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Tire_pressure The other day, when I arrived home from New York, I was shocked that I all of my luggage arrived, as did I, without event. But when I got to my car I realized that - of course it would not be that easy - I had a flat! As many times as I had watched my father change a tire, and even received lessons from him and a few boyfriends, I was now in a business suit, with lots of luggage, and I was hungry since the airlines think that small bags of lousy pretzel nutty things will suffice on three-hour flights.

It was then that I kicked myself - not the tires - for not having checked them since it was a slow leak caused the flat (it was a 14 day trip). Checking the PSI is such an easy thing to do, and I know all the stats about driving with your tires properly inflated, but here I stood, feeling a bit like a big sissy for not rolling up my sleeves and changing the tire, and feeling a bit stupid for not having checked the pressure more regularly.

As I waited for the Bozeman Sheriff's department or AAA to come to my rescue (I called both, it was really a matter of who came first . . . did I mention I was hungry?), I pondered the fact that tires are these beautiful yet awful things... they get you where you need to go, and don't ask for much. Yet, tires are one of those whacky inventions that will be here longer than cockroaches if we have an atomic blast... they just pile up. In the state of CA, some 33.5 million reusable and waste tires are generated each year. Someone once told me that a company invented tires that don't wear down, but then a big tire company bought them up and shut them down because that would have killed tire sales. That sounds a bit more conspiracy-theory than I generally believe... but who knows?

On a lighter note, it seems like more and more uses are being created for tires, like turning them into carpets, floor mats, irrigation pipe, lumber, office supplies and playground covers. I believe that the footing in the indoor arena where I ride has some recycled tire; it is nice footing except for when a horse urinates you have to sop it up, since tire particles aren't known for their absorbency. Anyway, point being, I am going to check my tires more often, so I can keep them longer, save on gas, and most importantly, not be stranded feeling like a dumb sissy.

-Off to look for the everlasting tire (Willy, you out there?) -
Jen