A trip down Memory Lane

I lived in Buffalo for five and a half years before moving down to NoVa over a year and a half ago. I just read an article in Bicycling Magazine, featuring tips from a blind bicycle mechanic at Shickluna Bikes and Darts in Buffalo, NY. The article reminded me of a pretty funny story after leaving the shop, and since I was compelled to e-mail them I thought I'd share the story with you as well...

I was never a regular customer at Shickluna, but in Summer 2006 after I bought my first ever pair of clipless pedals off of my roommate, I needed both shoes and a pedal install, so I went to Shickluna. I brought my bike and pedals and Ken Bukowski installed the new pedals for me. I watched him throw the bike in the stand and begin both pedaling the bike with one hand and working the pedal wrench with the other as if he were a silent steam engine. Watching him, I thought it was strange how he didn't seem to look directly at what he was doing. Less than five minutes later he was done, and I was on my way, pedals installed on the bike, cleats installed on the shoes, bike back on the roof, and to the trail I went. While driving to the trailhead I began to think about how remarkable it was to have witnessed a blind bike mechanic dispatch my pedals so quickly.

I arrived at the Hunter's Creek trailhead around 6:15 that evening. On go the riding clothes, on go the new riding shoes, off the roof comes the bike, Pop goes the trunk..wait a second what's missing?.. My front wheel. Thoughts of where it could be begin to flash through my mind. "Oh. Ohhhh, you idiot". In my mind I can see my wheel leaning against the rack in front of the shop, right next to the curb where I parked my car. "Ok, so how can I make this work?" I ask myself. "I know... borrow a wheel".

Me: "Does anyone have an extra front wheel?"

Marky: "Matty, What the hell are you talking about, that's not like asking for a chain link"

Me: "yes I know, but I seem to have left my front wheel at Shickluna, back on Hertel".

Marky and Chris together: "That Sucks dude!!!"

Me: "Yep! I'm going back for it. Have a good ride, I'll see some of you back at the house."

Off go the new shoes, on go some jeans over my shorts, off I go, back to Shickluna. Slightly dejected, I drive back to Buffalo, the shop had closed and the bike rack had vanished. I ran to the window. "YES!! my wheel is there and I can come back for it tomorrow. I called the next morning and thanked the sales guy for saving my wheel and I walked in. I asked a Sales Guy for my wheel and he asked Ken where it was. Ken pointed and the Sales Guy came back with my wheel.

I was pumped that my wheel was intact and I was pumped to have had a stellar mechanic to have worked on my bike. The sad truth is I still tend to forget my wheel, In fact last time was as recently as last month. Some things will never change.

Cheers to the crew at Shickluna!

BS