Tyred And Worn Out

Yesterday was exhausting so today we all collapse around the pool. Dave and Kirsten attempt to set a record for Most Number Of Consecutive Hours Doing Absolutely Nothing. I compete until lunchtime but then I'm called away on urgent business as my rear tyre needs to be replaced. It had been mangled beyond all recognition when it reached Exmouth; thin as tissue paper and very nearly bald. It wouldn't have made Broome!

There are exactly zero motorcycle mechanics in Exmouth so I'm relying on a car mechanic to change the tyre. He disclaims any knowledge of bikes so I have to pull the rear wheel off. That's easy enough and the mechanic quickly attaches the new rubber to the alloy rim. Unfortunately now I discover what I like to call the Engineering Dilemma; it's always far easier to pull something apart than to put it back together.

For those who don't know, the Suzuki has a double sided swing arm. The rear wheel has a large metal rod for an axle that must thread through two spacers, a sprocket, the wheel, a brake unit, and the swing arm. Juggling all the pieces in mid-air while attempting to insert the axle is just impossible. I'm sitting in the blazing sun, dripping with grease and sweat, cursing loudly at the bike, while the car mechanic sits inside and pretends not to notice.

An enormous RV arrives, searching for new tyres, and the gray nomad inside shows an interest in my plight. He leans out the window of his battle tank and says "That looks like hard work". It is. "You need to align the holes for all of those pieces". I know. "Could you get a move on, you're blocking the driveway and I need new tyres for my RV".

I stare at the gray nomad in disbelief. My eyes wander to the 1 metre long axle wrench and I briefly entertain evil thoughts. Fortunately the car mechanic takes pity on me at this point; he holds the wheel up in place and the axle is quickly threaded. It doesn't take long to retension the chain and it's all done.

Overjoyed with this success and covered in grease, I head back to the pool. It feels great to have a new tyre. Now I can truly relax.