DAY 16: Bandırma (Turkey)

October 21, 2026

Day 16, just past 6:00 AM—I’m jolted awake by the deafening broadcast of the *adhan* (call to prayer).

Today’s temperature ranges from 10°C to 21°C. It’s quite mild, likely because we’re by the coast.

I’ve decided to take another day off.

Mud from the trail has been interfering with the brakes—to the point where they stopped working—which made for a terrifying experience while descending a hill in Bandırma yesterday.

My mission for today: completely remove the dried mud and install a protective liner inside the tires.

I also need to head to a bike shop to pick up some rubber cement for puncture repairs.

Fortunately, this hotel is quite affordable, and thanks to some Agoda points, it’s even cheaper.

Breakfast this morning:

*Chai* (tea), mango juice, boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, honey, bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach, pickled olives, salami, French fries, various types of cheese, and more. You really can’t beat a buffet-style breakfast.

Since I’m eating breakfast here, it must be lunchtime back in Japan. A six-hour time difference is actually quite significant.

I spent most of the morning working on the tires.

It turned out that a tiny piece of wire was still embedded inside the tire. Every time I patched the inner tube, a new pinhole leak would appear—a frustrating, recurring cycle. I ended up having to take the tires off and put them back on three times just this morning.

With these tiny punctures, the air doesn’t escape all at once; it leaks out slowly over time.

The liner I bought at the market was a bit short, but I’m hoping it will still provide enough protection for the inner tube.

There’s a product called "Mr. Tuffy" designed for this, but it’s quite expensive, so I’m going to test whether this makeshift alternative actually works.

Seeing a flat tire right as I’m about to head out is enough to completely deflate my own spirits, too! (lol)

Maybe solid tires—like those from Tannus—really are the best option after all. Since I don’t need to carry a spare tube or an inflator (pump), I can reduce the amount of gear I have to pack.

Installing it is a bit of a hassle, but the fact that it’s otherwise stress-free is a big plus. I used it in Australia, so I think I’ll reconsider using it again.

My inner tubes are covered in patches, so I decided it was time to replace them and headed to a local bike shop.

There are three shops in town; the first one didn’t have what I needed, and the second one was closed.

The third shop was one I had stopped by on my way to Bandırma.

When I mentioned that I was runnng across Turkey, the owner said they didn’t carry puncture repair kits, but they did have inner tubes for sale.

So, I bought two tubes (for 700 Lira).

When I returned to my room, a package was waiting for me at the hotel reception.

Lo and behold—it was a set of glue-free patches for repairing inner tubes!

It turns out that an acquaintance I met through a Turkey-related Facebook group had reached out to a friend of theirs living in Bandırma, who then arranged for the delivery.

I’m absolutely stunned by how quickly this all came together—a coordinated effort by people I didn’t even know! I am truly grateful!

I’ve had more than enough punctures, but at least now I have a lifeline for when the next one happens.

I replaced both the front and rear inner tubes with brand-new ones.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to take the tires off and put them back on today... my fingernails and fingers are aching...

Hopefully, this means I’ll be able to run comfortably from tomorrow onwards.

Today's cats: