Well, that was eventful! First ride of the year, and in truth, the first ride in ages. Steady and undemanding was the order of the day with a pretty easy 16ish mile loop, not very technical. Not too strenuous, so feels like more effort if you go singlespeed, so I did.
Anywhere there could be mud there was, unless there was a small flood instead but riding through water is just more fun, more grippy and much cleaner so that was fine :-)
The more observant amongst you may however have noticed a discrepancy. I said 16ish miles but Strava says 13? Well, about 12 miles in is when the puncture fairy turned up... Only a bit soft so a quick pump up and deal with it later... The puncture fairy didn't like that, they really didn't! So over the next mile the soft tear became a fully flat rear, out comes the tube and in goes the one I hastily grabbed on my way out of the door. A little too hastily as it was a 700c, and I was on 26" wheels. No matter, fitted it anyway, pumped up fine and away we... don't go.
As I grabbed the front wheel to flip the bike back, the front was flat, utterly airless. Never mind, just had some practice, this will take no time! So I appropriated my mates spare tube and popped that in. Well after removing the enormous thorn from the tyre carcass, way bigger than the one in the rear so no idea why the rear went soft first but no matter.
Well, actually yes, some matter, because the new (to me) tube was already leaking! Not had it apart to try and find out why but that tyre was thorn free, I checked it twice, I always do! So that's when I stopped Strava recording, the next mile and a half to the road was pretty interesting, uphill was just a bit sketchy, downhill was frankly hilarious! Like riding in beautiful powder apart from the jarring of rocks on rim. It was destined to be the last ride for my well worn Mud X tyres anyway, but I think it will be pretty trashed now.
Can't really afford to go tubeless on the SS bike as well but it did remind me of the BIGGEST advantage of tubeless... no thorn punctures.
Was great to be back out though :-)
I just rode 13.0 miles! Check it out on #strava: http://app.strava.com/activities/35403149
http://app.strava.com/activities/35403149
Wow, sounds... eventful like you say. Bit unlucky especially as it was your first ride back for a while & conditions were pretty bad. Guess it all adds up & makes you a stronger cyclist. Sounds like you did you best & some good bodging. Things like this always seem to happen when you're not fully prepared. At least you got out, put down a marker on the 2013 board & still had fun. I think those slime tubes are about double the price of a normal tube. They come with the slime stuff already in them.
ReplyDeleteIs that rare that I get a puncture I would normally not bother with the slime ones, might be tempted though. At least the conditions were OK to be hanging around, and I didn't waste a CO2 canister inflating a duff tube. That would have been annoying! Will make sure I take some instant patches next time though. I usually have a neat little Lezyne set but... Next time :-)
ReplyDeleteAlways happens when you least expect it. Good job you weren't miles & miles away in the middle of nowhere. The glue-less patches can be life savers unless you drop your last one in the mud sticky side down, then find the glue in the tube has dried up (had to get rescued). Worth checking your kit regularly. Never used the slime tubes but bet they can always be a safe option. Yeah, you'll be sorted for the next time. Live & learn.
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