Up at 6am, Jam Sandwich, benchmark and some plotting

MrCubeLtd

Week 3 started so well.. I went to bed sunday night 8.30pm, took my meds early. Woke up at 5.30am, by 6.30am I was good to go and out the door. Why so early? I am still getting used to clipless and building up my confidence. The less traffic the better.

About 3/4 miles down the road I go over a dip in the road. At the time I thought thats not good and then a few seconds later there is an odd noise and the rear has gone soft all of a sudden. I get off the bike and I have my first ever puncture an an adult rider. The last time I had a puncture I must have been 10yrs old

Not good I think. I can't get the Co2 cannisters to work, either I am doing it wrong or they are faulty. I think more likely it is me. I've got a brand new pair of £170 carbon specialized shoes I'm not walking back in them. Plus my roadside recovery is untested. So I took my shoes off and walked back home in my socks, shoes in one hand bike in the other. Now I don't give a sh*t what people think but it must have been an odd sight, early morning rush hour and a cyclist walking down the pavement in socks!

Glad I got home because my 1st ever puncture swap out with a new tube took around 20mins! When I swapped over my MTB tyres it was easy. I really struggled with the road tyres, the presta valve getting it to inflate. But once on I spun the rear wheel up for any wobble and to me (bearing in mind I don't know what I am doing) it looked smooth and no sideway play.

It definitely put me off track as when I eventually did my 5 mile as part of week 3 - it was tuff. Not stamina but mentally my head was all over the shop. Anyway, time to put today behind me and move onto day 2 week 3. Got a 10 miler to do tomorrow.

Charlyfarly

I'm in the same position as you and have a very similar routine.

To be honest i've never had a puncture before as an adult and the last time I did have one when I was a kid, my grandad fixed it (I'm now 43). I've been riding now for only a week or so on my new bike and like you am leaving early mainly due to fitness, traffic and getting used to the pedals. I guess after hearing your story I should buy something to repair punctures etc and get some practise in, as i've never removed a rear wheel before and am kinda concerned that I would mess all the gearing up for some reason, let alone do it out on the road... Feel for ya having to walk back, I would be gutted to have to do that.

MrCubeLtd

Glad I'm not alone. Once in the comfort of my home taking the rear wheel off was easy. Maniuplating the tyres with the levers I struggled with, trying to get the track pump to blow up the tube nearly ruined me! As for putting on the rear wheel yep it took a while.

I'm going to look online for how to videos, ie putting a rear wheel back on. I have a real problem with the rear derailure. I definitely need some practise.

I have spare tubes, track pump, levers, Co2 that I can't get to work. Everything necessary but without the know how

I just come across this video on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhlUI9ry2JY

Makes it look so easy! But then I guess it is when you know what you are doing.

charlie_potatoes

Yeah but you made it in the end. You need sh1t days like this to appreciate the good ones