putting my u-lock to the test

I had bragged about my bike-to-be with my family the weekend of my brother's wedding. And when I returned to the shop I was sure that was the day the bike was going home with me.

I arrived around 4, leaving two hours for work time. I started on the brakes, finding clamps for the front and back, making sure all their parts worked together and fit the frame. There was a guy working there I'd seen before but couldn't place. He came over to assist me.

"I remember when you found this bike," he said.

He was the guy, the first day I got there, who told me how the shop worked. His name was Kam.

Kam and I found a set of new brake levers (?) in the brake lever bin and he pulled out a fresh couple of brake cables. We got the front brake on in a flash, but the rear was trickier. The cable kept coming out of the lever and Kam couldn't seem to tighten it enough. It was 6, closing time, and Kam saw I was getting tense.

"Don't worry, we'll get this finished so you can ride it home."

Kam tied up the rear brake cable in a loose knot.

I had $40 with me, since I'd heard a full bike cost between $30 and $35. Kam and Stacy added it up and came up with $55. I was surprised but willing to pay it, if I had it. They said I could pay the rest when I came back.

"Now get the hell outta here," he said.

I took the bike outside. It felt a like I was learning to ride a new contraption, familiar yet unfamiliar. It was leaner than any bike I'd ridden, and much taller, so I felt wobbly and I had to relearn how to balance. And the drop handlebars were new as well. I grabbed the chrome (we hadn't had time to re-wrap them) at the bottom of the "U" and pushed off.

The ride was smooth enough. No screws popped out and the wheels stayed put. The one brake worked. I turned onto Elysian Fields.

A block later I felt the chain go. I pulled over and slipped it back on. Two blocks later, it happened again. When I inspected the chain I saw it was looser than desired and I diagnosed that as the problem. I needed to readjust the rear wheel.

I knew the shop was closed. But Bicycle Mike's was still open. I walked the bike to Frenchman and dodged some guys exiting the store. A guy working there gave me a wrench and watched me try to set the wheel right.

"I suggest you tighten the right side first, then the left," he said.

When I got that done I asked him to show me the best bike lock he had. He showed me a U-shaped lock and offered me a used version for $20 less.

"Only thing is," he said, "there's only one key."

I bought it, put it on my bag and hoped I could make it home.

I turned on Rampart, trying to take Jack's advice to take Canal. The chain would not stay on.

Somehow I made it to Claiborne and St. Bernard. But it was here, behind the LaundroMax, that I gave in. I called Bekah and asked her to bring my tools and meet me at the gas station on Esplanade.

I tried again with the tightening, my hands smeared with grease and my fingers narrowly escaping the gear's bite. I tested it around the gas station. No use.

So I ended up putting my u-lock to the test and locked the bike to a street sign in Treme'.

You don't have to fit in everywhere

I went in with the hope that I would be taking my bike home at the end of the day.

Again, Billy was not there. But there were new faces and I met them and asked for their advice. I had the wheels and tires and a chain. I just needed brakes. Jack helped me out but by the time I had to leave we still hadn't put anything together. I put up the brake I was working on and when I went to leave Jack offered me a ride. He asked if I could try out his new project, though.

It was spray painted black. It was a road bike and Jack was just thrilled about these new brakes he installed. They were in the middle and even though he tried to explain to me how they were different, I still couldn't get it.

I took it outside where a group of guys in black clothes sat against the wall.

"Cool bike," one of them said. "I like the kick stand. It's so shiny." They giggled and I chuckled.

"Thanks," I said. "It's Jack's." I talked to the one of the group I'd seen inside. He was wearing an orange vest. "He can't ride it so he asked me help him out." I chuckled again. I knew when I said it that I was like Peter denying Christ, in some respect. But I felt uncomfortable. I didn't feel welcomed even though I thought I was fitting in pretty good.

I rode the bike and the back wheel came loose a bit and began to rub on the frame. I walked it back.

"Yeah, I can fix that," he said and he showed me how to put it on the rack on his trunk. One of the guys, a tall one with short shorts and a jester hat, was drawing with chalk on the wall of the building.

We drove home.

"Dang," he said. "I forgot my glasses. I'll get 'em next time."

At home I told Bekah that those guys bothered me.

"You don't have to fit in everywhere," she said.