Friday, November 26, 2010

Here's a bad idea

Cyclists should always be prepared for problems on the road. Some of us carry CO2 cartridges or frame pumps for when we have a flat tire. Now there is a new "technology". The guys at Lifehacker.com had this idea for "evilweek". Here's how it works.


Need air, no problem. Pony up next to any automobile and you have instant air. All it takes is 2 1/2 feet of air hose and two chucks, one for each end of the hose. Attach the first chuck to the car tire then the second to your bike tire. Open the value to the car tire then slowly open the value on the bike tire.


Lots of problems here. Car tires have less pressure than bike tires...pressure issues. Getting caught might be a painful if the car you are getting the air from is owned by the incredible hulk. Let's say someone saw you and took a picture with their phone....the car you took the air from had an accident with a fatality because an under inflated tire separated and caused the accident. Then the person with a picture of you taking the air posted it to the local TV station website. How many friends you think would rat you out? Jail time, dude...and lots of it.


While this is a modestly creative idea, it is a bad idea and not worth the ill will for the entire cycling community. Good ideas with only positive outcomes is what the cycling community needs.


Another thing...I could just see this on Jackass...some genius stops beside an 18 wheeler and gets blown into many pieces. Opps...not so good of an idea.