I thought about posting this in the 'Subsim Members' thread, but finally decided that if I made a new thread it would disappear faster. But for now I have to rant.
After months of thinking about it I finally settled on the bicycle I wanted. So after paying my monthly storage (I still haven't been able to get my stuff to my new apartment) I headed for Wal*Mart (tm) just to look and see if it was really the one I wanted. I planned to order it online and assemble it myself. I took it off the rack and tested it, and it was just what I wanted. When they say they'll assemble it for you, it doesn't mean they'll open a box and assemble it, please come back tomorrow. They mean the one on the rack is the one they have, and you can take it now.
So after a few adjustments and a new helmet, I set out to ride my brand-new bike home. Nine miles. After a mile I had to rest. After two miles I got off and walked a block. After three miles I got off and walked another block. After four miles (almost halfway) I got off and walked another block. I got on to ride the next mile and something was wrong. So I got off and looked, and halfway home my brand-new bike had a FLAT TIRE! Arrrggg!!!
So I walked to a gas station to see if it was just a glitch, and they now want $1 just to run the air pump! So I walked my brand-new bike to the bus stop and took the bus home. Of course from the last stop on that route I still had to push it a mile-and-a-half.
So now I have a very nice toy sitting in my living room.
It's a "Comfort Bike" - independent front and rear suspension, nice padded seat with its own suspension, adjustable handlebars so I don't have to sit hunched over, road tires rather than knobbies, but fatter than race tires. Only seven speeds, but I'm not going to be climbing any serious hills, just around the streets and ultimately to band practice (seven mile each way).
BUT I CAN'T RIDE IT!
Tomorrow I had plans, but now I'll be pulling off the rear wheel (the one with the extra stuff so it's harder) and trying to fix it, which will mean a trip to a bike shop for either a patch kit or a new tube. Aaarrggh!
