The plan today was for me to ride to Poitiers which is about 25km off the EuroVelo route. Aidan would take the TGV train to Poitiers and we would meet my old Oracle friend Dave Sidwell for dinner.
I was figuring a 5-6 hour ride leaving at 9 and Aidan's train left about 1:30 so I expected to get there not long after him
I didn't get riding until 9:30 but it was a clear sunny day trying to be warm. Things were going to plan. As I rode I tracked Aidan's progress to the train station. I did hear the spray of tire sealant but it sealed up as it should. At noon I was close to halfway and all was good.
The clouds started to build and the day was changing back to what we had the previous days. Somehow I missed the actual rain but many times there was fresh water on the road.
Then my tire went flat. The sealant wasn't plugging the holes. I tried a plug and that held for a bit until it went completely flat. I should have changed to an inner tube then and there but instead I walked into the town just across the bridge. I noted a train station and could take that to Poitiers in 2 hours.
I then got a message from Aidan it was back in Tours and had gotten on the wrong train. He would be getting a slow train in two hours.
For me it was time to try installing an inner tube. I haven't put a tube on this bike in nearly two years. My tubeless system had worked flawlessly with the Continental tires I had been using. I tried a new brand a week before I left and so far hate these tires
The inner tube worked great and I was back on the road. I did lose an hour or more.
I got to Poitiers and had just finished checking in when Dave walked in the lobby. I had a quick shower and we went to meet Aidan at the train. We had a few beers and caught up. It was still the 90's last time we got together.
We had a nice dinner at a restaurant off the main square and then we walked him to his car. It was really good to see him and catch up.
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