Alarming things to hear whilst fixing a flat

[goo_mason]

Stopped on the Coltbridge on the way home to deal with a flat rear. Just getting the holed bit of tube out to patch without removing the wheel, when two ned junkies come wandering up and stop on the other side of the bridge. They proceed to argue a bit and phone someone for what sounds like a rendezvous to score some gear.

After about 5 minutes, they cross over and are standing about two feet from me. Up to this point they've been quite loud, but then one starts whispering to the other.

"Ah cannae hear whit yer saying, like", says the other.

"Ah want that bike - will we hit him wi' the pipe ?" says ned #1 in an attempt to whisper louder

"Nah," says his mate, "we'll jist f**kin' jump 'im..."

At that point, I was attempting to re-inflate the tyre - so I quickly 'finished', hopped on the bike and pedalled off whilst I had the cover of a few cyclists passing by before they could carry out their plan. Stopped a minute further along to finish getting the tyre back up to full pressure.

Anyone else overheard anything alarming (or amusing) when trying to fix a flat ?

 

[hackbike 6]

yeah pssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

 

[goo_mason]

yeah pssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

You mean a dog used you as a lampost ? Or was it a drunk / tramp / junkie seeing a man about a dog ? :

 

[Maz]

Don't like the sound of that. Do you think they were serious about nicking your bike?

 

[hackbike 6]

You mean a dog used you as a lampost ? Or was it a drunk / tramp / junkie seeing a man about a dog ? :

all of the above.

 

[Sapper]

Rather you than me!!

An alarming disturbing tale...

Ive had a few young kids ask what I'm doing whilst swapping a tyre but nothing threatening like that.

Adrian

 

[gavintc]

Christ, I feel for you goo. Not much fun at all.

 

[goo_mason]

Don't like the sound of that. Do you think they were serious about nicking your bike?

I don't know, but I wasn't too keen on finding out

It could just have been them trying to wind me up, but the fact that they'd crossed over after a while and decided - out of the whole length of the bridge - to stand right next to me did make me a bit wary. Plus you never know what'll they'll do to get something they think they could sell to get more drugs.

First time that's ever happened though. Normally I'm ignored by passers-by, although once a rather bored young Indian guy wandered up, stood a few feet from me and lit a fag. He stood and smoked a couple more as I struggled over the inner-tube change, never once saying a word. He just watched me intently. Just when I was finishing and packing my repair kit away, he uttered the immortal words - "Do you need a hand ?". I couldn't help but smile at the daftness of his late offer - made me laugh for the next mile or so !

 

[goo_mason]

And the ironic thing was that I had intended to give the helmet cam its first outing today, until I couldn't get it attached properly last night.

It would have made for a classic YouTube clip !

 

[Dayvo]

IHe just watched me intently. Just when I was finishing and packing my repair kit away, he uttered the immortal words - "Do you need a hand ?". I couldn't help but smile at the daftness of his late offer - made me laugh for the next mile or so !

Maybe he was offering to give you a push start!

 

[hackbike 6]

Don't like the sound of that. Do you think they were serious about nicking your bike?

Yeah they would have got a fiver for it.

 

[Tetedelacourse]

I think a pre-emptive strike might have been in order there. If in doubt, attack. Double-clothesline would probably have been effective. Assuming they were of similar height.

Bit lazy of them to wait until you'd finished the repair though. What's the world coming to these days?

 

[HJ]

You need to get some decent tyres Goo...

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I remember a few years back a letter appearing in C+ from a bloke who'd just fixed a puncture. Something made him look inside the tyre, instead of running his fingers around the inside to find whatever had caused his puncture. Good job he did, because the cause was a hypodermic needle. I've never run my fingers around without first having a good look since.

 

[mr_cellophane]

You should have called the Leith police.