I had a bad one last year. I was on a several month long work assignment out in Moreno Valley, California. While there I bought a bike from BD (Motobecane Mirage) to try a little bicycle commuting and for general recreational riding. One weekend I decided to ride up to Lake Perris about five miles away, tour around the lake, then take a long loop back through town past a fish and chips place to pick up dinner.

After the long fast coast back down the mountain from the lake, I was cruising along in the bike lanes, when I ran over a flattened tin can, which cut the sidewall of my (original el-cheapo) rear tire. I remembered that you could improvise a tire boot with a dollar bill. I looked in my wallet, but the smallest I had was a 20! I did have a business card, though, so I used that, and my spare tube, to get back on the road. Started for home.

About a mile later my repair flatted. Now I had a problem, as both my original rear tube and my spare were both ruined. I started pushing.

I ended up pushing that stupid bike about 10 miles. About 5 miles from my apartment I drank the last of my water. Another mile or so and I was getting seriously dehydrated. Eventually I passed two city police officers who were working a security detail at a party. I explained what happened and asked if they knew where I could get my water bottle refilled, and one of them reached into a cooler and gave me a bottle of water. I honestly don't think I'd of made it that last mile or so without that water!