February 2009
Trip Saved
Last summer my mate and I were cycling a 40 mile trip when 12 miles from home my front tire’s valve blew off. The way that it came off meant that part of the pin was bent and stuck in the valve, blocking it. So the tire went flat and we, or as my mate kept reminding me, I was stranded with the prospect of a long walk home. There was a bike shop 8 miles down the road where I could pick up a spare inner tube, which I should have brought with me in the first place. It was now just a matter of getting there.
I reached into my pocket to check for money when I felt the smooth surface possessed only by a Leatherman, and possibly Jessica Simpson. Instantly I knew I was saved. I pulled out my trusty Squirt P4, flipped out the pliers, and set to work removing the pin from the blocked valve. The mini pump was then able to be used to blow up the tires and the dust cap, again thanks to the Leatherman, was tightly put on to seal the valve. I installed the new tube using the Leatherman’s large flat head as a tire leaver and that was it - job done.
Just when I thought that things were on the up, I went face surfing on the tarmac as my shoelace got caught in the gears. I reached for my Leatherman and used the razor sharp blade to cut myself free and the other tools to fix the gears.
To this day I have broken many Gerbers and other multi-tools but never found any task too tough for the mighty little Squirt P4. So I would just like to say a big thank you to all the people at Leatherman for making such high quality multi-tools and for saving my trip. You guys Rock!!!
Mark A.
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
OK, you voyeur, you. Enough of reading other people's stories. It's time you told your own tale of gripping heroism or even just neat DIY'ism. We know there's a Shakespeare in you somewhere. Don't make us use the Steens to find it.