Have you ever been stranded?

**Crankin** · 06-15-2008, 04:39 AM

Two or three years ago we went on a 50 mile ride with our cycling buddies. We drove about 6 miles to a meeting place in Littleton, MA and rode to Hollis, NH. This is one of the most beautiful rides we do. As we were eating lunch on the grounds of Kimball's Fruit Farm in Hollis, I noticed some dark clouds off in the distance. The lunch stop is high up on a ridge, so we decided to take off and head back. The return trip goes through Pepperel, Dunstable, Tyngsboro, and back to Littleton, which as some of you know, are not the biggest towns in the world. So as we made our way past the farms and residential areas, it started raining a little. Then a lot. I mean, torrential rain, with scary thunder and lightning. First, a man cutting his lawn let us hang out in his garage. It wasn't stopping, so we decided to brave it. Steve and I had rain jackets and arm warmers, but our friends did not, which was very weird, since Janine is the most prepared person I know. Finally, we took shelter under the eaves of the Dunstable Public Library, which was closed, since it was Sunday. Janine was shivering as it was now about 58 degrees out, dropping from about 84. I gave her my arm warmers, which barely got up her arms, since she's about 5'8" and I'm barely 5' 1". I was really worried that she was going into hypothermia. So, after much debating, Steve and Brant found a taxi service in Ayer, MA that would come out to the boonies and get them. They took the taxi back to where the cars were and then drove back to get us and the bikes. This whole thing took about 2 hours. It took dinner and several glasses of wine to warm up.

**Tuckervill** · 06-15-2008, 05:16 AM

The first thing I would do is remind myself not to panic. As long as nothing's broken (smilingcat!) on my body, or I'm not stuck in front of an oncoming train or something, I figure I'm okay.

The second thing would be to take stock of the situation. Figure out if this is something that's going to ruin the ride for good, or just delay me.

The third thing I would do is: Ask for help if there's someone available.

Two incidents have occurred. One, I was with my then-12-yo son in Albuquerque, and all four of our tires went flat due to goatheads, right in front of the Balloon Museum. Most people in Albuquerque do not know the bus routes, I'll tell you that. We asked the folks at the Balloon Museum and they were clueless. The phone book was no help. Finally found a place with a bus stop and called the number. They were very little help, either, but we eventually got back to our hotel via bus and walking, got the car and then went to get the bikes. The hotel was full of people that we knew, but only one that we knew a phone number for, and she didn't answer. None of them would have been in their rooms because we were there for a conference that son and I had skipped out on for a ride.

The second incident was when I was 15, and I was riding my bike home about 5 miles, after playing tennis. A guy followed me, and he'd pull up ahead, turn around in a side street, wait for me to pass, and then come out and follow me some more. We were still on party lines then, so no cell phones! The road was not deserted--houses here and there, and light traffic as I got out of town. I was afraid to pull into the only house I knew--a girl in my class lived there, and I didn't want the perv to think I lived there and get to her. I lived on a big hill. He climbed the hill in front of me, and I knew he couldn't turn around for about half a mile, unless he pulled in a driveway, which he hadn't done, yet--kept using streets. So I let him think I was climbing the hill and as soon as he was out of sight over the hill, I cut across to the neighbor's house just before mine. He still couldn't see me. I took my bike to the back of the well house and threw it down in a gully, then hid behind the well house. I saw him going down the hill, then I saw him drive back and forth a couple of times. When he finally left, I ran inside and called my mom at work and she came home. Oh, at some point I got his plate number and we found out his name, that he was probably a college student in one of the three colleges in town, but I never saw him again. It didn't appear that he had any clothes on, but this was the '70s and he may have had some short running shorts on. I tried not to look.

I could have asked for help during that situation, but I really didn't want the guy to see me interacting with anyone, and then think that I lived there. I just wanted to disappear from view. It would have been pretty audacious for him to grab me off my bike in broad daylight, in front of houses, with cars going by (this was 1976?)--although I know it happens. He was probably waiting for me to get out in the less populated area, which was about a mile beyond my house, leading down to the river. Or maybe he was just enjoying the view? I dunno. But I think I did the right thing, even knowing what I know now.

Even after all that, I'm a pretty trusting person. I like to think people want to help, if you're not asking too much. So far that has been my experience...

Karen

**newfsmith** · 06-15-2008, 05:29 AM

The only time I've actually been stranded was on day I set out to ride to Onset which is about 80 miles from home. It was mid summer, after a long, dry spell so the roads had lots of glass, safety pins, & staples. After 3 flats, I had run out of spare tubes, so when I got the 4th flat I gave up even though I could have put patches on the 3 tubes and continued. I was just tired of changing tubes. Fortunately, Dan did answer my cell phone call and came to get me. While I waited for him, 4 other cyclists passed by, 3 of them stopped to check on me and I think the 4th really didn't see me since I had moved well back from the edge of the road.

**SouthernBelle** · 06-15-2008, 06:16 AM

Since I ride by myself a lot, I too try to always remember my cell. & I have called a cab when I had no spare and my tube wasn't patchable. I also now have a BWC membership and have the card in my saddlebag though I haven't had to use it yet.

Last Monday I had a flat about a mile or 2 from home. I was being affected by the heat, so I decided to walk it and change the flat at home. I walked by a house where a guy was mowing. He pulled up a minute later in his jeep. He stopped mowing and came to get me and take me home. (Advantage of small town living! I didn't hesitate).

3 years ago now was when I crashed and cracked my ribs. I really didn't realize how badly I was hurt and probably should have gone to the ER. But another nice man loaded up me and the bike and took me home.

Being a good Southern girl, I have relied upon the kindness of strangers.

**indigoiis** · 06-15-2008, 07:37 AM

It hasn't happened to me cycling, but it did happen to me hiking. About eight years ago, I had planned a trip up to NH to hike with friends but everyone ended up not being able to go at the last minute. I went anyway and car-camped overnight at Lafayette Place campground. Sat. a.m. I went up to do the Franconia ridge trail. I got above treeline and was unprepared - a storm came through and the wind was whipping me about the exposed ridge. I had plastic sandwich bags from my lunch and I used them for mittens and had on a polar fleece jacket, cargo pants and a thin windbreaker. I had an ace bandage in my backpack and some med. tape (nice that I carried first aid but no extra clothes, right?) and so taped the medical wrap around my head for a hat. I got to the top of one of the peaks - I think Lafayette - where there is a stone shelter and saw someone else in the stone shelter. You have to do a little exposed climb up to the shelter and I was seriously thinking I was going to be blown right off the mountain. I finally got in behind a wall and sat down and started crying - very scared. Two guys were there and they gave me a hat and a poncho, and then it was only a mile or so down to the hut. I stuck with them to the hut and then returned their gear and hiked the rest of the way down alone, soaking wet.

On my bike for long rides, I now bring a wool hat (you never know), a pair of cheapy chinese slippers (easier to walk in than cleat shoes and pack very easy into a bike bag as they fold up) and a poncho (folds up very tiny as well.) I know there will come a time I will have to walk. And I don't go without cell phone... too many creepoids out there.