On me way home tonight, just pulling up to the lights at the junction of Albany Road and Camberwell Road, by Burgess Park.
"Pffffffft".
The front one, thankfully. I thought the p*nct*re fairies had struck again, but having turned the tyre inside out I saw it was a pinch flat caused by a small tear in the sidewall.
Oh, b@lls, thought I, still with nine miles or so to go and no convenient train station. All I could do was to wander up the road and see if I could get something to effect a repair.
Nearby was a petrol station; they had a small roll of PVC tape. So, I bought that, put a strip on the inside of the tyre of the tear (and another couple to keep it down), and one on the outside for good luck. I then rode home gingerly, keeping hand pressure off the bars, taking bends slowly in order not to bank too much, and avoiding as many bumps as possible.
I made it, thankfully.
I had been thinking this morning that I really should change the tyres, as they have done many, many miles. Now the decision's been made for me. I must get some tyre boots to carry about, too.
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