Puncture repairing at it's finest.

It's now getting a lot colder, wetter and certainly windier here in Leeds which can only be an obvious sign of Winter approaching.

Wrapping up at it's finest; 4 layers consisting of jerseys, wind jackets and waterproofs, two pairs of gloves, thick socks and anything else you can find to have the slight hope of being somehow warm out on your bike for how many hours you'll be out for.

Nothing speaks gutted like the harsh realisation (especially uphill) of being greeted with a puncture. With numb hands and rain mixed with sweat in every place possible, it's hard to change an inner tube under 5 minutes - well, for me it is.

So far, in the time I've been back on my bike (not long at all) I think I've suffered around 6 punctures. One was walking with my bike to a turbo session. Long story short I found the culprit (a thorn) in my tyre which I was pleased to be rid of and hopefully that was the end of my puncture horrors.

Nope.

Puncture number 7 came today at the end of the ride but this time in my front wheel, by yet again, a thorn. Luckily there wasn't any rain which made the situation a little bit easier to laugh at. Mine and Jana's effort to repair the puncture was a valiant one, however we failed miserably, I would also like to thank Sian on her very useful input to the situation - taking pictures. This time my hands were that cold I couldn't even get the tyre back onto the wheel, therefore we drafted in two very kind men who fixed the puncture for me.

On the way back one of the men offered his back wheel to drag Sian, Jana and I up the Chevin and back into Headingley - little did we know that not only was he the wind barrier, but we were literally going at race pace which my legs weren't too pleased with. After the 4upTT we ended the ride at Bare Coffee with hot chocolates and cakes.

New tyres are the next on my list.

Anyone giving out free inner tubes?

Leah x