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I was 13 miles into my bike ride when I started porpoising.

Yep, when the back tire on my bicycle starts to go flat, I start bouncing up and down as I pedal.

I immediately got off the bike and sho nuff, my back tire was almost completely flat and I was way the heck and gone out in the country, next to a gigantic rice field.

As it happens, though I'm in a really remote area, there's still a lot of traffic.

After I called my wife to please bring the truck and rescue my sorry self, an absolute parade of kind strangers stopped to inquire if I needed help, men and women.

If ever you need an uplift about the goodness of the American people, experiences like this will reaffirm your faith in humanity.

Had my wife not been home or able to help me, I would've gotten a ride home within just a few minutes of my breakdown.

American people, especially country people, are the best!

Abraham wrote:I was 13 miles into my bike ride when I started porpoising.

Yep, when the back tire on my bicycle starts to go flat, I start bouncing up and down as I pedal.

I immediately got off the bike and sho nuff, my back tire was almost completely flat and I was way the heck and gone out in the country, next to a gigantic rice field.

As it happens, though I'm in a really remote area, there's still a lot of traffic.

After I called my wife to please bring the truck and rescue my sorry self, an absolute parade of kind strangers stopped to inquire if I needed help, men and women.

If ever you need an uplift about the goodness of the American people, experiences like this will reaffirm your faith in humanity.

Had my wife not been home or able to help me, I would've gotten a ride home within just a few minutes of my breakdown.

American people, especially country people, are the best!

A very nice story. Thanks for reminding us that there are still many good people out in the world.
Especially country people!

When I was in Pipe Creek, my tranny put me on the side of the road. Even though it was getting dark and raining, 6 folks stopped to see if
I needed help. However, before I hit the road from San Antonio( two weekends ago), the news had a blurb about people pretending to be broken down. When anyone pulled over to help, they had guns drawn on them.......be careful

WTR wrote:When I was in Pipe Creek, my tranny put me on the side of the road. Even though it was getting dark and raining, 6 folks stopped to see if
I needed help. However, before I hit the road from San Antonio( two weekends ago), the news had a blurb about people pretending to be broken down. When anyone pulled over to help, they had guns drawn on them.......be careful

We folks in Hill Country are pretty nice to "city folk"
Just kidding...glad so many folks stopped to help. I usually do but keep my hand on my weapon...just in case.
Regards,
<MP>

WildBill wrote:

Abraham wrote:I was 13 miles into my bike ride when I started porpoising.

Yep, when the back tire on my bicycle starts to go flat, I start bouncing up and down as I pedal.

I immediately got off the bike and sho nuff, my back tire was almost completely flat and I was way the heck and gone out in the country, next to a gigantic rice field.

As it happens, though I'm in a really remote area, there's still a lot of traffic.

After I called my wife to please bring the truck and rescue my sorry self, an absolute parade of kind strangers stopped to inquire if I needed help, men and women.

If ever you need an uplift about the goodness of the American people, experiences like this will reaffirm your faith in humanity.

Had my wife not been home or able to help me, I would've gotten a ride home within just a few minutes of my breakdown.

American people, especially country people, are the best!

A very nice story. Thanks for reminding us that there are still many good people out in the world.
Especially country people!

Yes, we don't have important meetings to attend that require us to drive 85 mph to avoid being late.

Another great reason I'm proud to be a Texan I have had similar experiences when broken down and I have often stopped to offer assistance. I have heard people say they wont stop to help from fear of being attacked, robbed, etc. I tell them if I die being a good Samaritan, I alraady have one foot in heaven.

Jusme wrote:Another great reason I'm proud to be a Texan I have had similar experiences when broken down and I have often stopped to offer assistance. I have heard people say they wont stop to help from fear of being attacked, robbed, etc. I tell them if I die being a good Samaritan, I alraady have one foot in heaven.

My friends best friend stopped to help change a flat near Bryan/ College Station back in the 70s. He was killed with a tire iron. Both males (teenagers) received the death penalty. I'm not sure about the girl.

Abraham wrote:I was 13 miles into my bike ride when I started porpoising.

Yep, when the back tire on my bicycle starts to go flat, I start bouncing up and down as I pedal.

I immediately got off the bike and sho nuff, my back tire was almost completely flat and I was way the heck and gone out in the country, next to a gigantic rice field.

As it happens, though I'm in a really remote area, there's still a lot of traffic.

After I called my wife to please bring the truck and rescue my sorry self, an absolute parade of kind strangers stopped to inquire if I needed help, men and women.

If ever you need an uplift about the goodness of the American people, experiences like this will reaffirm your faith in humanity.

Had my wife not been home or able to help me, I would've gotten a ride home within just a few minutes of my breakdown.

American people, especially country people, are the best!

Isn't it awesome someone would take the risk to stop and help you rather than assume it could have been a setup or that you may have turned on them? Helping others when they are in need, even when there may be some personal risk, is very honorable.

I'm very thankful there are still people out there that aren't only concerned with me and mine. Glad it worked out for you.

