[snip]
PS: If the tandem riders who loaned me the Park Tools tool set are on the forum, thanks again. You've no idea how much easier that made repairing my tyre 
No worries, glad they were useful.
We had an epic ride. While it was much less hilly than a grimpeur, a lot shorter than a 600, we had many less deflations than on the Anfractuous, and we didn't perform a detailed examination of the tarmac like we did on the Upper Thames, we still manged to be much, much slower than any other ride this year. I have a feeling that this ride is going on the list to do next year!
We made the distance 219km, and given we had next to no wrong turns (just a little confusion finding the weir) that's serious ride. That bonus 9km was a real challenge of determination, especially given the terrain involved!
Getting around the last third with barely-there brake blocks - on a tandem - was a good challenge. We must have eeked all of 300 km out of that set of swissstops (£20?). FNRTTC & SBWW were 2 wet rides! Resolution for next year: we're riding in Wales, it will be wet; we get a rear disc brake
and carbide rims!
On the plus side, third outing on the Ribmos they're starting to prove their worth -- not the gripiest tyres (see comment above about Upper Thames) nor the smoothest riding, but no deflations since fitting even with all the rain & flint.
AND by the time the poor student arrives, the days are getting longer
