Have you ever been stranded?

[newfsmith]

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]

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]

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.

[Trek420]

Knock on helmet never since then but happened long ago, '98 I think posted on the bottom of this thread:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=3943

[elk]

what's BWC?

[Trek420]

Better World Club? It's like AAA for bikes they cover cars too

[indigoiis]

what's BWC?

Better World Club - like AAA but includes bicycles. And is far greener.

[makbike]

I took my brand new bike out for a ride only to have the chain snap in two. I was about 7 miles out on some very rural roads. I had my cell phone with me but the people I typically would use as emergency contacts were either out of town or working. The weather was nice so I started walking back to the main road thinking at some point a farmer would pass me and stop and offer me a ride (surely they would know something was wrong if I was walking my bike- wrong assumption!). Several people did pass me and they just kept going so I kept walking. When I finally reached the main road (about 1.5 miles from my house) my neighbor passed me, turned around and came back to see if something was wrong (she picked up on the fact I was pushing my bike not riding it). She offered me a ride home which I gladly accepted given my feet really hurt.