Rain, snow, + flat tire = bad day

I needed to do some climbing so I drove out to 31st and Colorado and headed up the hill towards Woodland park. At the McDonalds, I turned right and headed up Rampart Range Road. I finally had to quit when I ran out of oxygen. I should point out that it was raining with mixed corn snow, and I was getting cold. Plus, I had gone 30k+ and that was as far as I wanted to go today. So, I turned around after putting on arm warmers and zipping up.  I think I did about 2800 feet of mostly uphill in the 39k.

You can see the route here, although I am not sure I have the end location right. I'm pretty sure I have it too far up the road. But, it is close.

http://www.mapmyride.com/view_route?r=956127431197040011

I was pretty careful for the first bit, given the streets were wet. After I got to Woodland Park, it dried up a bit and was fine, albeit a bit cold, until I got to Cascade. Then it started to rain again. So, I am headed down Ute Pass doing 30-40 mph in a cold rain. I was darn careful through the corners. I made it to the Manitou exit was beginning to look forward to finishing in 10 minutes or so. Alas, the cycling gods were not on my side--my rear tire went flat. I was pretty annoyed, and a bit relieved at the same time. I was glad it hadn't happened a mile earlier when I was doing 35 on the highway with not much shoulder. However, it was still raining, and my hands were freezing so I wasn't looking forward to changing the tire. 

But, I had little choice. So, I got out the tools, took the tire off, found the problem (what looked like an office staple had gone through the tire), put in the spare tube, put the tire back on, and started pumping. Once again, the gods were not on my side--the tube did not hold air! I always have 2 tubes with me, except today. My options at this point are call Caroline or walk. I tried Caroline, but got no answer on her phone. Walking was not all that pleasant--it was a couple of miles and the sidewalks aren't all that great. Then I remembered our good friends Jon and Jeannie lived not too far and I called them. For the first time during the ride, something went right--Jon answered and said he leave to get me. I went into Tubby's turn around and got a cup of coffee. About the time I finished it, Jon showed up and took me to my car.

So, I got in a pretty good ride and was lucky to not have that flat in a much more dangerous spot.