Well, that was an adventure...
National 400 is unfinished business, I didn't see much of it in the end, but from what I saw the helpers, controls & route were all amazing. Well done to John & team - i will be back for more.
It started for me with a brand new tubeless tyre letting go (yes I fitted them the night before & didn't get chance for a proper test-ride)
With hindsight I'd got some sealant into the rim which must have worked its way into the rim tape & so it lost it's 'sticky', came away, let all the air out and unseated the tyre.
No problem I thought - convert to clincher & I'll be on my way...
Getting new Schwlabe one tyres off my Pacenti rim is a challenge & the now lose tape got creased as I struggled & snapped one of my 2 tyre leavers
Dropping in a tube I couldn't get the tyre seated with just a hand pump - not a surprise given how tight they are
I rode on carefully, it's unsettling to see your front tyre not hooked onto the clincher & I could feel it moving...
POP - looking at the tubet later it had a huge hole on the inside so had ruptured over a (now poorly covered) spoke hole
in went the next tube & onwards carefully
Pingu OTP helped me find a bike shop, and over an hour later I conceded to taking whatever they had - new rim tape, new clincher, new tyre leavers & some spare tubes. They only had 23mm gator skins, so were tight and skinny for my large rims.
POP - the rim tape had moved & the tube went bang over a spoke hole, patched & back in the rim tape now prevented the tyre seating properly so I gingerly pressed on
POP - same again
I limped into Brokhampton with 4 mins in hand
I decided that bailing was going to be a more sensible plan than risking a high speed blowout in the dark and/or just running out of tubes
The Cambrian OTP identified the new skinny & thick rim tape as preventing the tyre seating, but after some careful work got it seated with the help of 115PSI & a track pump.
Setting off again I threaded the nut on my skewer - lucky he had a spare (will be in the post tomorrow!)
Surely my luck would hold now?
Pop - moved rim tape again. Patched & back running, I counted my remaining patches & didn't have enough to patch all teh spoke holes, but did have enough to keep going & avoid the train
Pop - a passing car stopped & out came a track pump
120PSI & the tyre seated again, I got my head down & rolled along the A458 to get back just after 10pm with only 220k done and over 3hours stationary with tyre 'fun'
After some toast & coffee I had a 20 min nap, and felt good to drive home. An hour later I pulled over for a good few hours sleep before finishing the journey
It was a slow ride so my legs feel fine today - the sorest part is my fingers & thumbs from all the type manipulation!
Thanks again for the help to keep going. I managed to avoid throwing the bike in a hedge, and found peace enough to simply enjoy the views and sunshine
See you next time for less tyre - related fun!