On the fate of my former front panniers

About ten years ago, I upgraded my front panniers from MEC Cordura bags to Ortleib waterproof bags. Since then, the old panniers have been hanging from a hook in my storage space. However, they have now gone to a better place. It emerged a month or two ago that Désirée wanted some small panniers, having borrowed some last summer for the trip to Quebec City. After some discrete negotiations, I was given the green light to give them to Désirée as birthday presents which I described as "pre-tested" along with some books she wanted.

That was at the start of the month. Strangely enough, last night I had a dream in which was arguing with Désirée's father (my brother Philip) about how that type of MEC bag hooked on. He had been insisting in his uninformed way that it wasn't a good system. (One piece of context here is that Philip does not own a bicycle. He's the black sheep of family in that respect.) I demonstrated how it was supposed to go on and pointed out that I have been using MEC bags which hooked on like that for years. There was an "oh" from my brother.

While I love my brother, I find he sometimes isn't as informed as he thinks he is. I remember one real discussion where he was insisting that "schmaltzy" had a meaning of "overly sweet". I had to point out to him that a better definition was "cloying", as "schmaltz" referred to chicken fat. It had to be pointed out to him that I had been working in a library serving a Jewish community for at least a decade at that point, so I was likely better informed than he was on the subject.

On finally configuring Justin Thyme to my satisfaction using a new bike tool

 I am often rather annoyed with Facebook ads. However, nothing comes for free and all that. Nonethless, a few weeks ago, I saw an ad on Facebook for a bike tool that promised to make it easier to put tires on rims without damaging the inner tube. 

More than a year ago, I was frustrated in my attempts to put my favourite tires on Justin Thyme. I tried several times, but I always ended up piercing the inner tube. Consequently, I had put the serviceable but not notably puncture resistant tires Justin came with back on.

While the tool did seem a shade expensive, it looked like a good idea, so I ordered one. I have bought more expensive and less useful things during the Pandemic. When I went out for a walk around the block this afternoon, it was in my mailbox. 

As the day was sunny and lousy weather is expected over the next three days, I decided to try the device after work.  Armed with tool bag, pump and tires, I made my way down the front stairs to the sidewalk. 

As luck would have it, a neighbour just setting off on a "whee" bike asked me if he might borrow my pump as he wanted to put an extra 15 PSI in his rear tire. As it was easy for me to do so while social distancing, I said: "Sure." While I was working, three of my fellow condo owners and the girlfriend of one of them came out and we chatted at appropriate distances in the warm afternoon sunshine.

Even with the tool, it was not easy to put the tires on the rim. It took a worrisome amount of force each time. However, after the last snap, the tire was on and the inner tube inflated. So, alls well. Justin Thyme now has the narrower, tougher tire that I like. *Touch wood.*