Monday, April 14, 2008

Sunday 13th April 2008


April showers and punctures sums up a bad day in the saddle...... .....one to be forgotten.
Six of us: Ed, Jake, Keith, Ian, Tony and myself at KB. The route: Hampton, Lower Feltham, East Bedfont, Stanwell and the cycle route under junc 14 of the M25 just before Poyle where Keith punctured. We were quickly on our way through a thunderous shower toward Colnbrook then due north to Black Park for 11's.
A busy place next to a large lake popular with families (mug of coffee - £1).
We left Bob and Ian but picked up Pete M, riding through delightful Fulmer and the lane parallel with the M40 to just south of Beaconsfield where we headed south to the Blackwood Arms at Littleworth Common.
Around 20 members of the Chiltern section of the VCC were enjoying a drink as we arrived and personally I found these ancient bicycles fascinating to look at. No two bikes were the same and included the names Humber, Sunbeam and Rudge.
The oldest bike, from 1896 was a special collapsible Rudge with cotter pins at the frame joints......... no brazed lug work here. The thought being it could be dismantled when travelling on the train.
Leaving the pub, we rode through Burnham, Dorney, Eton, Windsor to the open air tea bar at Runnymede.
The patches of blue sky were quickly being filled with rain clouds so inevitably the remainder of the ride was wet.
When I punctured at Chertsey, I sent the others on and happily replaced the tube and set off...... ........alone (a BIG mistake).
Moments later in Shepperton I punctured again so without a replacement tube proceeded to patch the hole.... ......in drizzle.
On nearing Esher the tyre deflated again and I was by now cold,wet and experincing the early stages of the "bonk".
I decided to pump up the tyre and see how far I could get.
Riding through Claygate I felt terrible and became extremely weak barely able to turn the pedals. I stopped to pump up the tyre but had no energy to carry out this simple task. Looking in my saddlebag I found a packet of crisps which I devoured. I considered getting the train home but that seemed a long way (via Clapham Junc).
When I got to Hook - finding the tyre had deflated again - I continued to ride on the rim anxious to get home and end this ordeal.
Still suffering from low blood sugar, I bought a Mars bar and sat down to contemplate what to do next.
I decided to walk home but the tube by now was out of the tyre and was preventing the wheel from turning.
I began to feel the Mars bar working and immediately started to mend the puncture in bright sunshine.
When I got to Ewell I couldn't believe that I had punctured again and stopped at a garage to buy a pizza for supper.
With half a mile to go, I gingerly rode on the pavement, on the rim and arrived home totally exhausted.
I retired to bed at 8:30pm.

Rarely have I felt so helpless, inadequate and fed up whilst on my bike.

Computer numbers:
Distance - 70 miles dead
Ave Speed - 12.6mph
Punctures - 4

This morning I have mended two punctures and can confirm all four were in different places caused by foreign objects or pinching tube when replacing.

The photo is of happier times, last April actually.



More on old bikes:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/english-3.html
Sports History: Cycling





1 comment:

Lisa said...

Tough luck Andy you will certainly take a prominant position when the Puncture Chart is set up soon!!
From Pete M