When I’m at a red light, if I see that I’ve got plenty of time to start pedaling and get moving before the bus about two hundred yards comes to its green light, I start pedaling hard, which sometimes causes my chain to slip.

It makes a horrible noise, and  provides me with fear that the oncoming bus will not be able to stop and that I will not be able to cross in time and will fly high before lying facedown in the gutter after he hits me. The noise is embarrassing because people waiting for the bus can hear it and they look up and think what’s wrong with that guy’s bike supplies.

Well, my chain’s old. And, I recently got a new cassette and since I ride a freewheel, they wear out differently. I have to take it to my local bike shop to find out if the chain is worn. If it isn’t, it could be a number of other problems, such as a bent tooth on my gears, or the front chainrings or possibly even the cassette ratchet body. If it’s a problem like that, it’s best to take it to a pro bike mechanic who really knows his bike supplies and bicycle accessories.

To bike or not to bike? Whether ’tis better to brave the triumphant rains, and their strewing of particulate matter, which could possibly pop my tire, or to head to the subterranean warrens filled with bodies and oppressive heat and humidity? I think I’ll choose the former.

I don’t have a spare tube in my bike kit; I’ve been lazy and haven’t replaced the last one I used. I do have a patch kit, which is a last resort piece of bike supplies. My other bike accessories are ready. I’m not especially good at patching a tire, I’ve only done it a couple of times. I know that it’s very important to thoroughly sand the rubber so that the hole diminishes in size. During my last flat, a man asked me if we still patch with a lighter. I said no. He said a lot’s changed since I was a kid, and laughed. But he didn’t even look that old.

So I guess I’ll take my chances. Worst come to worst I get a flat, and either try to patch it with my bike supplies  if I’m near a gas station (or even better a flat fix shop, where I can get air for free), or find myself beckoned into that subterranean rabbit-hole.