Sunday blow-out

It was bound to happen one way or the other.

I experienced a severe rear tyre blow-out before my Sunday ride even began. The funny thing is, I’d been waxing lyrical about how tough my 3 year old 25c Kenda tyres had been just the day before. We’ve been through snow, ice, blizzards, floods and hella hectic thunderstorms in Sherwood Forest — all while doing 23mph thru dirt n’ gravel. Never had a puncture in all three years that I had ’em, only to be taken out by a 33 mph-to-0 skid stop for a pedestrian at a zebra crossing.

_{The toughest of the tough . First edition issue Kenda K152 700x25c. I once purposefully ran this Kenda tyre over thorns, just for the sake of it (and also cos’ there was no other way thru – a farmer’s tractor was blocking the lane at the time.) And yes, the Kenda had survived!}

_{Gravel, thorns, dirt, mud and hail-storms – this tyre has seen it all}

To be honest, I was riding too fast in a 20-zone, and should have slowed down a little. But no one, I mean no one is ever around at that hour in our little quaint and quiet village – and no one is ever crossing at this place – ever – especially on a quiet Sunday afternoon.

Yet it happened – she appeared – and there I was, hogging a blown tyre in the middle of the street. I later exchanged a few pleasantries with the lady crossing, (she even smiled when the tyre popped off) before I took my walk of shame all the way back home – bike in hand.

_{Kenda and snow are a grippy combination}

I didn’t even push a single mile from home when that happened. Heck I figure I was only 40-50 seconds off and away from the door. Anyway – lessons learnt – and now I know it’s 20mph for a reason (as if I didn’t know hey)

_{Hats off to my favourite tyre, and here’s to new beginnings for the road ahead}

…and yea, R.I.P to my 3-year-old n’-loved-puncture-free Kenda tyre that was lost on 07/05/23.

You will be missed dearly.

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First Puncture in 3 Years – SingleSpeedCC

2023.06.29

[…] The Lugs have been used on regular milk and butcher runs to our local farm. Cut across slippery lanes for local village circuits at speeds of up to 42 mph, and also gracefully toddled over the cobbles in cities like Nottingham and Sheffield during my weekly commutes. It’s been a sad year for my tires lately, and I’m a bit down after recently losing Kenda’s (blow-out at 30mph). […]

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