I did my little jaunt to Funchingfield last night to inspect the Three Tuns as a possible for the Ephiphany, sadly it was not very good. The pub I could deal with but a very watery tasting Woodfordes Wherry was a different story.
I also had some badger action and a deer (possibly a young stag) crossed in front of me, I nearly had to stop as he walked calmly across about 2 metres in front of me. A quick hiss from me and he thought better of the calm approach!
I also picked up a puncture on the way to Finchingfield on the back which required 2 pump stops in the last 10k. I then carried on the Compasses (see where this was going?) where I had a quick pint of Oakham Citra (very nice) and shortly after leaving there was sealant spraying from the front tyre. I managed to pinch the tube and cut it so I ended up having to put a patch on that before heading off again, all this was done in a mud covered field entrance.
Going through Witham the front tyre was on its way down again so I stopped to pump it up again and the bridge over the A 12 to Tiptree I had to stop another 8 or 10 times to pump and then I walked the last 1.5km.
Gutting considering I took delivery of the winter Marathon Pluses earlier in the day!
Anyway, as good as the Panartacer Gravel Kings have been it seems that when something goes right through it leaves quite a sharp bump on the inside of the tyre and that seems to have been the cause of the problem. It's confirmed my change to Marathon + for the winter and come spring I think the switch to Tubeless will come.
