Well fuck.
A rain-free, mild day was forecast. It was a bit gloomy out there with a stiff wind from the west (supposedly), but I wanted to do at least 60km. Maybe even 100. I decided on the Lower Westbound route. I elongated it a bit by going out through Packington. Took advantage of the petrol station at Measham to get a pasty and a sandwich, as I felt a bit low on energy. Had only had a small breakfast and hadn’t brought much with me.
I stopped at a bench at Netherseal after 17km to refuel. A nice location next to the church in a sleepy village. Very pleasant.
But as I set off following my impromptu early lunch, I noticed that the front tyre was very soft. Not again! Well – I was in an ideal spot to swap in a new inner tube. I could use the bench as a sort of work surface for an inverted bicycle, and I’d be able to wrestle with the tyre levers while seated. However – I thought I’d see if I could get away with reinflating the old inner tube first. I did that. Then, of course, I reluctantly turned for home. I wasn’t going to be able to get enough pressure in the tyre, even if I replaced the inner, for another 80km with my mini pump.
This was surprisingly successful – I moderated my posture to take as much weight off the front as possible, rode carefully and when I stopped after 3.5km to check the front tyre, it hadn’t lost much pressure. I stopped another couple of times to put a bit more air back in and made it home without changing the inner tube. I came back the shortest way through Heather.
Conditions brightened a bit on the way back and I hadn’t noticed much of a headwind on the way out. I might well have done a fondo if not for the flat. I had to make do with 31.82km.
So, the Boardman front wheel strikes again. It’s only five weeks since the last time it hosted a flat. This time I will change the tyre as well as the inner tube, and I’ll check the rim very carefully.
Anyway – 368k this month which is OK for half the month gone, but the weather looks iffy for the remaining half.