cyclists do the darndest things!
 

This story was posted on a local listserv in St Louis by Bill C, who I know would not make this up! Grant's Trail is a local recreational trail (named after US Grant of Civil War fame, who owned land there before the war). Bill H.

Yesterday while cycling on Grant's Trail, I passed a cyclist whose bicycle was disabled. The bicyclist was kneeled near the rear wheel with what looked like some type of incendiary device. At first I thought I was observing an insurgent's attempt to detonate a bike bomb on Grant's Trail and kill thousand of hapless cyclists, novice and accomplished alike.
After doing an immediate about-face on my bike, I discovered that the cyclist did have an incendiary, a flaming Bike cigarette lighter set on maximum flame for effect. The cyclist was attempting to burn her scarf in the hope that in doing so the scarf was release itself from the rear wheel. Since I had a 6" Crescent wrench and a small screw driver, I stopped and offered my assistance.
The bicycle was a single-speed with a coaster brake on the rear wheel. After bending over the bike for 30 seconds my back gave out. The cyclist took the tools and with my instructions loosened the bolts on the rear wheel and using the combination of screwdriver and wrench the cyclist loosening the rear brake. The cyclist removed the scarf, centered the wheel, tightened the wheel bolts and coaster brake arm. We were both on our way in opposite directions.
However, the cyclist was still having difficulty. We had forgotten that the rear wheel needed to be attached to the chain. So we righted the bike again. The cyclist use my tools and engaged the chain with the rear sprocket.
An insurgent's plot to burn cyclists on Grant's Trail thwarted!

BC

That was a cute story. :)

Hmm, I see a niche in the market for body hugging lycra scarves.