Dillon Rd. looking west from 1,000 Palms Canyon Rd. 10-23-10

I've been getting some nice rides in lately, but have been waiting for the summer heat to end before taking on the Sky Valley Loop. Yesterday the weather was cool enough, but there was a stronger wind than I would like, but I figured how bad could it be? I'd do the largely downhill portion into the wind. Bad call! The wind was fierce, the uphill portions were brutal and even downhill was tough. After battling the wind for about 17 miles I turned toward home with a bit of a tailwind and all was good until my rear tire went flat. I pulled the tire, changed the tube, inflated it with air with my CO2 inflator and found out I had the tube pinched between the rim and the tire. Pow! After 35 miles I finished with a $20 cab ride home, though it was one heck of a workout.