This was out in the middle of nowhere, with only an occasional cyclist or bus going past by way of traffic. The poor chap had deep rims, and a short-valve tube as a spare. He had a valve extension, but it would variously;
a) move the locknut on the valve core as it was screwed on, thus closing the valve on the tube and/or
b) leak and/or
c) unscrew the valve core on the tube as the extension was removed.
Between all these things he had about five goes at pumping his tyre up, using a mini-pump with a ~6" stroke. He stood with his back to the wind as he did this, which happened to be with his back to the occasional passing buses too.
Now here's the thing; if you had asked me before, I'd have said that I had already seen every possible way of using a mini-pump; however, it turns out I was wrong....
His chosen method was to lean the wheel against his thighs, with the valve at the top of the wheel. He used one hand to hold the pump chuck on, and with the other he worked the pump handle -which was facing away from him at upper thigh level- in and out fairly briskly. This looked to me to be as awkward as it sounds; to get enough purchase he was most often crouched over somewhat as he worked the pump.
All this merely looked awkward from where I was... ...but goodness knows what it must have looked like from any other angle.... I happened to glance up at a passing bus and the passengers in it were somewhat slack-jawed and goggle-eyed at the sight of this chap hunched over 'pumping away' so vigorously....
This couldn't go entirely without comment, of course; he agreed 'it might look a little odd' and I did mention that it 'wasn't something you see every day'. Nonetheless, at least three buses went past as he worked away, all to similar effect.
Needless to say, I didn't dare ask how it was that he came to ever start using his pump in this particular fashion....
Has anyone else seen, any, erm, 'extraordinary pumping styles' being used...?
cheers
