Originally Posted by Trek_geek

Summer of 73, US Coast Guard Cadet cruise to Northern Europe. I ended up buying a German department store bike in Lubeck. Our next stop was Alborg, Denmark. On our day off a friend and I headed out. Within a couple of miles, I'd had 2 flats. I'd run out of patches so my friend went on and I returned to the ship to get another repair kit. We had agreed to meet about 20 K outside of Lubeck and then ride back. In the process I had about 3 more flats. I didn't know a lot about bikes and didn't realize until later that there was no rim tape on either wheel. The spokes were eating up the inside of the tubes. Late in the afternoon, after missing the meet with my friend, I stopped at a road side store for a drink and snack. When I came out I found another flat. My walk of shame lasted about 10 minutes before a Danish family took pity and stopped to give me a lift back the to ship. Thank goodness the high school aged daughter spoke some english.