d heard and read it’s more technical than anything I’ve ridden before, but I figured I’m in good shape and not afraid to get off and walk over any obstacles too tough for me to ride, so why not?
Two flat tires is apparently why not. I was 4 miles in to about 12 miles of riding when the crossed a road. On the pavement I noticed from the funny noise coming from below me that both my tires were flat. I wasn’t deterred, I got off my bike, turned it over, took off the tires, installed a new tube starting with the rear tire because I figured it would be more trouble, hooked my old CO2 inflator up with a new cartridge, and turned the air valve.
Nothing.
Apparently the old CO2 inflator I’ve been carrying in my seat pack since, oh, about 1998 or so doesn’t work at all. It must be missing a part because it doesn’t open the cartridges. Good thing I don’t get many flats! I’ve since replaced the inflator with a new one, plus purchased an extra cartridge so I can test to make sure it’s working correctly before I get myself in to another situation where I’ve got a long walk back to the car.