Strange thing happened today on the way back -- I picked up a nail.

OK, not so strange ... yet.

The nail, as best as I can determine, became lodged in my rear tire and, with the tire revolving, stuck in the middle of my fender bracket located immediately under my seat. My fenders are not on now, so there was nothing preventing the head of the nail from becoming stuck in the two prongs facing rearward.

The nail was thus facing backwards ... and dug a groove in the middle of my rear tire. I smelled rubber burning and my rear brake didn't work (the nail interfered with my brake). All this, while navigating a tricky part of my commute with cars whizzing by.

It was unlike any other nail-flat scenario I've ever encountered. Very strange.

Funny thing was I removed the nail from its home in the fender bracket ... and there was no flat !!! The tire was fine.

However, two seconds afterward, I heard the -- whish, whish, whish -- of a seriously flat tire. Turns out the nail did puncture the tire while making its round trip to the fender bracket.