jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
Had a fabulous ride home tonight...well almost
I forgot my helmet and somehow found the freedom of riding with an unfettered noggin to be both exhilarating and extremely comfortable. At the very least it delivered variety into the daily commute.
I've ridden a fair bit of late and am even feeling confident on the hilly bits. Tonight the air was warm and still, the sun was up and it was as if summer had popped back to say hello.
I picked up a puncture at Westminster and was unfazed, the large stone seats around parliament fields provided an ideal workstation and tourists took pictures as I worked efficiently and happily (even lining up the tyre logos the the valve and rim decales (very pro!).
Big Ben confirmed my tube change took under 8 minutes. Hamilton would have been proud.
My second puncture occurred at the foot of the Old Kent road..."hmmmm, that's not right" thinks me, okay still a bit of sunlight and two canisters left in my pack. 10 minutes later I rolled on.
At the bottom of armpit hill the front went for a third time. "That's proper wrong", I thought as I began to forensically examine the inside of the tyre and the rim under the blue antidrugs lights of Lewisham arches.
15 minutes later I'm ready for a sprint home as I drop the bike off the kerb and set up at the the lights.
I roll forward...and It was then that I was shot at. The weapon was loud, powerful and close. The shot echoed loud around the tall flats and arches. Doors bolted, curtains drew and lewisham went quiet...for a second. The aim was stead as the marksman managed to blow my tyre clean off (dirty harry style) the rim.
I was now sat at the lights confused and dazed. Some locals ducked for cover, whilst one or two others (not so local looking) reached inside their jackets with one finger in an ear as they talked to their lapels.
But it was OK, there was no shooter, not even a grassy knowle...just an over inflated inner-tube and an under inflated pride.
what a muppet, I used my minipump to start the tyre off and forgot I'd put 30 psi in already (to check for pinches), the cannister added 120 more for company. It was all too much for the poor tube and it literally blew itself from the rim.
Now, this tale does come with a question.
Under the clear halogen lights of the workshop I can see a tiny (like 1mm) slit in my brand new (and very pretty) schwalbe's. Clearly enough tube is present when the tyre expands to allow the tube to hit the outside world. So the question is, will a tyre boot take care of this or do I need a new tyre (after two weeks of owning this one)
PS I recall hearing something metallic ping from under my tyre as I exited Hyde park and thinking...phew that was close.
clearly it was closer than I thought.
nice ride though
I forgot my helmet and somehow found the freedom of riding with an unfettered noggin to be both exhilarating and extremely comfortable. At the very least it delivered variety into the daily commute.
I've ridden a fair bit of late and am even feeling confident on the hilly bits. Tonight the air was warm and still, the sun was up and it was as if summer had popped back to say hello.
I picked up a puncture at Westminster and was unfazed, the large stone seats around parliament fields provided an ideal workstation and tourists took pictures as I worked efficiently and happily (even lining up the tyre logos the the valve and rim decales (very pro!).
Big Ben confirmed my tube change took under 8 minutes. Hamilton would have been proud.
My second puncture occurred at the foot of the Old Kent road..."hmmmm, that's not right" thinks me, okay still a bit of sunlight and two canisters left in my pack. 10 minutes later I rolled on.
At the bottom of armpit hill the front went for a third time. "That's proper wrong", I thought as I began to forensically examine the inside of the tyre and the rim under the blue antidrugs lights of Lewisham arches.
15 minutes later I'm ready for a sprint home as I drop the bike off the kerb and set up at the the lights.
I roll forward...and It was then that I was shot at. The weapon was loud, powerful and close. The shot echoed loud around the tall flats and arches. Doors bolted, curtains drew and lewisham went quiet...for a second. The aim was stead as the marksman managed to blow my tyre clean off (dirty harry style) the rim.
I was now sat at the lights confused and dazed. Some locals ducked for cover, whilst one or two others (not so local looking) reached inside their jackets with one finger in an ear as they talked to their lapels.
But it was OK, there was no shooter, not even a grassy knowle...just an over inflated inner-tube and an under inflated pride.
what a muppet, I used my minipump to start the tyre off and forgot I'd put 30 psi in already (to check for pinches), the cannister added 120 more for company. It was all too much for the poor tube and it literally blew itself from the rim.
Now, this tale does come with a question.
Under the clear halogen lights of the workshop I can see a tiny (like 1mm) slit in my brand new (and very pretty) schwalbe's. Clearly enough tube is present when the tyre expands to allow the tube to hit the outside world. So the question is, will a tyre boot take care of this or do I need a new tyre (after two weeks of owning this one)
PS I recall hearing something metallic ping from under my tyre as I exited Hyde park and thinking...phew that was close.
clearly it was closer than I thought.
nice ride though
(especially, dare I say it, in Lewisham).
