CWC

We met a recumbent riding father (Hayden) and gravel bike riding daughter (Eilish) at Goolma just after we arrived. Dad was down the road a bit fixing a puncture - “no help required thanks”. With dusk approaching we saw them briefly at the toilets across the road from the hall before they disappeared into the gloaming.
Next day at another toilet block at Gulgong, we met again and got their story. Hayden and wife (name undisclosed) completed a 3 year tandem bike tour of Australia starting from Kununurra. Eilish was born along the way so its probably not surprising that they are on the road together again. Sadly they has spent most of the previous day and a good part of this, fixing a front flat.
What was surprising is that recumbent has a 16” x 1.5” front tyre. Way too narrow for the conditions, supporting the bulk of the weight which must have been a horror on some of the sandy & corrugated sections. He was carrying just the one spare which was long gone.
We found them with 25k to go to Mudgee declining help again and intending to walk even though Hayden is wearing thongs and a baseball cap and Eilish is looking quite pink. The recumbent would be very difficult the transport in any of our vehicles.
Eventually we prevailed to assist by pleating a 29” French valved inner tube into his tiny front wheel. The air went in, the bead stayed in place, and off they went.
We know they made it to Mudgee and that Hayden was heard to comment “tyre is as ‘good as’. I think I’ll just leave it there”
They will set of for Dubbo on Monday morning.

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