NCERT Class 7 English Honeycomb Book Chapter 9 A Bicycle in Good Repair Summary

 A Bicycle in Good Repair Introduction 

One evening, a man the author knew suggested that they go biking the following day. This was accepted by the author. He made a lot of effort to get up early in the morning. Nevertheless, he was glad to see that for once, he was trying. The author didn't mind waiting for the man who was late because he was enjoying the beautiful day. The visitor complemented the author's bicycle when he saw it next to him. Then he inquired as to how it operated. 

According to the author, the bicycle operated similarly to every other bicycle. The bicycle, he said, was simple to control in the morning but might get a little stiff after lunch. The author didn't appreciate how the man then seized the bicycle and started shaking it erratically. The author believed that there was no need to shake the bicycle and that it had not injured anyone as a result of improper handling. Furthermore, as the owner, the author was the only one with the legal authority to shake the bicycle severely. The front wheel wobbled, the man continued. The author shot back, arguing that until you cause it to wobble, the front wheel doesn't.

However, the man said that it was dangerous to ride a bicycle whose front wheel wobbled. Then, he asked for a hammer. The author went to his tool shed to see if he could get something which would help the man. When the author came back, he found the man sitting on the ground with the front wheel between his legs. The remaining part of the bicycle was lying on the gravel path beside him. The man said that the bearings on the wheel appeared to be all wrong.

He was instructed to put the bicycle back and begin their adventure after the author encouraged him not to worry about it. The man, however, asserted that now that the issue was public, they should resolve it. He unscrewed something someplace, and all the balls rolled out before the author could stop him from going any farther. The man started yelling at the author, ordering him to gather up all the pieces from the ground since he was pleased about this new circumstance. After searching for a half-hour, they discovered sixteen. The guy then expressed his hope that they had captured every one of them, noting that the machine would be significantly affected if they hadn't.

The author however, didn’t give him all the balls he had found. He admitted when he was writing the story that it was not a sensible thing to do. The man then started examining the chain for which he disassembled the gear-case. The author tried to dissuade him by telling him that a friend had once told him solemnly that if anything goes wrong with someone’s gear-case, the person should sell the machine and buy a new one as it comes cheaper. But the man said that only people who didn’t understand anything about machines talk like that. According to the man, nothing was easier than taking off the gear-case. This turned out to be true when the gear-case was lying in two parts on the path while the man grovelled around for screws.

He was instructed to put the bicycle back and begin their adventure after the author encouraged him not to worry about it. The man, however, asserted that now that the issue was public, they should resolve it. He unscrewed something someplace, and all the balls rolled out before the author could stop him from going any farther. The man started yelling at the author, ordering him to gather up all the pieces from the ground since he was pleased about this new circumstance. After searching for a half-hour, they discovered sixteen. The guy then expressed his hope that they had captured every one of them, noting that the machine would be significantly affected if they hadn't.

Then he said we had better think about getting the front wheel back into its place again. The author held the fork open, while the man tried to fix the wheel. They kept on trying till ten minutes passed and they switched places. When it was finally into position, the man burst out laughing. When the author asked him why he was laughing, the man said he was an ass as he had forgotten the balls. That was the first thing he said that made the author respect him. The author then looked for his hat, which was lying topsy-turvy in the middle of the path. The man was very cheerful and optimistic.

He said that they should try their best to put it back and then trust God to give them good results. They were able to find eleven. They fixed six on one side and five on the other, and half an hour later the wheel was in its place again. However, the front wheel wobbled more than ever and even a child would have noticed it now. The man didn’t mind it and said that the author would have to make do with it for now. The author took a strategic turn and complimented the man’s hard work, cheery confidence and optimistic nature. The man was so flustered that he was encouraged to refix the gear-case. He parked the bicycle against the house, and worked from the off side. Then he stood it against a tree, and worked from the on side. Then the author held it for him, while he lay on the ground with his head between the wheels, and worked at it from below, and dropped oil upon himself. Then he took it away from the author, and doubled himself across it till he lost his balance and slid over onto his head. When this happened he lost his temper and began bullying the bicycle. The bicycle showed spirit by fighting the man. However, the man was ultimately able to overcome the bicycle. He was standing, flushed with victory, with the bicycle held firmly between his legs. But his victory was short-lived. By a sudden and quick movement, the bicycle had freed itself from the man’s clutches. It turned upon and hit him sharply over the head with one of its handles. It was quarter to one. The man was dirty and dishevelled, cut and bleeding. He said that that would do for now. The bicycle looked as though it had received enough punishment. The author took the man to the back kitchen where the man cleaned himself as far as he could, and then he left for home.