Flat out in Roydon

Really sorry we lost you Dan. Puncture at a stop light on a breakaway is truly terrible timing.

On the plus side: HEATED WAITING ROOM

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Heated waiting rooms are the future

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So lonely.

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@Rod_Munch is a pure hero.

Tru dat

Oh man. Rubbish. Lonely but warm...glad the rescue mission was successful. Maybe we need these:

All the kudos to @Rod_Munch
He didn't even finish his pint before setting off!
Also @youramericanlover I owe you for the bag!

Did you find the exit button?

I’ve gotta say it. I’m not having the best time tonight everyone... Well, a one hour walk home is better than the 10 or so from Roydon I guess?

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I went old school and just pulled the door open.

Oh fuck. Shocker. New tyres time?

Yikes. Same wheel?

Did I imagine it or did some funky track pumps get built into the street furniture somewhere? I assume bike shops take theirs in at night..

The front this time. I looked high and low for them pretty silver street pumps but alas, none were to be seen. Anyway. I’m home with a belly full of eggs, beans and toast. Thanks for your help tonight matey!

@Scrabble the tyres are relatively new. It’s just... my time. I’m due. Haven’t had a puncture on any bike for about 8 months. UNTIL TONIGHT.

In fairness we were asking for trouble with this thread title.

Tim, sorry you got stiffed on the big round - next time. Oh, and Dan has your tube... not that it did him any good.. :(

Well it looks like you had fun. Reminds me of the Coulsdon experiment where I flatted on the front, and then on the rear the day after. Nowhere near as annoying though.

The gods are reminding us that the seasons are changing and to ride our bikes mostly in the daylight. Not that this will stop you!

So, let me get this right, Dan punctured at the lights at the start of the sprint, you were in the pub with a drink in front of you before the message got through, Jim leaves his pint and rides back to Dan, affects rescue, rides back to station, deposits Dan in heated waiting room them rides home?

Above and beyond...

@jaeyukdapbap Was it a valve core unscrewing in the pump? The self rescue technique in this situation is to stuff the tyre with grass and ride slowly and carefully to the nearest pub/station/taxi rank.

I have to confess I did drink three quarters of the pint before I set off - and stole some of Russell's pork scratchings on my way out too.

The main kudos should go to Dan who managed some impressive cleated yomping to save me an extra couple of miles on the way back to get him (and the way back again).

This is actually all the other Dan's fault for his 'fake mechanical' in Kent last month. After that wild goose chase I had convinced myself that Dan #2 was off the front of the sprint rather than stranded roadside at the back!

Pretty much.

We thought someone was off the front after some of us slowed soon after the start of the final leg after my light came unplugged. Had not realised Dan was actually having a mare about 500m back...
The extent of his issues only became apparent in the pub.

Not quite. The hose on the pump wouldn't release when there was any pressure in the tube. It would lock on. Unscrewing the pump from the hose would release all the air out of the tube. Even without pressure in the tube the hose wouldn't come off until I'd walked about two miles with it hanging onto the valve and tried again.

I then got another puncture in Elephant and Castle without a working pump. More walking yay!

Safe to say, one of the first things I did today was order a new pump.

Apparently I walked about 3 miles looking at the map.

Seriously dude. I owe you dinner at the end of season eat and drink-a-thon.

Rubbish luck, Dan, and yes, that thread title, as if whoever wrote it knew you'd be stranded out in the middle of nowhere ...

If it's any comfort, I'm sure we've all had intractable punctures that required prolonged walking.

I have residual guilt about a lot of things from last night, but my main lesson is that if there is only only 4-5 of us it's too small a group to have a proper TT. Whoever is off the front - it was me in this case - needs ensure the whole group is together even if they are "smashing it". I didn't do that, and that's why Dan was stranded, and Jim had to go above and beyond to ensure he got home (eventually). Sorry all

Bit of a perfect storm all round i think:

1. Person on the back got the puncture
   
2. We'd only just stopped and it was at the start of a long stretch where everyone guns it.
   
3. Pump malfunction
   
   

If any one of those things were different and it would have been fine. Agree we should try and be a bit more communicative if we're going to give it all the beans though.