Fifty Plus (50+) - Have you ever relied on the kindness of strangers?

When cycling, that is?

Let's hear your story! :)

Why yes, I have often relied on the kindness of strangers!

Bought one of those CO2 air thingys and went though 2 CO2 cartrigdes trying to pump a tire on my roadie (2 flats in one ride with crappy Michelin 2 pro race tires). I waited for a while for somebody with a real pump to lend it to me to fill the tube. It took awhile for another cyclist to come along, but he helped me pump up and saved me a 15 mile walk home in cycling shoes. I look forward to seeing this older guy again. Now I usually always bring my crank bros mini pump with me unless I am riding with others

Scarlett, get a hold! That wasn't you but Blanche Dubois, or is it Blanche Diego?

Off road and one of us had a bad accident. Cut his cheek wide open and it was a hospital job. A couple of walkers came by- saw how serious it was and cut their walk short to return to the car park with the injured rider and take him to Hospital. The other two of us then had 3 bikes to get back to civilisation and it took us a fair time to do it.

When I got home- I loaded up a spare jacket and went to the hospital- Only to find the walkers still there looking after my mate. When I arrived they were relieved as Although my mate had said that one of us would turn up- They wanted to make certain.
Mates- face was stitched up and it was 52 stitches so he could not talk very well. He thanked them and I got their address for him. Problem was- it was addresses- Both married but not to each other. So thats how one biker ruined a courting couples afternoon.

To get back to the question, this is the second time this has happened to me. I was on my ride this weekend. It was hot. It was windy. Matter of fact, it was a ride to see if I could finish and not a pleasant outing. I stopped on a Farm to Market road with the only tree around to sit under and take a break. Poured the remainder of one bottle over my head and was drinking from the other warm bottle.

Several cars drove by but only three pick ups stopped to see if I needed any help. The first was a 50+ couple heading to town, the second was three young cowboy looking guys. I told them I was just cooling down and would be fine. The third was a Tx. highway truck. They would not take no for an answer and refiled my bottles with ice cold water from their cooler on the back of the truck.
Boy, you soon learn who understands what being in heat means!

I was told by EMS techs a jogger called 911 when he/she found me out cold lying on the bike path, I never found out who they were. I had gone over the bars and landed on my face, don't know why my front wheel locked up.

I have never relied on it, but sure have welcomed it. On a tour many years ago, we got caught in freezing rain then snow, several inches. Stranger invited us in, let us get warmed up, and would have let us camp in thier house, but we wanted to get to our destination. There, the hotel owners let six of us stay in one room (poor college student don't cha know), and let us keep our bikes in the room too. Big room and very cramped, but sure was warm.

When cycling, that is?

Let's hear your story! :)

Well, not really.

I had a flat Sunday, and another cyclist (compared to someone on a bicycle) stopped to see if I needed anything. Being a good boy scout, I had a pump and spare tube.

I always stop for others!

Scarlett, get a hold! That wasn't you but Blanche Dubois, or is it Blanche Diego?
Both! Or all three! Or all four!
http://dick.imdb.com/name/nm0000046/

Three years ago I was out about 30 miles from home when I got into a maze of debris and double flatted. I had enough materials that I repaired both tires, but when I inflated the back tire, the tube blew out of the sidewall. The debris had sliced the tire and I had'nt noticed.

I quickly decided that I better hitch a ride to a phone and call for help. Every pick up that went by got a chance to see my thumb and after about 10 minutes a small truck pulled up. We headed towards a little village 5 miles away.

I told the driver my sad story and he sympathized. Then he said he knew a cyclist and wonered if I knew him too. I guess if you ride in funny clothes, on a funny bike then you must know all the "others". I asked what the cyclist name was and sure enough I had just ridden with the guy over the weekend.

Since I knew the drivers friend, I got a ride all the way to my door.
Thank you.

