Or, two lefts don’t make a right:
Once upon a time, Andy bought two glow in the dark green pedals only to find out that they were both lefts. In case that doesn’t mean much to you (you’re not a bike nerd), pedals are one of those rare threaded items in the universe where “lefty loosey, righty tighty” doesn’t work for installation or removal. The left and the right pedals have reversed threads from each other. Bottom line- two lefts and you’re screwed (well, actually not since they can’t be installed.)
Andy was disappointed to say the least. Who wouldn’t want glow in the dark pedals? He returned them from whence they came (Rapp’s).
Some time later, I ventured into another local bike shop, Butler Bicycles, in search of adventure (that sounds good since I can’t remember the exact reason- wait it was to notify them to be on the lookout for a stolen bike). After perusing a bit, I approached the counter and struck up
A conversation with Adam. Almost immediately I was distracted by a lone green, glow in the dark Odyssey PC pedal on the counter. Could it really be a right one? Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.
I asked Adam why he has a right pedal with no mate and gladly shared the story.
A few months back, he had some customers walk I who were passing through town. They had a unicycle with that needed repaired. It seems the pedal threads on the crankarm had been stripped. They were in a rush to get the unicycle looking presentable and had to leave for home the next day. When they gave more of the story, it turns out that the unicycle was for display purposes only. They explained that their (nephew or son) had been tragically killed in an accident (automobile I believe) and that his favorite past time was riding his uni. They needed the unicycle to sit near the casket at the viewing, and then it was to be buried with him.
Ugh.
Adam didn’t have a replacement crankarm, and knowing the circumstances pulled a non-load bearing repair with smaller diameter pedals. They left him with the right pedal that was of no use to them and he kept it to remind himself that bad things happen, yet every now and then something simple can help out a bit.
I relayed to him the story of the two lefts and he offered to trade the right pedal on his counter for one of the lefts. He said that the orientation of the pedal didn’t matter to him, it was the thought that counted. We both agreed that a set of useful pair of pedals in circulation would be at least a small tribute to the unfortunate passing of a teenager.
So I approached Jeff Rapp about purchasing the set of two lefts and relayed the tragic story. He insisted upon donating the two lefts. Back at Adam’s I traded.
Now I had a left and right pedal- that didn’t quite match. They are close, but not quite the same color plastic.
No problem.
I was looking for something to put the pedals on that would be a fitting tribute. Since the donor loved unicycling, a loaner unicycle came to mind. One that would be ridden by a lot of people and instrumental in growing their love for the sport.
Shortly thereafter a loaner unicycle came back to me. Chris and Beth (former bike shop owners) had been semi-permanently to permanently lent one a while ago. We crossed paths and they decided it would be of more use to the Butler Wobble than the Currie Circus so they gave it back.
It’s a perfect match for the pedals:
This loaner gets lot of use at the Y.
So when someone asks about the mismatched pedals, they’ll get a story about people who love bikes and a boy who loved unicycling.
It won’t bring him back, but it will remind me how precious life is.
