Bike is back together now mate. Looks the goods. New RD, chain and wheel. Wheel cost the most.
Anyway, a little story yesterday. I woke up Sunday morning ready to attend a group ride up willunga hill. Pumped up my tires to 120psi. Thinking that should be ok for uphills. Sat down for breakfast and then heard this loud bang like a gunshot. Walked over to my bike spotted the rear tire flat minutes before i was to be picked up by andrew. Andrew (my mate) helped me rush and change the tube with my only spare. I get to mclaren vale everyone is already there and waiting, we set off and about 2km in and i hear this scuffing, i immediately stop only to pull up and another bang goes off. This time its worse, side wall of conti gatorskins rips from its beading. Making riding any further non existant. Pretty much walked the 2 km back and rang another mate for a lift home.
New RD
picture of the split in side wall beading.
Got changed, came back down to oxygen cycles in Mclaren Vale and ended up buying 2 new specialized 'all season' armadillo elite tires and 3 vittoria tubes. Hoping these will end my pain.
Shot of new tires
Took the bike for a quick spin around my block this morning as it got too dark last night to test the bike out. Took me over an hour to change both tires and tubes over btw. Finding that the bike feels slightly quicker with the new rubber. Could be placebo. Anyway I hope this is the last of my bad luck and more time actually in the saddle enjoying my bike rather than forking out cash hand over fist fixing it.