A Day of Mixed Fortune
Krakow to Budapest Stage 10 – Dunajská Streda to Komárno 68 Km (Sat 29 Sep 2018)
Weather: 8⁰C min – 16⁰C max, clear and sunny, windy
“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere” ~ Vincent Van Gogh
Heading south on Route 507, I was surprised at how much traffic there was on what is really just a secondary road in Slovakia. Relief came after 20 Km when I rejoined my old friend the Donauradweg (Danube Bike Route). Smooth sailing again!
Alas, good things never last. About 14 Km of blissful riding on top of the embankment, Donauradweg deteriorated to twin-track crunchy gravel. After 6 Km of slipping and sliding I had enough, so at Klížska Nemá I took a detour onto a quiet country road. However the reprieve was temporary because I soon rejoined the treacherous gravel again.
The further I went the deeper I sunk into the gravel with my relatively narrow (size 700 x 28C) touring bike tyres. Then it happened! After 13 years of bicycle touring I suffered my first puncture, thanks to that knee high gravel! Fortunately I was carrying a spare tube so I was soon ready to complete the final 20 Km of my ride to Komárno … but not on the gravel path! I could see a little village not far away so I pushed my bike across the field in that direction until I came to a road that led to a major road that took me into Komárno.
When you have had a fairly mixed day in the saddle, arriving at a spectacular little town like Komárno makes it all worthwhile. I think you will agree when you view the photos that this town has the WOW factor plus more!
First flat in 13 years! Wow. I’ve toured for several months every summer for the past 4 years and I’ve had one flat.
I have been lucky so far I guess. And I use Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres, it is just that my current ones have worn very thin.
Lucky was only a puncture Kev and how blessed are you to have managed till now to get s puncture Safe travels my friend!
Thanks Robynne. I have been lucky so far I guess. And I use Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres, it is just that my current ones have worn very thin after more than 5,000 Km.
I am glad that you were able to fix the punture.Lets hope you will have a punture free ride for the rest of your trip