Things I've learned mapping off-road rides through Georgia.

Lesson 1 - You do NOT have tubeless tires.

2 inch roofing nail

I was wrapping up the third day mapping the unpaved roads surrounding Suches, GA when the rear end went all googly with a flat. I had one last section of road to explore then I was to retrace my earlier path out to pavement and then back to the Copperhead Lodge then home. Pretty much in the center of the large wilderness area, I stopped and found the offending nail in the rear tire.

I've got this!

I've got this, shouldn't take long.

I took out my pump and plug kit. Following the instructions I meticulously inserted a very pretty plug patching that nail hole. I attached the tire pump and waited.

Nothing. The bead wasn't set. I spun the tire, kicked at it, the pump just got hotter and hotter. 

Then I saw imprinted on the Pirelli tire - "Tube Type".

Slowly the fog cleared and I recognized the new tires I just had installed were tubed tires. I brought the kit for the old tubeless tires. I just did an excellent plug job and made the problem worse.

Cyclepump - recommended

 
PLAN B

Is it a rideable flat? Will it last the distance. Miles to go.....

The BMW 650 GS XChallenge is a very light bike and the tire carcass on the Pirelli is stiff. A short test at idle speed kept the tire on the rim, there was hope. 

Plan B is go as slow as needed to keep the tire on the rim. 

I set off at 8-10 mph, about as slow as was comfortable without slipping the clutch and just fast enough to maintain steerage in the gravel patches. The rear end wallowed but followed. I took short breaks every 10 minutes to let the tire cool down so it wouldn't come apart. About an hour in I stopped to find the tube had been expelled and was wrapping around the hub. I cut it away and continued on the empty tire carcass ever more gently now. 

I had an entire section of Coopers Gap Road to ride, then the run north to pavement, miles more on pavement, then onto GA 60 to Two Wheels of Suches, the nearest spot to seek help. While I thought "That's it, the tire is coming off"way too often on the 2 hour ride to pavement, then out to Two Wheels of Suches.
 

Two Wheels of Suches, GA

Two Wheels of Suches was a carnival, bikes swarming about, people arriving with them in tow. The HOOCH rally was just getting started.

I meet an angel.

I went to the porch and started bartering $20 for a ride to the Copperhead Lodge in Blairsville to get my truck and trailer so I could tow the bike home. The skies were getting dark and my requests were first met with laughter. Then I man appeared and said "I'll take you".

We rode 2 up through the rain on GA 60 then Skeenah Gap Rd, then on to the Copperhead Lodge. He would not take payment.

He appeared when needed, gave a charitable service, then vanished. Be thankful for angels, be one if you can.

Lesson Learned?

Doh! Pretty dumb mistake. I'm going to need to come up with a way to carry the extra tools and tubes. It's not the only issue to deal with, the next issue is fuel.