Re: The joy of actual numbers, was Democracy

On Thu, 31 Oct 2024 22:57:35 GMT, Charlie Gibbs wrote:

Yes, I recently saw a video of someone on the street in India rebuilding
a starter motor.  Primitive but effective.  Meanwhile,
others in the background were overhauling heavy equipment.
You do what you gotta do.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riding_Solo_to_the_Top_of_the_World

First off, in the US a 350cc bike is considered marginal to ride down to
the Stop'n'Rob for a sixpack. Back in the '90s I have a 400cc Yamaha Seca
I put a lot of miles on both on pavement and on goat tracks so that's
bull.

The guy doesn't get too far on his journey when he realizes his luggage
racks aren't going to make it so he stops at a blacksmith's shop in some
little village. The smith fires up the forge, probably with cow dung,
sorts through his scrap collection, and hammers together a rack system
that lasts for the rest of the trip.

I've hit the same thing in Mexico. They don't understand the 'proper' way
things should be done so they weld together whatever they can get their
hands on and make it work. It ain't pretty but it does the job.

The US used to be the same. I need a pickup and all I've got is this rusty
old Buick. Where's the fire wrench, Jake?