JULY 11: Ordway, Colo. to Pueblo, Colo., 50 miles via Colorado Route 96. Average speed for today, 13.1 mph. Total trip mileage to date, 2,267. Average miles per day since June 1, 55.3.

Yes, we arrived at the gateway to the Rockies today. Not only thay, but we pulled into Pueblo (elevation, nearly 5,000 feet) without our trailers. Our friend Randy Seelye pressed unexpectedly on to Ordway last night and will carry our gear from now until we reach Cedar City, Utah.

Felt great to ride without our trusty Bob Trailers. Weight of gear and trailers together, about 45 pounds each. Despite headwinds and heat, got from Ordway to Pueblo at a good clip.

A downside: It was 103 when we pulled into Pueblo, a somewhat charmless city of 100,000 – too hot to do anything outside. Left our steeds at the Great Divide Bike Shop on Santa Fe Ave. for a once-over, checked in to the Quality Inn and looked forward to a Mexican dinner and a movie. This was not to happen.

While we were at a local Lenscrafters getting new glasses for Ben, the bike shop called and said one of my spokes had nearly ripped through my rear wheel and advised me not to ride a block further without a new wheel.

“Put one on,” I said. And here came the second downside.

“We don’t have any in stock,” the mechanic said. She advised me to call Pueblo’s other two bike shops in search of a wheel to fit my until-now problem-free Giant FCR. Neither had one.

My sense of panic was growing. It was obvious this particular wheel was not a common item. Next I began working through a list of bike shops in Colorado Springs, 42 miles north.

“No.” “No.” “No.” “No.” “No.” went the answers. Having to drive to Denver to look for the wheel was emerging as a very unaoppetizing alternative. Until I reached Bicycle Village.

“We have one,” said Brian, the shop’s lead mechanic. Not only that, but Bicycle Village was open until 8. “We’re driving  up,” I said.

Randy and I and I grabbed a Carls Jr. burger and headed north. Ben picked up his glasses, ate Mexican and saw “Hellboy 2.”

By 7:30 we arrived at the biggest bike store I had ever seen and Brian mounted the wheel and outfitted me with a new rear rack and a carrier for my rain jacket, Clif bars and other on-the-road essentials. With our mission accomplished, we got back to Pueblo by 9:30 p.m.

A mechanical problem that otherwise could have cost us a day or two was easily – or relatively easily – solved – thanks to Randy. It’s on to the mountains tomorrow.