So, the real kick-in-the-pants motivation to get this done came when my mom asked me to fix the kitchen garbage disposal. After emptying the disposal and resetting the power supply, I realized the allen wrench set is exactly what I was waiting for to fix the bike. So off I was, on a mission with a tool, to take the main gear-shift apart - I felt at one with the universe, and everything would work out. No kidding, this moment really was zen-like.
I pull the gear-shift off the handle bar, tension the gear-shift cable and poke around the pieces of plastic inside the case. After some fiddling, I find the plastic shift-ratchet piece has been popped loose (by my gnarly handling while riding).
Long story short, I move the shift-ratchet back, return the gear-shift and the handle-bar grip to their rightful places then replace both tire inner tubes (after a quick trip to Wal-Mart). The bike is FIXED! So I take my brother's renewed Schwinn out for a test run towards DIA, but on my way back: POP! The rear tire is flat again. Now sad, annoyed and defeated, I walk the bike home and fix up the rear tire with another inner tube. My earlier enthusiasm and inner peace are displaced by disappointment and extremely sore knees. What a blow!
When I have the right tools, solving a problem becomes a joyous, exciting undertaking. But when I don't have the right tool, and the problem continually repeats itself, I get overwhelmed, disappointed and annoyed.
Lesson learned: before getting annoyed with a problem, take a good look at the tools you have access to. Now I'm looking for a more permanent prevention for flat tires - slime is mostly ineffective, so I need another tool. Any suggestions?
Have some free time? Probably not. But anyway, below is an interesting cipher puzzle I found at the library. I'll post my answer later (Not sure if it's the right answer).
