This article is also available in: 日本語
The tires of my wheelchair needed some air already.
The flat tires make it hard to move around (just like what a flat tire does to a bicycle) and more difficult to go uphill.
“I gotta put some air before getting worse!” I thought.
At the same time, I remembered when I needed air for my tires when I went to university in Wisconsin.
I visited Ability Center and asked if they could put air to my tires.
They checked the tires and air pump, and said “this air pump is not fitting your tires.”
In fact, there are several kinds of valves for tires.
The most common one in Japan is dunlop valve which is not common in the States.
This time, I check air pumps at my friend’s house, campus, gas stations.
Neither one fits my tires!
In Wisconsin I finally found the right air pump in a bicycle shop, so sent email to a bicycle shop in Syracuse too.
Me: Do you have an air pump for dunlop valve…?
Store staff: We do have that! Come anytime you want!
YESSSSSS!!!!
If you come to the States and get flat tires, you should contact a bicycle store first!
The bicycle shop which helped me today:
Mello Velo Bicycle Shop & Cafe
556 Westcott St Syracuse, NY 13210 315-307-3104
Thank you very much!