Thanks Rachael!

Thanks Scott - for many reasons, the last days of a long cycle tour always shift my perspective and I start taking a longer view rather than just being in the moment, day to day.

Having the camera along these last days was a real bonus - merci, merci! Glad it got back to you safely.

And I'll have to dig up the Stacey Kent version of Landslide, along with Kathleen's fave, the Chicks version.

Thanks for your thoughts. I so enjoyed getting to know you both and spending some time together - I am looking forward to when next we meet-up. Until then, we'll always have CycleBlaze. Safe travels.

Hi,
Well done. It was a great trip, and a memorable tour indeed complete with a trail angel to see you safely home. So when do you come back?
Nice to meet you this year. Let’s do it again.
Cheers,
Keith

I feel your pain! Schwalbe touring tires are notoriously beefy and tough to work with! I often have difficulties with them! Glad you got back on the road!

I was going to suggest going tubeless, since your rims are tubeless-ready, though it looks like you are leaning that way already.

Both Al and I opted for tubeless on our ti bikes and it’s been great! The initial mounting can be a pain, but that can be done by a shop. We try to mount new tires a week or so before packing the bikes for flight to be sure the bead is well sealed before reducing pressure; we leave in more than we used to with tubes. Our cases have separate wheel bags which would contain the mess if there was a sealant leak but 4 flights each so far without a problem. We didn’t replace the tires before going to Italy but took sealant to top up on arrival instead of doing so before packing the bikes.

I use Orange Seal and it’s always lasted longer than the tire, although sometimes needs to be topped up. I remove the valve core and use the dipstick method to check, first a week or two after mounting new tires, then every 2-3 months. It’s easy to add more sealant through the open valve before replacing the core.

Susan, I am going to miss your daily reports both well written and with great photos!
I read a number of bike forums and there are some rim/tyre combinations which do not play nicely together.
If that was your first puncture since acquiring your bike I would not be rushing to go tubeless as they can have issues of their own, one being that the sealant breaks down and has to be replaced at intervals.

Wow, what a gorgeous day. Merci, Pierre, for all his roadside assistance.

Oh Susan, that was indeed a memorable last day of touring! A bit too much adventure perhaps... And how miraculous that the right person came by when you needed him. Phew, so glad the story had a happy end. Isn't it amazing how situations always do work out.

I can only point out how much better your luck with anything related to Schwalbe tires seems to be, than mine

I don’t know if this link will help but recently I have been carrying this tire installation tool with me. Works great 👍 If the link doesn’t work search ‘bike tire installation tool’.
Thanks for the journal.
https://www.amazon.ca/Premium-Plastic-Remover-Inserting-Installation/dp/B07T3TSTPX/ref=asc_df_B07T3TSTPX/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=335268186946&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17609630949841256621&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001596&hvtargid=pla-896410144246&psc=1

I had a very similar experience with a Schwalbe Marathon tire a couple years ago, my first ever flat with a Schwalbe. I spent at least an hour trying to get the tire remounted, breaking two levers in the process. As soon as I tried to put air back in, it flatted again. In my case, the rim strip had shifted so a spoke hole was cutting into the tube. Ended up being a long walk home. You might want to check out something called a tire jack. Google ‘bicycle tire jack’ to see what they look like. It’s basically a handle and hook arrangement that gives you some leverage to get that last little bit of tire over the rim.

Well, that was an eventful last day! I've really enjoyed following along on, and briefly entering into, your amazing year on the bike. What a great adventure you've had! I look forward to whatever you do next!

I’d already heard of this adventure, but even knowing the outcome I could feel the tension. It’s a reminder of how vulnerable we are regardless of how well prepared we feel. Thank goodness the right pilgrim came along.

These yellow levers (Pedros) are the ticket in my opinion. I’ve broken my share of levers on our 20” Schwalbes, and once we even had to flag someone down to drive Rachael and her bike back to our hotel in Foix because I couldn’t remount it. I’ve never had a failure with Pedros though. Unbendable, indestructible.