I aired up the flat tire until it was full again, then noticed that I could hear the leak.
I bent down to it and searched around. I found the spot and could feel it with my fingers. It was gushing air.
I didn't know exactly how to deal with it. I just wanted to get it to a bike shop, but the nearest one is on 14th street.
I put my bike gear on and started chewing some Double Mint.
I placed the pump nozzle on the stem again and aired it up.
When it was full I took the gum out and stuck it to the tread where the air was flowing out. It didn't work at all. The tire started blowing bubbles that fizzled wetly as the air kept rushing out.
I decide to just say fuck it, and took it to the door waving goodbye to Jared on the couch.
I hopped on in the street and started peddling as fast as I could down the hectic Rhode Island Avenue with all the gears to the max. I barreled through the intersections with traffic whizzing by me. In no time at all the bumps in the street became harder. I could tell that it was deflating fast.
I was racing by the blocks as fast as it would take me... First street, 2nd street, 3rd street, 4th, 5th... I felt like I could hear it deflating. I looked at it between my legs from time to time. The gum had long since come off. It was looking very squishy.
At 6th street I hit one of the usual bumps in the road but could feel it in the frame and started to be afraid that I would damage something, so I finally jumped off and took it for a walk.
My heart was beating. The mist had picked up into a drizzle. I hadn't brought any rain gear. I had 7 more blocks to go. I saw some cool graffiti stickers though on R street. I'll have to go back there and add something.
The bike shop charged me fifteen bucks for a new inner tube and labor. When I came out it was raining harder so I took refuge in Whole Foods and did some shopping with the yuppies.
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