A lousy experience was turned into a great one this morning. I had driven to an area with no stoplights to do an intervals workout which required 20 minutes of uninterrupted road. I flatted as I was warming down, over 6 miles from my car. My spare tube had a valve issue :-( Wife was working and a long way away, and so I just started walking. A guy passed in a SUV going the other way, and asked if I was good. I said yes, filled my bottles at a convenience store I was passing, and kept going. I had gone maybe a block, when a truck pulls over. Same guy. He went home, switched vehicles, came back, picked me up, drove me to my car, and refused any gas money. Oh, and he also offered me a Gatorade.

He is a rider, and said others had done that sort of thing for him before. He also happens to be an EMT, and is definitely the sort of guy you want rolling up if you are in trouble.

So here's a tip of my helmet to this stranger - I hope I have a chance to pay this forward before too long.