A few months back I wrote how my bike died only 2 days after I bought it (story here). That was not entirely true. I found a mechanic in town who fixed it for less than $1. And since then he has fixed a number of other small problems.
But last Tuesday it may have really died. We’ll see what kind of magic my mechanic can work.
I was hurrying home from a meeting around 11:30. I had a Peace Corps meeting in another city the following 3 days and had planned to meet take the 1 pm bus. So in the remaining hour and a half before the bus I had to eat lunch, do dishes, pack and leave my house somewhat organized.
I was riding down the main street a little faster than normal. At the main square, there was a bus parked along the side of the road right at a corner where there is a perpendicular street. As I describe this, please keep in mind that my town has very few cars as I alluded to in the previous post. So I just ride my bike right down the middle of the street.
I was riding past the bus right before the corner where the streets meet. Then I see a small kid on a bike come flying around the corner. I saw him late because the bus was blocking my view of the perpendicular street. There wasn’t enough time to brake or to swerve, so we hit head-on.
I asked him if he was ok, and he never answered me. Instead, he got back on his bike (which was unharmed) and rode away quickly. I looked down at my bike and saw that the front tire had separated from the frame, and was now only attached by the brake cable. I didn’t really know what to do and was kind of in shock over the accident, so I just stood there for a second. Then I realized that there were a ton of people around, and they had all witnessed the 6 foot gringo get into a bike accident where a tiny 8 year old won.
I realized I didn’t have time to waste nor did I want to stick around to be laughed at. I grabbed the front tire in my right hand and towed the back tire + frame in my left hand. There were no remaining hands to pick up my pride.
Wow! Glad oyu are okay. Poor little boy. He must have been in shock! Yes! the little boy won and it’s a good thing you up and left the scene. They were all laughin at you i’m sure! It was like a dual in a Western movie between two gun fighters and the little boy won. Pow! So did you get your Huffy tricycle fixed? Take care!
The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
You are lucky! in this litigious society you would have a ‘summons’
to appear in court-being sued by the kid’s parents–lose that
fabulous house I see on your e-mail site and wither away
forever in an Honduran prison or– maybe not–because everyone knows Peace Corp. volunteers are POOR. Gramma would buy you
a new bike if you can find one–if you promise not to run into
little kids and hide it under your bed so bad people won’t steal it
Would be my Valentine gift to you..