Week 75 metrics

31st May - 6th June

• Total distance: 101.79mi
• Total elevation: 2,462ft
• Longest ride: 45.43mi
• Time in saddle: 7h 05m

This was supposed to be 65 miles and 1,300ft more, but technical problems (three punctures and a broken tyre lever within 45 miles) put paid to yesterday's 104 mile sportive just shy of the half-way mark. Gutted. Strava's gear list functionality tells me the tyre that fell prone to all three punctures (a Fusion 5 Kevlar Pro Tech on the front wheel) has done 1,428.5 miles, so I'm hoping that's the problem. I'll be putting some Continental Gatorskins on this week, front and back; I had hoped to save them until nearer LEJOG but I can't be doing with three punctures every weekend....

Diagnosing punctures

Yes, it's puncture season. Yes, my excellent tyres have ~2,000 miles on them. But having repaired an inner tube last night, today's fresh puncture crop seems excessive, look:

And yes, I have checked that there's nothing inside the tyre causing this ... this outbreak of punctures. Four on a five mile ride! Gah!

I've ordered some new tyres, and some brand new tubes. Until then, I've got more patches on the go than a smoking cessation clinic...

A small prick

5mm of thorn, cut from a hedge and left lying on a cycle-path, that's all it takes. And people wonder why I don't like cycle paths...

And I've got good tyres, with excellent puncture protection and durability, and the one that took this thorn only has about 2,500 miles on the clock...oh well.

Contrasts

The day started with two punctures, one in each tyre. It ended with unforecast rain on the commute ride home. Not a great day of cycling then, one way and another. And yet...

...and yet a new sponsor (thank you, Sensei), after a fallow period in which my running total had flatlined, and talk of LEJOG training rides and summer sportives have put the spring back in my step pedals. And if that isn't a thing, it ought to be.

Sort of thinking I might set up the turbo trainer (in its box since receiving it last birthday) this weekend, pop the road bike on that and commute on the veteran MTB whilst it's puncture-season... in which case, watch this space for a turbo report.