What a day! I was a bit late getting out of the house. Being a Sunday, I took the south shoulder of Camelback, since no traffic. As I was approaching Litchfield, a loop bang came from my rear and the tire was flat. So I decided to walk it home. There I too the tube out, felt around the tire and did not find any objects. The old tube showed a 1/2" diagonal slit on the outside surface, yet I did not notice that in slit in the tire. Thought it was odd for a tube to be torn like that! Put a new tube in, one of those Michelin tubes that seem a bit too large. While inflating it another BANG happened! YIKES. I racked up the 2 instances to the tubes being too big and so they were somehow twisted. yet I had been riding that previous tube for a number of rides with no challenges. This time, after the 2nd bang, which was again using a larger Michelin tube, I saw a 1/2" long diagonal split in the tire! I don't believe it was there the first time, yet now it makes sense that it was as it matched the slit in the tire. This new hole in the new tube was in general rounded but ruptured with shreaded pieces pointing toward the middle, in the spot of the tire slit. Replaced the tire with a new Conti 5000, which I have never ever ridden on before! And a Vittoria smaller size tube. That combo held being inflated and finally, at 625am I was off to catch the Recovery ride, which started at 6am. Rode w on Camelback and then up Indian School to Verrado Way. Past Main Street and down Lost Creek and there they were! Up the hill they came. So I found them! Rode over the rest of the usual route to Ebb n Flow with the sprint. I laid off a John & Lisa, then with the last 1/2 mile to go I tried to catch them and did not. Oh well, did not go full out since in taper. Then Lisa, Josh and I rode through WTP. Lisa went home and Josh and I rode on north until Josh went home and I finished the loop. Good day of cycling!