Delivering a package...

Friday it was time again to deliver a package by bike. No immense distance, just a nice income. However, the weather conditions were harsh, which made it somewhat challenging. The devil was mainly in the end; a double puncture 10 kilometers from the delivery address. Honesty has to admit that the preparation was not perfect. Setting off on a gravel bike with a thin spare road tire is not wise. With an excruciatingly slow finish with which more than 10 skidding kilometers could still be collected, it was really time to replace the tire. The narrow inner tube fitted more than enough, which made the mood shiver, this is not a good sign. The outer tire popped around the rim with some thumb effort, the pumping could begin. Air was pressed into the inner tube with short pump strokes, which gradually took shape, while nothing of this was visible on the outer tire. This continued to sag and retain a soft shape. With the inner tube at impact hardness in the meantime, some change could be seen on the outer tire. Quickly put away the pump and pedal as if the devil were after you. That was the idea, but with a rocking horse this was made more difficult. The inner tube had complete space and sought its own path within the outer tyre. The inner tube held out for a few kilometres, until with a bang the tyre was immediately flat. Paddle a few more metres to call for reinforcements at a junction. And as if mistakes are punished, it started to hail very hard, the temperature dropped considerably and morale was close to breaking point.

But this story also ends well. The reinforcements arrived and the package was delivered after all. On to the next one.