upcoming MURDER at the LBS - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-20-2005, 04:32 AM

I was somewhat concerned about staying warm while winter bike
commuting, but my real fear was flats. I was not looking forward to
changing a tire in the cold.

So a few days ago I had a slow leak in the rear tire. I managed to
keep it up until I got to work and then brought it to the LBS. $10 but
worth it to me. Yesterday, the next time I rode it (and posted here
about it) I got another slow leak, same tire, and managed to limp to
work. Another $10. I thought about bitching but decided to stay on
their better side. I said, MAKE SURE YOU GET IT ALL OUT.

Yup. Today, about a mile from home, flat, rear tire. This was a bad
one. I pumped it up but only made it another hundred yards or so
before it was flat again. Shoot it with CO2. I keep limping to the
subway. (one reason that I'm willing to do winter commuting is that
I'm never TOO far from a subway).

I take the 7 train. A few odd stares from the pedestrians. Switch to
the 6 to go downtown. I'm waiting on the platform, already very
pissed, and the express train is discharged for some reason (all the
people have to get off and crowd onto the platform). I'm now in a
packed subway platform with this big wet bike, trying to get onto a
packed train.

No, not really. I just waited fifteen minutes or so until the crowd
died down and got on an empty train. But you've never seen the face of
a guy in a suit when he brushes up against my tire.

Anyway, there is going to be one very angry biker in the LBS in an
hour or so.