3alarmer 

...I was almost caught up, then my electronic shifters failed.

3alarmer 

...time for a new bike.

rjones28 

I'm pretty sure @Velo Gator started it.

3alarmer 

...sure. Blame it on someone who's not around to defend herself.

datlas 

You are correct!

rjones28 

I nearly sold a set of carbon wheels to a guy that just came in for new tubes.

rjones28 

I am willing to accept blame, if it will maintain amity.

Doug28450

EXCELLENT!

Vadered those.

Doug28450

mvnsnd

Did that yesterday. I now have new BB30 bearings and no more creaking. For now...

mvnsnd

If you want a chemical solution, you can use a small brush to paint the leaves with something like Roundup. In that way the stuff shouldn't get on nearby plants.

datlas 

I had considered this. If you just brush one leaf will the whole plant die?

Doug28450

Tonight, I got the rest of the story.

As it turns out the Princess did not need the bike to get to school. She simply wanted to be able to ride her bike for the summer. In a way, I feel bad that I could not help her more than I did last night. At the same time this bike does not seem to be a bike that I have seen her with before. I think someone gave it to her or her parents got a Craigslist deal. These people are not well to do. They are not poor, but they live a pretty tight life. They are very careful about where their money goes. I'm sure the bike is not at the shop, it's sitting in the storage shed. If I don't see it in a few days, I'll go get a tube and get her on the road.

3alarmer 

...never seen that one, but here we get bindweed which has a similarly invasive habit.

3alarmer 

...if the wheel has been rolling around flat for a while, it's possible to pull the stem out of the rim and that it might be in there somewhere, along with whatever tube. But this is hard on them and to save yourself several more trips, you might just go with a new tube regardless. I have learned this through several similar adventures.

We get similar situations at the co-op all the time, and it's sort of a judgement call. IME most kids like to get the opportunity to learn this stuff, though.

datlas 

This is relatively new to our area but has really taken over. From my research mainly a problem in the mid-Atlantic region.

3alarmer 

...not usually. If leaf has a waxy coating like yours, you need to mix the glycophosphate with a surfactant of some sort. It works by absorption, and kills at the roots by shutting down transpiration.

3alarmer 

...try really hard not to let it set seeds............... that's about all i got.

Doug28450

I suspect the previous tire pumper pulled the stem out after pumping the tyre while attempting to pull the pump head off. I'll go buy the tube. When I pull everything apart it the tube can indeed be salvaged, I'll give it a shot. But, I really think the valve stem in in a landfill somewhere.

datlas 

Habanero all ready for tomorrow's club ride. I hope for not too many steep hills, as it has a 39/53 standard crank and 12-23 cassette.

rjones28 

He already has a set on one bike. He doubted that he could justify a new set for his other bike. I could see the wheels beginning to turn.

Doug28450

Or you can use gasoline.

Doug28450

What are/were you selling. The oldest child thinks that crabon deep wheels will help her win triathlons. She fails to realize that wheels don't help in transition or on the run portion of the race.

3alarmer 

3alarmer 

...you are lost, my friend. Everything....and I mean every goddam thing...she hears from the other peer competitors or sees in print will tell her that for a sport like tri, where drafting is not at issue, aero cabron, deep wheels will shave precious seconds off her bike leg times, and you telling her to run, transition, and swim faster is not gonna fly (which will probably be a leg in the quadrathalons of the future. )