A boy scout is always prepared...not!
Monday, June 7, 2010 at 10:49PM After a week of being cooped-up because of our "Junuary" weather here in Seattle, I decided on Friday I was going to go cycling come hell or high water. My ride started out sunny. But at about 14 mi. south of home, I looked up to see coming at me yet another of those dark cloud banks which meant to do no good. I turned around thinking I could beat them home, but alas, with about 9 miles still to go it began to pour like a mutha. Well, "Suck it up.", I said to myself, "You live in Seattle." In reality, the only reason I thought this and not something more colorful was that I was chastised the previous day by a friend for complaining about the weather. She essentially told me to suck it up because I lived in Seattle (Thanks Christina).
So I soldiered on, even in my non-rain-prepared state. Suddenly, at about 5 mi. from home, the bike started to drag pretty badly. I initially thought it was because of what seemed like gale-force winds coming directly at me, until I looked down...I had a flat.
Now for most cyclists this would be a walk in the park. They're all carrying extra tubes and patch kits and all assorted MacGyver tools to make simple work of the act of repairing a flat. In my head, because I am a recreational cyclist, I didn't need any of that stuff. I was never going to get a flat. Well, when you are 5 miles from home with the prospect of walking the rest of the way home...in the rain, you learn pretty quickly that you probably should keep all that stuff with you too.
Well, I naively thought that I could just stop and pump up the tire every mile or so to get home. Did you know that tubes that won't hold air in the first place, generally still don't hold air when you simply pump them up? :) Houston, we have a problem! What was I to do? Oh, and by the way, my cell phone was dead as well, so I couldn't even call for help. So, I just started walking the long walk.
Luckily, as I approached a major cyclist thoroughfare on my way, I was blessed with what I will call Seattle's network of commuter-cycling guardian angels. The very first cyclist riding by stopped to ask me if I needed help in addition to no less than 100% of all the other cyclists who passed me by. I took the first guy up on his offer of a patch kit and even the offer of his spare tube if I needed it. I couldn't believe it. I have never felt such generosity from a group of strangers. In the end, we got my tire patched well enough to get me home and I immediately acquired a spare tube, patch kit and other assorted tools to take with me on the road.
Needless to say, I now pay that stranger's kindness forward every time I see a cyclist which looks like they need help.
Reader Comments (2)
Cycylists are the most helpful group of people ever! During a triathlon once I was trying to help a friend fix a flat during a race and we were failing miserably and a woman who was driving the opposite way stopped, whipped out a big pump and helped us change the tire. She wasn't even in the race and was driving to pick up her kids!!!
So sorry to Hear the Boyscout could not do it alone! It could have been a real Pain. Thank you fellow
riders for saving Our Boy Scout! Mom & Dad W.