Product descriptions

[Kittyhawk]

Do manufacturers ever read the sales blurb on their products?
Today I bought a new puncture repair kit and had not realized that the humble rubber patch had become so location specific.

So I have sought clarification from the manufacturer on a couple of issues. Firstly, since the patches are made and designed for NZ conditions, will they adhere to my tubes which are made in China, and secondly and in a similar vein, the intended cycle tour for which I bought the repair kit will traverse a remote area called Whangamamona and should I get a flattie there then I could be in trouble. The people in this little settlement got a flea in their ear over some local governance issue and in 1989 seceded from the Sovereign State of New Zealand and declared themselves the Republic of Whangamamona - passport required to enter which costs $5 at the local pub.
You can see the problem arising with a bicycle product that is nation specific.
We have not been to this Whangamamona before and do have a little trepidation abou what we will find. They hold presidential elections every two years and in 1991 some disgruntled person nominated his goat for the position. If that's not bad enough, the goat won by a landslide which caused further division as the goat was rumored to have cheated by eating the votes cast for the opposition..
But whatever, I'll await further advice about the puncture patches from the manufacturer.

 

[SammyQ]

Some Kiwis are obviously smoking kea feathers...

 

[Kittyhawk]

Some Kiwis are obviously smoking kea feathers...

Nope.
You have to understand the high country farmers in NZ and you really don't want to pi$$ then off. These are hard tough people as they need to be when they farm thousands of hectares way above the winter snow line and yet are also the most generous people you will ever meet. I have experience of both traits, the first being a man who sustained a deep gash to his upper arm whilst crutching sheep. The work needed to continue so he had one of his farm hands suture the wound with a small sack needle and a strand of bailing twine until he could get down to town for proper attention a few days later.The second being in pre GPS days when the child bride and I were on a bike tour and became totally lost with night coming on. We knocked on a farmhouse door and asked if we could pitch our tent in his house paddock. 'No' he said. 'Put your bikes in the tractor shed and you'll be sleeping in the house tonight.'
The Republic of Whangamamona is part of NZ folklore so I went on line to check the facts.
The governance issue that upset the locals was the redrawing of the district council map that meant that Whangamamona would move from one council area that gave them only a little to another council area that would give them nothing at all. As stated, annoying high country farmers is not a good idea so the tonge in cheek Republic of Whangamamona middle finger salute to both councils was initiated.
This act of defiance resonated with the public, especially the election of a goat as the republic's president - a further dig at local body politicians and pretty soon local and overseas tourists began to arrive as the story spread in the media. The bi-annual presidential election became married to a farmers show day with sheep sheering, wood chopping, gumboot throwing etc and together with the $5 Republic of Whangamamona passports has turned out to be a pretty big money earner that has provided all the amenities that the area lacked, and especially so for the children.
So these kiwis are tough, hardworking, generous and pretty darned clever I would say.

 

[Cabinetman]

Nope.
You have to understand the high country farmers in NZ and you really don't want to pi$$ then off. These are hard tough people as they need to be when they farm thousands of hectares way above the winter snow line and yet are also the most generous people you will ever meet. I have experience of both traits, the first being a man who sustained a deep gash to his upper arm whilst crutching sheep. The work needed to continue so he had one of his farm hands suture the wound with a small sack needle and a strand of bailing twine until he could get down to town for proper attention a few days later.The second being in pre GPS days when the child bride and I were on a bike tour and became totally lost with night coming on. We knocked on a farmhouse door and asked if we could pitch our tent in his house paddock. 'No' he said. 'Put your bikes in the tractor shed and you'll be sleeping in the house tonight.'
The Republic of Whangamamona is part of NZ folklore so I went on line to check the facts.
The governance issue that upset the locals was the redrawing of the district council map that meant that Whangamamona would move from one council area that gave them only a little to another council area that would give them nothing at all. As stated, annoying high country farmers is not a good idea so the tonge in cheek Republic of Whangamamona middle finger salute to both councils was initiated.
This act of defiance resonated with the public, especially the election of a goat as the republic's president - a further dig at local body politicians and pretty soon local and overseas tourists began to arrive as the story spread in the media. The bi-annual presidential election became married to a farmers show day with sheep sheering, wood chopping, gumboot throwing etc and together with the $5 Republic of Whangamamona passports has turned out to be a pretty big money earner that has provided all the amenities that the area lacked, and especially so for the children.
So these kiwis are tough, hardworking, generous and pretty darned clever I would say.

Hadn’t heard of that, I quite understand their single finger salute to high handed governance. Not a Yorkshire man myself (but close) and I always thought it a shame that their attempt at something similar failed.
Back to product description, annoyes the Hell out of me that the description very often doesn’t mention the one salient fact that nearly everyone needs, usually a measurement.
Ian

 

[Yojevol]

Do manufacturers ever read the sales blurb on their products?
Today I bought a new puncture repair kit and had not realized that the humble rubber patch had become so location specific.
View attachment 195065
So I have sought clarification from the manufacturer on a couple of issues. Firstly, since the patches are made and designed for NZ conditions, will they adhere to my tubes which are made in China, and secondly and in a similar vein, the intended cycle tour for which I bought the repair kit will traverse a remote area called Whangamamona and should I get a flattie there then I could be in trouble. The people in this little settlement got a flea in their ear over some local governance issue and in 1989 seceded from the Sovereign State of New Zealand and declared themselves the Republic of Whangamamona - passport required to enter which costs $5 at the local pub.
You can see the problem arising with a bicycle product that is nation specific.
We have not been to this Whangamamona before and do have a little trepidation abou what we will find. They hold presidential elections every two years and in 1991 some disgruntled person nominated his goat for the position. If that's not bad enough, the goat won by a landslide which caused further division as the goat was rumored to have cheated by eating the votes cast for the opposition..
But whatever, I'll await further advice about the puncture patches from the manufacturer.

The label doesn't mention NZ as a location. In my experience (1 month touring 20 years ago) NZ exhibits a wide range of climatic conditions which can be found all over the world. So don't let your puncture repair outfit limit your lust for adventure. Just a word of caution; when you go to Singapore check out the glue import regs and when entering the US don't declare the rubber content.
All the best for '25
Brian

 

[Fergie 307]

Some Kiwis are obviously smoking kea feathers...

Oh I don't know, I suspect a goat would make a useful addition to our current cabinet. Mind you I don't suppose the goat would find it much of an intellectual challenge

 

[Amplidyne]

Oh I don't know, I suspect a goat would make a useful addition to our current cabinet. Mind you I don't suppose the goat would find it much of an intellectual challenge

I was just thinking that a goat would be more useful than most politicians.
One thing you're assured of with both is a good supply of carp.