idontgetit

I went to put my bike in the garage tonight when I noticed the rear rim was rubbing on the brake. Actually, the rim was way out of wack. That's weird I thought. Then I noticed the broken spoke. No problem I think, I likely have a spare in the garage. Then I notice that the broke spoke is on drive train side and it will be impossible to replace the spoke without removing the freewheel. I don't have the tool to remove it! The starter is shot on the car, it's 6:00pm, the LBS closes at 8:00pm, my wife is out shopping and I'm looking after our three kids. I start to panic at the thought of riding the bus to work in the morning.

I grab the phone to call the LBS. They say they can replace the spoke but won't have time to true the wheel. I grab a hammer and throw the kids in the car. I smack the starter a few times with the hammer, and off we go. Leaving the car running, the kids and I run into the LBS. They removed the freewheel, threaded a new spoke, replaced the freewheel and trued the wheel in a matter of 15 minutes. They charged me all of 12 bucks.

Now that's service!

I've ony been bike commuting about 5 weeks now, but the thought of not being able to ride to work was scary!

wahoonc

Sounds like you need a couple more bikes

Aaron

CB HI

Either buy the tools to do the job or buy a couple of spare wheels. Better yet, have both on hand.

MediaCreations 

You're addicted already.

xB_Nutt

This part had me in stitches!! I don't mean to find amusment in your troubles, but I have been there, done that with the car starter not working thing. Guess it isn't a stick shift, huh? I used to park mine on hills so that I could bump start it by rolling down the hill and popping the clutch with the car in gear.

yes

I had the reverse problem. When my starter went south, I rode the bike to the autoparts store to pick up a new one. The tapping method never worked for me.

idontgetit

More bikes. More tools. These are ideas I can work with.

As for the starter, this is number 5 in two years. For some
reason my car kills starters.

At least the bike always starts.