Used the new routing again today, but used the 'draw your own' type option at the bottom, which is perhaps even more amazing. Drew a rough loop that gave me a 26 mile ride and off I went. Unfortunately, 10 miles in my luck struck again. Hit a huge pothole which caused a flat front tyre. No problem, I have two spare tubes and 6 patches. Put the first spare tube in, and once again, I couldn't get the pump off without removing the valve core. Tightened with the core key, but it would still come out with the pump. I don't know if I then over tightened it, but the core basically broke. Okay, tube number #2. Getting the same problem, so tried not attaching the pump so tightly, but it didn't seem to want to stay inflated. I know, I'll just try and patch the initial tube. 5 patches on and it seemed to be holding pressure, off I go.
Two more miles in and it was flat again. Pumped up and carried on, hoping that worse case I would need to pump it every couple of miles. Two more miles and it was flat and this time not holding pressure. I was now 14 miles out, 13 miles to go... so perhaps the worse place to be. Got the tube off and was examining the four patches trying to find the leak. I could hear it, but I think it was actually escaping from a couple of the patches and I only had one patch left. I was trying to fix this at a bus stop and a bus pulled up and waited there... I thought I might as well get closer to home, so jumped on and went to Borehamwood on it.
https://i.imgur.com/9QXZ0Yvh.jpg
In Borehamwood I realised how to get my pump off without removing the core. If you press the sliding bit of the end of the pump onto the core as you unscrew, you loose a little air, but the score stays put. Knowing this, I went back to tube #1 and pumped that up... I could hear air escape though. Patched it with my one remaining patch and it seemed to hold. Put it all back together and put enough air back in to get me the last 5 miles home.
Literally 5 minutes after getting home I actually herd the patch give way and the air all gushing out of tube #1... close call!
I've ordered 4 more tubes and 5 more patch kits. They should come tomorrow. Hopefully in time for me to get out again. Whilst I am a 'key worker' I have this week off and want to make the most of this amazing weather! (I actually have tan lines from today!)