Thai-Style Upsell

Got a flat tire today, second time I've had that rear tire go flat. Was zipping along and felt it go mushy all of a sudden. Fortunately I was not far from a repair shop. Took some vigorous finger pointing from several interested passers-by to finally find the place, but I had the opportunity to practice some new vocabulary.

"Excuse me, where is the motorbike shop?"

And thus ended the day's lesson, but my interlocutors were ready to engage me in spirited discussions of philosophy, politics, and the arts, or so it seemed. I had to disabuse them of the notion I could carry a conversation -- always a humbling experience.

The bike shop was notable for two things: an enormous pile of horribly mangled tires and a large collection of live birds (doves, I think) in elegant wicker cages. The inner tube was patched and ready to go for 50 cents, about half of what I remember paying last year.

But usually you get what you pay for. A mile or two down the road I stopped to buy water; by the time I got back on my bike the rear tire was mushy again. Again I lucked out, though; next door was another bike shop, this one with three big and beautiful custom motorcycles out front.

The new patch seemed to be holding but the tire had multiple punctures so the only thing left to do was install a new inner tube. When the tire came off they opened up the brake drum for a look. I imagined this was akin to the "free brake inspection" most mechanics offer with an oil change. The upshot was about the same: Oh, you need new [brake shoes]! I thought the brakes were a bit soft, but I didn't feel the need to tell the mechanic that. I asked how much and braced myself for the sucker punch: $4. What, can that be right? No wait, $3.75, labor included! I would have paid $10 just for the job they did cleaning the brake drum and tightening the rear assembly.

I don't know if the brakes are really any better. They feel firmer, but that could be my imagination. If nothing else, I'm sure I've staved off catastrophic brake failure for another few thousand kilometers.

I could quip that the first shop was for the birds but only so that no one else has to.