Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 10:07 AM
The subject line describes what our week was. Pushing through, and hoping for the best. We had expended all of our miles this month, forcing us onto the bikes. I don't mind being on the bikes, and the winter has been fairly mild. I was ready to mount up and go! However, I have never seen so many blown tubes, shredded tires, and bent rims! I will use Friday as an example.
At this point we had already changed Elder Garner's rear tire 2 times. For some reason a presta-valve is required for his rear rim. Why it doesn't match his front schrader valve, I don't know.... So, we can't really pack extras around for him. We might as well have a bike shop for him!
Anyways Friday... We bussed up to Erlanger to go see the few futures we had up there, and get our knock on. We start on the intersection of Commonwealth and Dixie, and head west. We don't have any problems heading down this stretch of road. If you are on Google map, and keep going, you will be turning right at the BP. Well that's what I tried to do. However, my bike decided a 180 would be better than a 90 degree right turn! To put a third dimension to this 180, I found my face about to make contact with concrete! Good thing I had gloves on my hands to help catch my fall! I came out perfectly fine. I only got a dime sized fray in one of my pants; however the bike didn't fare as well! I had a front rim bent, and to salt the wound, my chain got pitched! So here I am with a wounded bike! :P
It was still ridable to the complex, so I limped it there. We chained up, and set off to go find our Chilean friend. As we were walking up the stairs to the building, I heard the indescribable snakebite "Bang!". At that point I figured it was my bike, and I didn't care. I had stuff to fix it later.
The Chilean pulled the "I'm busy, try back another day". Slightly defeated we hobbled back though the mud to our bikes. After the survey we realized my bike was still in its wounded state. However Elder Garner was the one who had the "serpent mishap". Both of us needed a Coke break at this point, but we exerted faith! We knock as long as we could, but no luck. From there we started the 2 mile walk to Montgomery Cyclery. (We are now regulars to this store. Infact we now have an account!).
This continues to the next day Saturday! We get our bikes fixed. My front rim is fairly true now. We got everything ready to go Saturday. We got all of our tires up to spec with my new Specialized pump. (No that wasn't a bad Idea, I needed a bike pump! P.S. Dad's Specialized can do both schrader and presta valves, cool huh?). We were all suited up about to say a prayer when the snakebite blast came again! "Bang!" Now we really needed a Coke break! Elder Garner only had $ for one tube when he got one Friday. So. We didn't have any way to get out and work unless... We walked.... That's what we did! We went a good 10 miles, walking.... Not an efficient way to work. I don't recommend it!
We did figure out what the cause of the tire problems was. Elder Garner's old tire; the bead exposed some of the metal wire. We believe this would puncture into the tube.
So today I helped a fellow American down on his luck, and got him a new tire and tube. I also got a new helmet, because at some point someone pulled a switch-a-roo, and I got a helmet with cracks all over it! So I've got a good looking new one!
That was our week. Tough, but it taught Elder Garner and I patience. Whether we wanted to learn, or not! :P
Love you all, and still in suspense over transfer calls!
Para Siempre,Elder A. Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission
