No pictures to post and no rides to blog about, but I will do an update on the outcome of our visit to Terra Trike.
It was a nice day, we had loaded up the trike the night before. I had an appointment to see a sports medicine podiatrist, (more on that later.) Since we knew we would be pulling the flatbed trailer, with the trike on it, Tony called the Dr.'s office to scope out the parking situation. The receptionist told us there was a church yard across the street, so I parked there with no problem. The church is along a high traffic road, we didn't really want to leave the trike sitting there unattended. It likely would have been just fine, but why chance it. Tony decided he would sit in the car while I went to my appointment. Button was along to keep him company.
After that we headed over to Terra Trike. They did accept all 5 tubes back, and agreed to put Schwalbe on in their place, but they didn't have any with schrader valves. One of the gals, (they were both very helpful.) told me that Terra Trike brand tires are made by Schwalbe, I always thought Schwalbe tubes were made in Europe, so not sure if that is accurate or not.
The guy changing the tubes told me he found little metal shavings in one of the tires. This could be from when our local bike shop drilled out the double walled rims for schrader valves earlier, in the summer. That would also explain why we have had so many flats.
We ended up having Terra Trike brand tubes put back on because we wanted to ride. WE called around to several bike shops, none carried Schwalbe tubes. The guy who changed the tubes said he shook the rims out really good, so he hoped he got all the shavings. We hope he did too.
We found out later, that indeed, Schwalbe does make the Terra Trike brand tubes. Likely Schwalbe tubes and other brands that Schwalbe may make, are contracted out and made in Taiwan and other countries. This would explain the "made in Taiwan" that is on the Terra Trike tubes.
Terra Trike agreed to take the tubes back, even after the metal shavings were found, likely because 2 of the 5 tubes were defective, before they were even put in the rims. They were very courteous and gracious about the whole thing. They did their best to help us resolve the situation.
I have to say, I am a bit nervous about having the same brand tube son again, but we will give them a try and see how they go. I am still going to order some Schwalbe tubes.
We are hoping this is the end of the flat tire saga.
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