What an exciting headline!
Well lookee at that! Ashland has it’s own public bike repair station on the Plaza (as noted by the Ashland Daily Tidings). Interestingly, the article states that “Bug-A-Boo has agreed to stock inner tubes” and that local cyclist and bicycle safety instructor, Bill Heimann, will help them to find a supplier (the local United Bicycle Supply, perhaps?)
This is great news for Ashland (and for the Rogue Valley in general, as Medford also received a “Fixtation” at the RVTD bus transfer station on Front Street) and, honestly, it’s about darn time. I mean, so many other towns and universities already have such stations (even Whole Foods!), why not little ol’ Ashland? And while it’s neat (interesting?) that a children’s toy store has agreed to carry bike tubes, there also happens to be a full-service bike shop, Cycle Sport, just down on Oak St.—less than five minutes away by foot. I can’t help but wonder why a toy store was encouraged to stock tubes (I wonder how many sizes they’ll stock . . .) with a bike shop nearby. Better yet, couldn’t we have sprung for the bicycle inner tube vending machine?
At any rate, I found myself downtown today, shooting film while the skies were clear, so I figured why not stop by and check out the Fixtation? These are all phone pics, though.
The stand is located right next to the bus stop on Ashland St., very easy to find.
Following the instructions, I hung by bike by the saddle with the seatpost sandwiched between the two prongs, as shown.
Luckily my bike fit, despite the silly bent-back Thomson post and the fact that my rear blinky light is pretty close to my saddle.
There are tools aplenty to choose from, including: a crescent wrench, a multi tool with plenty o' allen keys, tire levers, a flat head screw driver . . .
. . . as well as a cone wrench, a phillips, and another tire lever.
All the tools are secured to the Bike Fixtation via “aircraft cables”, according to the Bike Fixtation website, which results in a “secure tool and stand fastening system”. The bike rack also features a “unique I-beam design” which “eliminates the possibility of locking a bike to it.” Neato.
Unfortunately (fortunately?), my bike appeared to be in good working order and didn’t need any adjustments or repairs, so I pulled it down and proceeded to the floor pump (sidewalk pump?) nearby. By nearby, I mean a few feet away.
The air gauge worked!
I was excited to find that the air gauge worked (never can be too sure with floor pumps . . .) and it informed me that my tires were inflated to 95 psi—perfect for winter/dirt road/lazy Muuqi riding.
I then proceeded to attract the attention of two passer-bys, who were intrigued by the fact that I was shooting pictures of seemingly nothing. More on that at Life(Cycles).
So, if you live in Ashland, or any other modern city that is equipped with such a station (don’t try to use a diaper changing station if your city doesn’t have a Bike Fixtation, though, that doesn’t work), stop by and tune your bike up, because apparently fixing a flat only takes “10-30 minutes, depending on the experience level of the cyclist.”
Way to go, Ashland! Now if only we can get some bike lanes downtown . . .