Bought one of those CO2 air thingys and went though 2 CO2 cartrigdes trying to pump a tire on my roadie (2 flats in one ride with crappy Michelin 2 pro race tires). I waited for a while for somebody with a real pump to lend it to me to fill the tube. It took awhile for another cyclist to come along, but he helped me pump up and saved me a 15 mile walk home in cycling shoes. I look forward to seeing this older guy again. Now I usually always bring my crank bros mini pump with me unless I am riding with others

Have you used your Crank Bros. pump yet? I had two of them, one for me and one for wifie. They were quite ineffective (other words could be used). I returned them and got a couple Topeak pumps and they work great. If you haven't tried the Crank Bros. pump, try it and see what you think before you get stranded again.

Everytime I'm on the road I rely on the kindness of those strangers who drive cars to not hit me! I've alos posted before about help I've received from others... most notable was the young lady who helped me find a small metal sliver in my tire that I couldn't see (but could feel), because I wasn't wearing my glasses.

Everytime I'm on the road I rely on the kindness of those strangers who drive cars to not hit me!

+10 As do we all.

On fully loaded tours I have gotten a couple of lifts over major passes. Each time from the first person I asked. Ditto two times I ws getting heat stressed out in the Mojave Desert and Death Valley. I had a flat in old South Africa and the first truck load of blacks going by stopped and offered a lift. They even insisted that I ride in the cab and to the tokoloshies with Apartheid.

When cycling, that is?

Let's hear your story! :)

I think about this every time somebody starts a thread about all of the stuff they carry with them every time that they ride. Sheesh! I basically carry enough stuff to fix one flat tire and pretty much rely on my wits and the generosity of strangers for everything else. I'm typing this from home so I've obviously always found a way to make it back.

I think that my best story was on a Santana tandem tour. Without going into details, a group of about 40 of us got stranded after our bikes were trucked back to Natchez Ms. One of our group went to the courthouse and asked about the possibility of using a school bus. The court house people informed us that the school busses weren't allowed to leave the county but began calling local churches on our behalf. Less than an hour later an appropriately sized bus arrived to transport us. They only wanted about $50.00 for the fule, but we stuck Santana with a $150.00 tab and I suspect that the driver was quite happy with his tip.

One Sunday, when pedaling between parishes to say Mass, I had two flats. I quickly said the appropriate prayers for Divine mercy and bad spirit exorcism, and the tires sealed and reinflated themselves. Angelic kindness at its best.

One Sunday, when pedaling between parishes to say Mass, I had two flats. I quickly said the appropriate prayers for Divine mercy and bad spirit exorcism, and the tires sealed and reinflated themselves. Angelic kindness at its best.

So Padre, since this thread is about the kindness of strangers, you're saying that you prayed to a "stranger" for kindness in your time of need? Wouldn't, or perhaps shouldn't, a man of the cloth be familiar enough with the Divine Creator so as not to refer to him as a "stranger"? I'm so confused.

BTW, you aren't perhaps from San Diego, Padre?

John in (well, from Oregon, but currently on his way to) Heck

At work, I lost the key to my ulock. Building security guard suggested I carry bike inside for the night. The building manager offered to and drilled out the lock the next day. I had lost my other key. I brought a couple of drill bits to offer the mgr as thanks and he refused.. Kindness and professionalism in one!

I am the only one in a thousand of employees that bicycle commute where I work. I will try to get him a cool knife sharpener for Christmas. He gets a cudo from me!

So Padre, since this thread is about the kindness of strangers, you're saying that you prayed to a "stranger" for kindness in your time of need? Wouldn't, or perhaps shouldn't, a man of the cloth be familiar enough with the Divine Creator so as not to refer to him as a "stranger"? I'm so confused.

Confusion is understandable, my son. Look at Hebrews 13:2. We often don't know when angelic visitors grace us and in almost every case when we do, they can only be described as strange or unusual, beyond our immediate comprehension. Peace be with you!