A happy story.....
So I thought I'd write this up as I usually am quick to write up incidents that irk me. Friday evening, as I was riding to meet up with some friends for a pre-Mass burger, things went awry. As I was waiting for a bus to get back into traffic along Lincoln after the light changed back, I was at a full standstill when I heard a pop like a .22 and my back end just dropped; my rear wheel went flat super quickly. Looking down, I saw my rear wheel was on a crack and assumed that something just got caught just right. I walked over to the corner where a guy was as surprised as I was as to the sound and the rapid deflation of my tire. He pointed out a hardware store across the street and went about his way. I flipped my bike, pulled the wheel off, and opened my bag to get my repair "kit." Unfortunately, I had changed my bag that morning and had forgot to move my kit.
Of course....
So I amble over to the hardware store to get a tube and levers and such. They had a tube and a pump, but no levers. I realize I'm SOL, and have to take my bike some blocks south to a bike shop, and am going to miss a big ol' burger. I got back to my bike and am attempting to put the wheel back on for the walk when I did something to kink my chain in my rush and frustration.
At this point, I'm now sweaty, hungry, pissed off, and muttering curses under my breath like a deranged lunatic. However, I hear someone ask if I need a hand. Another fellow was walking out of the hardware store decided to chance to talk to me and I explained the situation. Without hesitation, he said I can toss my bike in the trunk of his car and he'll give me a ride to a bike shop. He picks up my rear wheel and we go around the corner where we load up his car and we take off. Turns out the guy is an avid cyclist himself out doing some errands. We have a nice chat and he brings me right up to On The Route. We unload and I thank him a few times and then he went on his way.
I go in and end up talking to one of their techs, Chris. I buy a few tubes and he loans me some levers and shows me where the pump is. As I start to change my tube, I realize that the sidewall on my relatively new tire (3 months) blew out. Chris is a little shocked to see this as well and explains that this is probably why the sound occurred and I should return it because it was most likely a defect (it looked like it pulled away from the rest of the tire). He helped me find a new tire and then even double checked my work as I was more than frazzled now that I could not get a delicious Five Guys burger before what was potentially a long night. He was super helpful and awesome to work with.
So I write this just as a reminder to everyone that crappy events can usually end up with a good ending and that good deeds are far from wasted. I'd like to thank Chad, the fellow who gave me a lift, and Chris. I'd like to think that there is such thing as karma and good things will happen to these guys down the line...
Of course....
So I amble over to the hardware store to get a tube and levers and such. They had a tube and a pump, but no levers. I realize I'm SOL, and have to take my bike some blocks south to a bike shop, and am going to miss a big ol' burger. I got back to my bike and am attempting to put the wheel back on for the walk when I did something to kink my chain in my rush and frustration.
At this point, I'm now sweaty, hungry, pissed off, and muttering curses under my breath like a deranged lunatic. However, I hear someone ask if I need a hand. Another fellow was walking out of the hardware store decided to chance to talk to me and I explained the situation. Without hesitation, he said I can toss my bike in the trunk of his car and he'll give me a ride to a bike shop. He picks up my rear wheel and we go around the corner where we load up his car and we take off. Turns out the guy is an avid cyclist himself out doing some errands. We have a nice chat and he brings me right up to On The Route. We unload and I thank him a few times and then he went on his way.
I go in and end up talking to one of their techs, Chris. I buy a few tubes and he loans me some levers and shows me where the pump is. As I start to change my tube, I realize that the sidewall on my relatively new tire (3 months) blew out. Chris is a little shocked to see this as well and explains that this is probably why the sound occurred and I should return it because it was most likely a defect (it looked like it pulled away from the rest of the tire). He helped me find a new tire and then even double checked my work as I was more than frazzled now that I could not get a delicious Five Guys burger before what was potentially a long night. He was super helpful and awesome to work with.
So I write this just as a reminder to everyone that crappy events can usually end up with a good ending and that good deeds are far from wasted. I'd like to thank Chad, the fellow who gave me a lift, and Chris. I'd like to think that there is such thing as karma and good things will happen to these guys down the line...
Views: 83
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chuck a Muck on
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h3 said:Thanks for the story!
My local Ace also serves as the neighborhood fix-a-fl@t. I cringe every time they grab the fl@thead screwdrivers to use as levers, and they scoff at me . . .
BTW do you know the cyclist's superstition about the "f" word" Better go check your tires, I think I hear a hiss . . .
When I was a kid thats all we used for tire levers, the trusty flat head srewdriver. Hell i didnt know what a tire lever was till the mid 90's.
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Permalink Reply by David Travis on
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I learned from my bike guru/mentor that with practice most tires can be unmounted and mounted without levers. I've only met a few tires that resist my best efforts. (Like they are the ones when you are hungry, hot, and aggravated.) He also taught me never, never to save money on tires. I know it's not if be when regarding flats, but the best tires make the stretches between the whens much, much longer. I like how your story ends. I've been on both ends of such stories.
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Seems you experience "veloship" in the best way. BTW BikeSnobNYC has a meditation on veloship in his blog this morning.
http://www.bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/
Enjoy and thanks for sharing.
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Permalink Reply by Brian Ellison on
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ive used flatheads before when i forgot or misplaced my levers. i dont see the problem, hell, they imo work better. but im glad to hear a somewhat happy story on here. most everything posted on this forum is of a negative story to someone usually involving a bus or taxi. though i did have to good experiences with taxis recently. one gave me directions and the other waved me ahead of him on lasalle which helped a lot. i guess not all of them are bad.
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Permalink Reply by Jessica on
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I'm a little weakling with no thumb callouses to push the tire back on the rim, so I use the (dundundUNNNNNNNNN!) 'downhill tire lever' we have at the shop. It's a wicked looking thing, but used carefully and with babypowder, I've never had a problem either. =)
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Permalink Reply by Greg Coleman on
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Burgers were had at other points this weekend, so my craving has ben sated :)
Screwdrivers:
I'd be a little worried using a screwdriver as a lever, not only because of potential tube puncturing, but I figure it may nick the rim and cause a point for later tire/tube laceration. For those of you who have done so, is this an issue or am I underestimating the strength of a rim?
Veloship:
Thanks, David, for introducing me to this word!
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