I got a good, early start this morning and was excited for a mice easy day of downhill riding. The wind had other ideas. I had to work for every mile of progress against a strong headwind all day.
There is not much in this part of Montana. There are little sunflowers that grow along the edge of the road and in some pavement cracks.
About 7 miles from my destination, I heard an alarming noise followed by a quiet rubbing sound once per wheel rotation. When I got off my bike I found a broken spoke. I did a roadside repair and got the wheel back true, but also found a crack in the rim. I got back on the bike to finish the day and then figure out what to do about the cracked rim.
Luckily, the Sand Springs Store was a great place to get stuck. Tracy, who runs the store, told me I can stay as long as needed and would drive to a city if needed. It was late enough that I will have to wait to call shops until tomorrow.
