"Why not just buy a new tube? It's so cheap."
Why Cheap ≠ Good
The Seduction of Convenience
We are swimming in throwaway culture. "Single Use" is our daily bread. Planned obsolescence is designed into pretty much everything we consume so that we consume even more.
The result of this is obscene amounts of waste that cannot be reused or recycled. We have landfills that are frothing with all sorts, including so-called recyclables.
The bike world is not exempt from this wastage, and the only way to combat this is to consciously change your habits.
LBK is committed to teaching you how to make the stuff you already have last longer.
First up is reducing the amount of product you consume, and repairing what you already have. One item that is consistently used in the life of a person who rides a bike is an innertube.
The majority of tubes are made from synthetic butyl rubber. This butyl rubber is not natural, it's made from - surprise! - petroleum, a by-product of crude oil. (Fun fact, butyl rubber is also used as chewing gum, yum).
While not all tubes can be patched, those that can should be given a second (third, fourth, etc ) chance.
As a professional bike workshop, we have to change tubes in order to maintain quality control. But if a tube is able to be patched, we set them aside for future patching/teaching. The rest are being recycled with Schwalbe, who do seem to be actually recycling the tubes into new ones. (You can drop off spent tubes with us for a 50p ea recycling fee).
How many times can you patch a tube?
As many times as it'll take it! Come and learn how to make sure that patch sticks.
Reducing our waste and our dependence on fossil fuel products is a priority.
Now that you know, it's not too late to join our online puncture patching class happening Thursday evening at 6:30 pm.
We’re using Google Meet this time around, and it will be recorded if you can’t attend.
At this moment in time, the only way I feel like my efforts can make a difference for Gaza is through bad press:
I questioned in an earlier newsletter why Israel was part of the Eurovision song contest, and it is now clear that it was always propaganda for the normalisation of a religious ethno-state committing genocide. Organisers were swift in banning Russia from Eurovision, a Swedish resident has started a petition to have the same happen for Israel. You can sign the petition here. There’s even email addresses to contact the organisers directly.
Note that the “presenting partner” for Eurovision for the past 3 years is an Israeli company, Moroccanoil.
Welp, looks like my brain is back online, so you can look forward to more fun emails, classes, and events with LBK in the weeks and months to come.
Ride on,
Jenni x
P.S. Reviews of films I watched on the plane while under the influence of Valium*
*generic version prescribed for my fear of flying
In the liminal space between sleep and awake, the muse informed me I was to write reviews of the films I watched on the plane while under the influence. Why not?
So for all you paid subs out there, this one’s for you. Free subs, I shall bid you adieu and à bientôt.