One Of Those Unforgiving Days

As the saying goes, "when it rains... it pours".  Though it sucks, but yes, it's true... sometimes.

It was rainy this afternoon when I was going home from work.  Although it's bearable, I find it hard driving during these times since unlike a car, my helmet doesn't have something in it to wipe away the rain.  Then my luck begun... When I was half way  home, my rear tire was struck by a 4 inch nail.  After removing it, I brought my motorcycle to the nearest vulcanizing shop to have the hole patched.  However, they told me that the tire interior was badly damaged and needed to be replaced.  Whew, glad I had some extra cash with me that time.  And so, it was fixed.

Then my luck continued, after driving a few kilometers, my rear tire begun to swing.  I just said to my self, another flat, you gotta be kidding.  As I checked my rear tire, It wasn't struck by a 4 inch nail... now, it was a 2 inch (LOL).  It was already dark, still raining, and I had to drive more or less a kilometer with a flat tire, to another vulcanizing shop.  Then, guess what, my interior was again badly damaged and needed to be replaced.  The problem was, there were no longer open hardware shops to buy it.  My last resort was to go back to the first shop I had my motorcycle fixed.

Upon reaching the shop, the in-charge sadly told me that they already ran out of stock for my tire's size.  But she offered me, a second hand interior that can fit my tire.  Having no choice, I bought it.  However, the vulcanizer told me to change it the soonest I get a chance.  Second hand interiors aren't that reliable and it wasn't exactly the right fit to my tire, it barely fitted.  He might have seen that I looked worried, so he told me not to worry too much, that there's no problem with it, and his advise was just a precaution.

Well, I know things happen for a reason.    Maybe the Lord was just preventing me from a greater trouble ahead.  For whatever reasons there are, I'm just happy and thankful to Yahweh that I was able to come home safe and sound.

How To Check Flat Tires

It's a fact that one of the common problem encountered by motorists is flat tire(s).  Just when you need to be somewhere and on time... then poof, your motorcycle starts to wiggle and you need to stop.  Let me just share a couple of things I learned from experience in the road:

Look for foreign objects.  Usually, a flat tire is caused by any sharp object commonly by nails.  You may want to remove this using pliers or any tool that can clip and pull it from your tire, since it can badly damage the interior as you continue to run.

Tire interior also tear.  If you can't find anything, it is possible that there is a tear in your interior.  It usually happens when a tire lacks air and you constantly run in a rough road.  Or you bought an interior having a poor quality (substandard or old stock).

Loose valve stem core.  But before bringing your motorcycle to the vulcanizing shop for a patch, check first your valve stem and tighten it's core (if loose) by turning it clockwise.  But to complete this solution, you still need to have a valve stem tool to screw the valve core and a portable air pump to inflate your tire.


Water power.  You can check air leaks using water.  Pour some water directly at the valve stem, if bubbles are visible, then there is an air leak.   Observe where the bubbles come from.  If it is from the valve stem, you may have a loose or defective valve stem core.  But if it comes from the side of the valve stem, then you have a hole in your tire interior.

If bubbles come from where the green arrow is pointing, valve stem core problem.
But if at the red arrows, there's a hole in your interior rubber.

Motorcycles don't carry a spare tire.  So you need to look for the nearest vulcanizing shop when you have a flat tire (unless, of course you can fix it yourself).  Run slow and remove as much load as possible from your motorcycle to prevent more damage to your tire.  Upon reaching the shop, you may either ask the vulcanizer to patch the hole in your interior or replace it.  It is safer to replace it though, if circumstances permit.

Have a safe drive, everyone.  Yahweh bless.

A Walk To Remember

No not the movie nor was it a romance... it's about my day today, got a lucky one or was it?  Upon going to work, my motorcycle begun to wiggle.  I was pretty sure one of my tires got flat.  Just glad I didn't stumble.  I rested for a while to calm myself down so I can think clearly, just to slow down my heart's pounding moments (lol).  I then looked for the problem, and saw my rear tire got struck by a 3 inches nail, no wonder it was sudden.  Pulled out the nail and brought out my pump.  I tried pumping air on it for a couple of minutes but I thought there just might be a lot of holes caused by the nail making my effort useless.  So, I decided to run it flat.   But my motorcycle had been strongly swaying to the left side, making it hard to control which was posting more danger for me, so I had to walk my motorcycle to the nearest vulcanizing shop which was more or less 3 kilometers away.  For an hour or two, I had been walking, resting and pumping (just a thought that I might get lucky to pump some air to the wheel so I just had to ride it instead of walking  it all the way).  Guess what? No luck.

Upon arriving at a shop, still alive (thanks to Yahweh), the first thing that came to my mind was water...I needed water, before I lose my consciousness ha ha.  The tube was replaced  since it was severely damaged and the vulcanizer charged me 50 pesos for the labor.  Well, I thought it was just fair, I troubled him for looking for a replacement tube and he used his personal motorcycle.  And after all, it's nothing compared to what I've been through the day, something I wouldn't want to do again even if someone pays me.

Life is just full of uncertainties.  Good thing, our Lord is always there to look after us, and guide our way.  Or else, everything might be worse.  I always believe that everything happens for a purpose, and it might be His way of protecting me from a far more danger ahead.  It's a lucky day for me after all.  Yahweh  bless.