As we rolled into Medford today, Mrs. Previ got the first flat tire experienced by Team OMS. Mrs. Cipollone and I (but mostly Mrs. Cipollone) changed the tire and replaced the tube following the instructions Mrs. Scola read from the box the new tube came in. It's a dirty, greasy job... but somebody's got to do it! It looked like everything was fine, but only three miles down the road, the tire went flat again. We left Mrs. Previ and Mrs. Cutts on McKendimen Road and then went back to pick them and their bikes up in the car. Over root beer floats at Conte's, we did discuss the fact that if we had been out in Chatsworth or somewhere farther away, we would have had to deal with the situation differently-- like change the tire again and hopefully get it right this time! The culprit turned out to be a piece of glass that was wedged in the tire, which had punctured both the original tube and the replacement making it necessary for Mrs. Previ to replace not only the tube, but the tire as well. The bike shop took care of the repair!

--Ms. Russell