So
I'm back at my riverside café, this time quite by accident.
En
route to the lad's playgroup this morning I managed to score a flat
tyre on the scooter. For those of you who, like me until just now,
are unfamiliar with the behaviour of a motorcycle at speed with a
flat rear tyre, let me try to explain. The handlebars and front tyre
remain pointed exactly where you want to go, while the entire rear
end of the bike swishes about like the tail end of a fish. It's not
dramatic – in fact, it took me a little while to determine that,
yes, something was actually wrong. Braking, it feels like the rear
wheel chooses one side or the other and tries to swing itself in that
direction, out around your shoulder – ok, that bit is dramatic, especially when you have your
three-year-old son standing in front of you as you ride. Fortunately
I was able to stop safely, and ponder my next move.
