..............actually that's a lie, the bicycle was punctured somewhere around Hanlon's Corner. I wheeled it the rest of the way and got busy rectifying the situation at home. Punctures are a pain in the bollix and I usually just buy a new tube. Not very eco-friendly I know but its so much easier. I remember as a kid there was a complete ritual around the fixing of the puncture. You got a basin of water and inflated the tyre, insomuch as that was possible, and you put it into the water to find where the air was escaping. You'd then use some sandpaper and a bit of chalk to prepare the surface and you'd apply the patch with a small tube of vulcanized rubber.
Upon inspecting the tyre this evening I found a shard of glass to be the offending item. I'd only changed the tube in my wifes bike on Saturday last due to a similar glacial intrusion. These shards of glass are beginning to wreck my head. I didn't have a spare tube so I've had to go through the age old ritual as outlined above. I always forget how dirty your hands get when you have to change a tyre. Believe you me, the roads are pretty dirty. When the dirty road dirt meets the oily bike dirt it makes for a special kind of dirt that the toughest of domestic cleaners won't shift. I remember we used to use a special soap in metalwork class called Swarfega but even that stuff wouldn't shift bike dirt. Bike dirt is up there with the best of the dirts.
I was then wondering if there was someone somewhere on the internetosphere who'd go to the bother of telling you how to fix a puncture. As I found out there's plenty. For any saps who don't know how to fix a puncture, your prayers have been answered:
How To Fix A Bicycle Puncture
Monday, January 28, 2008
punctured bicycle, on a hillside desolate........
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12 comments:
hey Nuggy --
believe it or not, Hanlon's Corner is named after my great-granddad!
It must be puncture season -- I've had no less than 3 in the past week. Each was fixed in the old-skool manner. If I get another one though, I'm buying kevlar tires and a new inner tube. fuck this for a lark.
oh yeah, I also want to get hold of some Swarfega but the missus won't let me. she claims that soap and water is just as good. boo.
Go on Gramps Hanlon. I have a morning chat with the paper man as I wait by the lights.
Was your Graddad one of those corner boys who'd stand around spitting through the gap in his front teeth?
Funnily enough my own grandfather was an auctioneer in the cattle market. He divided his time between there and the mart out in Ashbourne.
Your missus needs an introduction to the magical cleansing qualities of Swarfega. It's patented soap and gristle contents are incomparable to any other product.
Hanlons IS on a hillside. And the last time I drank in there, was quite desolate.
that's a fair point. I've experienced their disco lounge upstairs.
By a completely strange coincidence I punctured my lung yesterday evening while playing with a Samurai sword. Now I can dispense with the expected 14 hour wait other needle wielding patrons in the Mater thanks to wondering posting. Have voted you down for Health Blog of the year.
When did a wonderful post ever become a wondering one? Must have applied too much glue...
hey, congrats on your nomination for best technology blog! ;)
that's a good laugh that is! not too sure what that's about. is there someone else out there with a penchant for eighties midi gear and old record players?
mp3 - now I won't be surprised if I do turn up in the Health Blog category. Have you been sniffin' that glue?
If the SABA McDisc write ups don't win you best Technology Blog nothing will!
I guess I won't be winning then. Anyhow, it's not about winning, it's about taking part. At least that's the line that gives solace to losers like me.
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