Nailed

I drove the smart car to the east end of Toronto for service on Friday. On arrival I unpacked the Brompton folding bicycle and set off for Queen's Quay to meet my pal Ron for coffee at Tim Horton's. I hadn't gone half a mile down River Street when the back tyre exploded. I had met the item illustrated above.
I walked to Queen's Quay and, after coffee, took a $20 cab ride to Curbside Cycle on Bloor. Another Schwalbe inner tube and we were good to go, $23.94 fitted, riding home via Dupont. While out we fielded a call to hear that the smart car needs a new $50 dollar oil-filter housing, and would not be ready until monday. I'm $93.94 down on the morning - thanks to Ron for buying the coffee.

Cordatic forensic

I wanted to illustrate Cordatic, a defunct brand of tyres from Hungary, here on PunchBuggy, so out came the corn starch and a small artist paintbrush, and here is the result. Watching all those crime investigation shows on TV had to be good for something.
These tyres are still rolling after more than forty years and long may they continue. They are survivors from an era when made in Eastern Europe was hardly a recommendation - remember all those Skoda jokes - but they must have been doing something right.
P.S. The tyres on my Auto-Mini bicycle have the (batch) number 9 _70/4. Presumably manufactured in April 1970. Now coated with Meguiar's Hot Shine Tire Spray - its says "keeps your tires looking blacker longer while preventing cracking, browning and premature aging."

Fascinating folder

The Kent Auto-Mini Junior continues to fascinate, with its funky chrome logo, full of 1970s promise. The bike was sold in North America under different brand names. I found a Canadian Tire advertisement from 1973:
The Toronto Star, Thursday, August 23, 1973, Page C12-News
CANADIAN TIRE
Bike to School on a
SUPERCYCLE FOLDING
Made in Austria. Strong steel frame folds in
a flash. 3-speed trigger shift; front/rear
caliper brakes, Whiteframe,
red trim. Complete with
rear carrier and kickstand. 64.95
Folding Coaster Brake Vers-
ion of the above model 55.95
IT FOLDS IN A JIFFY
Folds parcel-size
for storage or
travel.
Yesterday I rode the Auto-Mini to Dundas West where there is a knot of second-hand cycle stores. These folding bikes change hands for better-than-new prices these days. I am still researching their Austrian origins - watch this space.

See PunchBuggy Passim.
Pic by RLT.

Brompton bytes

Richard Banks reports from Shropshire: "I have acquired via eBay a Brompton, about two years' old, six gears, lower gear ratios, butterfly handlebars, factory lights and bottle-type dynamo, rack and fitted bungees, Schwalbe Marathon tyres, Brompton pump, all in seemingly good condition. I just need to get a front luggage block, front bag, and lock.
"T-bag and front luggage block supplied next day by Websters Cycles (special delivery for just 20p!), and block fitted. I have also resolved a problem with the front light. The quality of the Brompton engineering is superb, but the Basta lights are of poor quality. The problem lies in very poorly designed (non-robust) electrical connections, now addressed by what I believe is known in engineering circles as a kludge."
Meanwhile on my Brompton I've experienced tire/tyre inner-tube failures around the base of the rear valve stem. We went to Curbside Cycle here in Toronto for a fix on the latest episode.
If tube replacement is required I recommend Schwalbe inner-tubes with the metal threaded valve stem, and locking nut. Looking around the bike store it would appear that the cheaper bikes lack this feature. I also recommend careful attention to wheel rims in this area with proper tape and possible sharpness around the valve-stem hole. Nothing alarmist here just some hard-earned experience on what to avoid. By the way I also had fitted a new Sturmey Archer SLS50 T5 shifter, suitable on my year 2000 5-speed.
On a test ride in downtown Toronto we spotted the Google Maps Street View car and pursued it, lost it and finally tracked it down here:

Pics by Richard Banks and RLT.

Heart of Glass

We went to Corning, New York as part of our summer tour to visit the glass museum. We approached via Ithaca but couldn't park there as we lacked US coins - their loss.

We stayed at the Radisson in Corning which proved to be convivial and ideally situated at the end of Market Street. So many US towns have lost their downtown hotels but not Corning. A short walk and you are in the shops. We liked Holmes Plate Restaurant, Market Street Coffee & Tea, Jim's Texas Hot (for hot dogs), and Donna's Restaurant (good breakfast and interesting Pyrex collection). We also sampled Yuengling beer, from Pottsvile, Pennsylvania, at the hotel bar.
We watched the local fire department stringing a banner for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips race at nearby Watkins Glen on the weekend of August 11-14.
The glass museum turned out to be a splendid facility that would stand a second visit. CAA/AAA discount available. A short walk from town we returned on the free shuttle bus in the rain. Overall recommended.
Pic by Isobel Kellett.

Brit backhoe made in the USA

This JCB 3CX backhoe turned up in High Park, Toronto, with a "Made in the USA" sign on the side. JCB operate a manufacturing plant near Savannah, Georgia.
Pic by RLT.