Last time I talked about flat tires because it’s thorn season in Colorado. I’ve had six flats in the last five days!
I have to admit something. Even though I’ve logged nearly twenty-five thousand miles in thirteen years of handcycling, I’ve never changed my own tires.
My buddy Tom has changed dozens of them. Other friends have done a few, and bike shops have fixed the rest. I don’t know how many sets of tires I’ve used over all those miles, but I’ve never changed a single one.
Let’s face facts—changing a bike tire isn’t rocket surgery. I know exactly what needs to happen.
Ability is another question. My hands don’t work so well, and frankly I’ve always assumed I couldn’t manage a task that requires a fair amount of manual dexterity and strength. Whenever I tackle such a task, it usually means I get frustrated and Becky ends up having to do most of it. Since she really doesn’t like doing mechanical stuff, that’s not a prescription for marital harmony.
However, on Monday I got my sixth flat of the week. Tom’s out of town, and I was tired of trekking back and forth to the bike shop. Becky had to leave for a meeting, so I decided to repair it myself.
Honestly, it wasn’t a work of art. It took a long time. But, like I said, it’s not rocket surgery. And with a little patience and creativity, I changed the tube and repaired the flat tire.
There are some bike maintenance tasks I can’t perform. Apparently, repairing a flat tire isn’t one of them. That’s a good thing to know.
It’s a life principle:
Never allow what you CAN’T do to prevent you from doing what you CAN do.
What are you “not doing” because you assume you’ll fail?
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“Never allow what you CAN’T do to prevent you from doing what you CAN do.” Great words Rich!