Hello, hello.
This is Mamachari Pit.
A bike that gets me pretty excited just pulled into the pit.
Let me give you a quick introduction.
Do you all like utility bikes?
I absolutely love the vibe that utility bikes put off.
Back when I was in Tokyo, I’d be captivated whenever I saw the real-deal work bikes being used at the Tsukiji Market.
Well, one of those utility bikes came in for a tire change the other day.
I was told they've been living together for over 20 years.
I got so pumped up.
I couldn't help but admire the bike while I was taking the service request.
Did you know that utility bikes use different tires than standard city bikes?
They use a tire standard called "BE," which is practically an endangered species these days.
How are they different from city bike tires, you ask?
They have these cute little "ears" on them.
This white part is the "ear."
And the raised section at the edge is the bead.
The mechanism works by using these to gently wrap around the tube and mount it onto the wheel.
The great thing about it is that you hardly ever have to worry about "pinching" the tube.
They’re a bit tricky to install, though.
I'm glad I was able to get it properly fixed.
The 92-year-old gentleman went home with a smile on his face.
It was one of those moments that made me want to take good care of my own bike so that it might excite someone else decades from now.
And of course, to make sure you can use things until they've served their full life, you've got to take care of your own body, too.