Have you ever been stranded?

[smilingcat]

two occasions.

first one was on a training ride. I was riding from Mammoth Mountain. I had rented a cabin there and was planning on doing training rides from Mammoth mountain ski lodge down into the town then up highway 395, up and over deadman's pass then over to Lee Vining, pass by Mono Lake and climb to the top of Conway pass and return to the ski lodge via June Lake loop. This was way before cell phone days. I made it to the top of Conway pass, back to Lee Vining, back to and down Deadman's pass then I pretzeled my rear deraillure, Shimano 600. Suprisingly, my dropout didn't bend. but the jockey wheel and the tentioner wheel was really not aligned and couldn't even pedal. Not enough cars were going by for me to hitch hike with my bike. Somehow, I managed to un-pretzel my deraillure just enough so that I could pedal and ride on my 4th gear, 15 teeth cog?? It was a 6 speed freewheel cluster. I had two gears to ride with 39 chain ring or 52 chain ring. Great choices . I struggled back up to my cabin on 39 chain ring and the fourth gear.

second time still before cell phone days. Orange County classic. heh! 100miler. After about 60mile mark, I was forced to take it easy, the group didn't bat an eye and just dropped me like a lead balloon. What'ya going to do when you start having cramps in your calf? not much but to be dropped.

I decided to take it easy and turn it into a fun ride. Sat up riding hands free. looking at the open field and a lone coyote sitting at the top of a knoll. Looked up and I could see red tail hawk gliding on turqoise blue sky. Then I looked forward then down and realized that the black top was an inch below the concrete curve. My front tire rubbed the curve and I went flying onto the concrete sidewalk doing around 25MPH. My head bounced (lucky I wore a helmet even back then Kiwi helmet) but I ended up breaking my collar bone into three pieces. Right shoulder. couldn't move and all tangled up in my bike. suprisingly, my bike didn't get scratched, just the seat took the beating. I think I layed there for about 40minutes before an ambulance finally showed up. Maybe longer wait. Other slower cyclist weren't about to stop for me!! All the meanwhile about half a dozen red tail hawk was circling overhead. Every once in a while one would come down and check me out so I wave then the bird went back up, returned to circling overhead.

When I was released from ER, I must have called half a dozen friends of mine. None of them were home except for one. She came by and picked me up and drove me home. Later in a day I did manage to get hold of another friend so we went and picked up my Tercel station wagon. I managed to get my bike back about three weeks later at a bike shop.

ooo forgot a third incident. Again, before cell phones. Went for a training ride even though I had a fever. pretty dumb and subborn as an ox I guess. Needless to say, half way up on the first hill I got really faint, dizzy and just plain awful. pull into an open field where I just collapsed off my bike. Hand and knees on the ground. I ended up throwing up, shivering. It was cold, damp and cloudy that day. A police cruiser went by but he didn't stop. I was all balled up for about half an hour. sipping my cold water. I finally got back on my bike and limped my way home. I took a long hot shower and collapsed in my bed with my two kitties Mr. Cat and Raspycat. they snuggled with me all worried. And I slept a long time.

I'm not young anymore, and I'm not strong, so I'm lot more careful. In someway, I've lost that "fire" in me. I just don't push my limits like I used to.

smilingcat