[alanmcorcoran]

When I was about 12 I blew up an old school shwinn tube at a gas station. Mine didn't develop a bulge, it must have been an old tube/tire combination (with five boys and bikes made up of cannibalized parts, my family wasn't exactly a poster for scheduled maintenance.) Blew the tube and the tire right off the bike. Sounded like an M80, knocked me on my ass, and had ringing in my ears for about 24 hours.

To top it off, I had about 50 Thursday News Tribunes in the front basket that had not been delivered. Had to walk home, get another bike, deliver the effing papers, buy a new tire and tube, ride back to the gas station and put it on - couldn't get the tire on the rim - the station mechanic helped with that, then ride the second bike back home. By then my parents were home and I at least got a ride back to the station. A long effing evening of fun. Paper routes suck.

Never filled a bike up at a gas station again. But I did put air in my wife's bike with the new setup. Very cautiously.