First Day

[BSRU]

After a Christmas like holiday at the end of April, it's been 11 days of no commuting, today was the first day back on two wheels.
Just a standard 21 miles today, no "Swindon" climbs although the wind is a bit gusty.

Getting used to some new tyres as well, now riding 28c Continental GP 4 Seasons, previously on Vittoria Hypers, 38c. First day of the holiday discovered rear tyre completley flat, found a large gash in the tyre so as I was already thinking about new tyres I decided to replace both, as they were starting to show their age.
I wanted some 32c Vittoria's, none in stock so bought the 28c GP 4 Seasons, only problem so far is my stock of spare tubes are too big for 28c's, so keeping fingers crossed until my spare tubes arrive.

 

[I like Skol]

keeping fingers crossed until my spare tubes arrive.

Crossed fingers aren't a lot of help with a flat tyre!!! I had a puncture on my next to last night at work so fixed it in the work car park at 1.00am before riding 10 miles home. Before cycling to work the next day I fixed the punctured inner tube (just a tiny thorn prick) and tossed it in the pannier 'just in case'. I got halfway to work (exactly halfway!) that night when I got a 1" long steel rod stuck in the same rear tyre. Luckily I had a fixed tube with me as crossed fingers would have been bu**er all use to me at that point!

 

[BSRU]

I have a few Schwalbe SV17, which should be fine for 28c upto 47c, but when I tried one of them it didn't look good, my similar Continentals state 32c to 47c, so defintiely no good. Luckily I have two Schwalbe SV15's, spares for my new bike when it arrives, so I am now using them.

My ride distance is similar to my standard ride but a different route so that I am never more than three miles from home, so if anything happens I can always walk home. I should have my new spares by tomorrow lunch time and then I can resume using my normal routes.

 

[I like Skol]

Arghhhh, what did I say! Cycled to the park with my 2 sons tonight (5 & 8yrs) and was just heading home when youngest piped up 'dad, my bike sounds funny'. I looked and found his back tyre was flat. We set off walking with me carrying his bike and pushing mine. Halfway home I put his bike down momentarily and noticed the front tyre was now also flat. WTF!

I didn't bother with repair gear because 'we only nipped to the park'. Both wheels fixed now, just tiny pinpricks in each one, probably from the same thorn as there was nothing stuck in the tyres but it just goes to show you never know when the fairy will attack with a vengance. She has certainly had it in for me this week, 2 seperate punctures on my bike and then 2 on my little boys bike (I also lost a 4x4 tyre 2 weeks ago while off-roading!)

ALWAYS take a small repair kit and puncture stuff wherever you go.

 

[BSRU]

I nipped into Halfords last night and bought a spare tube, just in case, plus I was able to venture further from home this morning.
Although it did take two visits, the first visit the tills were broken and I couldn't pay for it, so I had to go back later hoping they had sorted out the problem.

I always carry a repair kit plus my mini-morph and normally two spare tubes.