Tuesday, January 31, 2012

"Not a Finger"

In just under three weeks I have managed to have six flat tires. This has left me feeling like Ralphie's Old Man in one of my favorite movies, A Christmas Story. The Old Man's tires are said be only tires "in the academic sense" because they are round and once made of rubber. My tires are also more patch than rubber.

But I'm no Darren McGavin. Despite all of my best intentions to be the most feared flat tire fighter in central Thailand, everytime I get a flat somebody fixes it for me. I've never seen really seen myself in the role of "damsel in distress," but I must look pretty pathetic fixing my bike because men come out of the wood work to patch my tires.

Don't get me wrong, Langland's are not what you would call "mechanically-minded" so I appreciate the help. But eventually I will be alone at sight and need to the Old Man, pretend I'm in the pit of the Indianapolis Speedway, and fix my own tires.

Until then I angrily say to fra-gee-lay bike tires, "not a finger" and hope there is someone around to bale me out.

1 comment:

  1. Oh El,
    I have had 3 flat tires (not bad compared to you, except when you figure in that I have only ridden the bike ONCE!) so then I broke down crying and called the bike guy, who of course has no idea what to do with me, and imediatly offers to send me 2 new bike tubes. So YAY for new tires, and boo for flat tires. I feel your pain, but I also felt quite a sense of accomplishment when I finally changed my first flat tire, but that kind of deflated when I found it flat 10 days later ;) Oh Peace Corps.
    Miss you and Love hearing about your journey.

    ReplyDelete