My Chinese bike, Feng Huang, "Phoenix" which is made in Shanghai continues to give me trouble. I have what looks like the farmer model. There is a city and postal (mail man delivery) model as well.
It took me some time to get my bike out of the spot in the garage as all the bikes were jammed in together. My bike is a heavy heap of metal much taller than most of the other bikes in the garage.
As expected when returning from the US, my tires needed some air. The guards at our apartment had a pump to inflate the tires. A young guard over-pumped the inner tube so the tire came off the rim. After fixing it I took a ride to Ditan Park. On the way to the Park the tire came off the rim and took out the brakes with it. I asked a Policeman where the nearest neighborhood bike repairman was. He did not know but showed me the most likely direction. (communication was anything but verbal).
I had to drag the bike since the wheel would not rotate. I found a couple of migrant workers on a wagon to ask them. They fixed the inner tube so the wheel would rotate and pointed me across the street to a street repairman. At first it looked like a locksmith shop, but turns out he had other tools to help. It did not take him too long to fix the brakes and the tire. He did not want any money but I gave him 10 yuan ($1.39). If also felt grateful to the migrant workers and I gave them 100 yuan to share. They wanted no part of it but eventually relented with huge smiles.
I did get home after the repair but I am still expecting something to happen again.
1 comment:
TF great story! Amazing how no one wanted any money - !! TOB
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