Abraham wrote:I was 13 miles into my bike ride when I started porpoising. Yep, when the back tire on my bicycle starts to go flat, I start bouncing up and down as I pedal. I immediately got off the bike and sho nuff, my back tire was almost completely flat and I was way the heck and gone out in the country, next to a gigantic rice field. As it happens, though I'm in a really remote area, there's still a lot of traffic. After I called my wife to please bring the truck and rescue my sorry self, ...

Abraham, don't you carry a flat kit? I wouldn't ride without one - most bike shops sell little plastic boxes containing everything you'd need. Add a spare tube, just in case you shred the tube and can't patch it, and a pump, and you should be fairly self-contained.

I'd consider a flat kit to be as much a mandatory accessory as a firearm on rides, especially out in the country!

Most people I know that ride any significant distance at all is preared for such an occasion.

This will set you back less than $2.00. Add a small frame mounted pump and inner tube and you'll be better prepared.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/48050315?wmls ... 74&veh=sem

mojo84 wrote:

Abraham wrote:I was 13 miles into my bike ride when I started porpoising.

Yep, when the back tire on my bicycle starts to go flat, I start bouncing up and down as I pedal.

I immediately got off the bike and sho nuff, my back tire was almost completely flat and I was way the heck and gone out in the country, next to a gigantic rice field.

As it happens, though I'm in a really remote area, there's still a lot of traffic.

After I called my wife to please bring the truck and rescue my sorry self, an absolute parade of kind strangers stopped to inquire if I needed help, men and women.

If ever you need an uplift about the goodness of the American people, experiences like this will reaffirm your faith in humanity.

Had my wife not been home or able to help me, I would've gotten a ride home within just a few minutes of my breakdown.

American people, especially country people, are the best!

Isn't it awesome someone would take the risk to stop and help you rather than assume it could have been a setup or that you may have turned on them? Helping others when they are in need, even when there may be some personal risk, is very honorable.

I'm very thankful there are still people out there that aren't only concerned with me and mine. Glad it worked out for you.

Stopping could be a risk, though normally it is not, especially out in the country. But like any unusual interaction with strangers the risk can be greatly minimized with observation and the application of good judgement. Whether a stranger is approaching me on the street or I'm looking to help someone alongside a country road, I'd hope I'm able to read the situation well enough to avoid a set up or dangerous situation.

My rule of thumb is that if there are two or three able bodied men on scene, (not trying to be sexist) then I figure they will be able to take care of the problem without my help. But if it's a woman alone or with kids, or perhaps an older couple, etc. I will almost always stop and offer assistance. While my wife and daughter are capable of changing a tire, I know they would really appreciate help from kind hearted people such as myself.

P.S. they also carry in their vehicles and I have told them if they have to stop on the side of the road to have their gun on them.

VMI77 wrote:

mojo84 wrote:

Abraham wrote:I was 13 miles into my bike ride when I started porpoising.

Yep, when the back tire on my bicycle starts to go flat, I start bouncing up and down as I pedal.

I immediately got off the bike and sho nuff, my back tire was almost completely flat and I was way the heck and gone out in the country, next to a gigantic rice field.

As it happens, though I'm in a really remote area, there's still a lot of traffic.

After I called my wife to please bring the truck and rescue my sorry self, an absolute parade of kind strangers stopped to inquire if I needed help, men and women.

If ever you need an uplift about the goodness of the American people, experiences like this will reaffirm your faith in humanity.

Had my wife not been home or able to help me, I would've gotten a ride home within just a few minutes of my breakdown.

American people, especially country people, are the best!

Isn't it awesome someone would take the risk to stop and help you rather than assume it could have been a setup or that you may have turned on them? Helping others when they are in need, even when there may be some personal risk, is very honorable.

I'm very thankful there are still people out there that aren't only concerned with me and mine. Glad it worked out for you.

Stopping could be a risk, though normally it is not, especially out in the country. But like any unusual interaction with strangers the risk can be greatly minimized with observation and the application of good judgement. Whether a stranger is approaching me on the street or I'm looking to help someone alongside a country road, I'd hope I'm able to read the situation well enough to avoid a set up or dangerous situation.

Nonetheless, there is risk, although varying degrees of it. That's not the point of my comment. Some are so risk averse and focused solely one "me and mine", they aren't willing to take a risk to help someone.

The necessary effort to fix a back tire flat is more than my back can handle.

You might say, well, pardner, if you're that beat up why go at all?

Cuz it's what I can do.

After years of being of being a long distance runner, then having to transition to swimming (as I'd blown out my knee with LD running) I went to long distance In-line skating to long distance sea kayaking, to now, free weights on on non biking days to LD biking. Not to mention long distance wade fishing, chunking lures with a bait caster, but that's a different story....Most of these activities are in the rear view mirror as both shoulders are now bone on bone. So what? I'll keep doing all possible as I can't stop moving...until, I'm laughing out loud as I type this, I can't stop moving...

I'll be 70 next birthday.

This is both a cause for celebration for me and odd because few of my kindred even make it out of their fifties...we burn hot and fast and die early, usually...