Stupidity....WWYD?

[GLC1968]

This is really dumb of me, but here's the story...

I have two bikes. One for 'fast' rides (Isis) and one for my commute (Greta). I have a hand pump that lives on my Isis that I pull off and throw into the trunk or strap to the rack on Greta when I commute.

Two days ago, when I hung up the Isis I pulled off the pump in preparation for the following day's commute and set it on the hood of my car so that I wouldn't forget it. Then, the next day when I had to take the dog to the vet, I ended up not commuting by bike.

Today, when I went to put the Isis back on my car I noticed that the pump wasn't there. I then remembered where I'd left it. I thought for sure that it would have fallen off on either backing out of the garage over the hose, or when I hit the road off our steep driveway. It was in neither place. I put my husband's pump in the same place on my hood and tried it, and sure enough, it stayed put.

So, on the way in this morning, I did my best to scan the road every place I might have had oportunity to make a sharp turn or hit some bumps. No pump.

I get to the highway portion of my drive and figure that either I'd missed seeing it, or some other lucky cyclist picked it up. I was about to stop scanning for it when I saw it...on the edge of the road near the median.

Crap!

So the question is this....should I go get it tonight? There is no place to pull over on the median, so I'd have to park on the right shoulder and cross the 3 lanes of traffic to get it. This morning it was way too busy to consider it, but at night, the road can be virtually barren of cars. Should I do it?

I can't decide if it is worth the effort/danger or not. I will say that it will kill me to see it there every morning that I drive to work as I'm sure it's not going anywhere anytime soon!

Damn...and I really like that pump too! It's not the cost (it was like a $30 pump) but I hate that I lost it being so incredibly stupid.

[Pax]

How much is your ER co-pay?

[Susan126]

GLC1968,

Go out and treat yourself to a new pump and while your buying that pump treat yourself to a new summer jersey too . . . No pump is worth the risk of crossing a three lane highway, especially at night! Just chalk this one up to lesson learned, and try and remember the pump on hood of car next time!

Hey we've all done dumb things. We're human, we're allowed!

Sue

[bike4ever]

My suggestion is to get two pumps - 1 for each bike. That way you won't have to worry about moving it from bike to bike.

[mimitabby]

I dont' know how bad the traffic is there; but if it's like I-5 (heavy traffic
nearly always) there's no way you could induce me to go to the median to pick something up. It's a death sentence for sure!

Then on the other hand, there's a road right outside my office here; 3 lanes each way, light traffic. I'd walk into the middle of that street and pick up something in the median.

[KnottedYet]

Buy two pumps, and smile every day at the one in the median as you go by.

Or: buy one pump, and call the DOT and let them know where your first pump is and ask them if they could retrieve it for you. Then you'll have 2 pumps, DOT will have a funny story to tell, and you won't be seeing your pump in the median every day.

[madscot13]

I will be the voice of lack of reason: Go get the pump at day break if it means a lot to you. If you can see a far distance to where the cars are coming from and don't mind a sprint.

However, this is coming from the girl who jumped the subway tracks, went home with a stranger because she was trapped in Berlin (who gets trapped in Berlin), spent multple nights in airports and train stations, and lived to tell the tale but not to her parents.

now that you know what kind of person I am you may want to listen to the others.

[KnottedYet]

DOT would rather go get your pump for you, than be throwing down sawdust and blood spill kits and cleaning up your splattered body parts from the roadway.

Hey, that's why we pay taxes!

[GLC1968]

I'm definitely going to get 2 pumps...something I've been meaning to do for months now!

There's not THAT much traffic when it's not rush hour...it is Greensboro we're talking about here!

I'm still torn. I don't think I'll be risking my life, really.... but it is nerve wracking. Perhaps we'll drive out there and pull over and just see how scary it is?

[SadieKate]

A pump and a tool kit for each bike. That way you have the right size tube and any critical tool needed specifically for that bike at all times.

Me? I'd buy a pump.

And I couldn't ask the DOT to risk their lives for a pump either. I think I'd die of the humiliation of their laughter.

[anakiwa]

I have a pump, toolkit, and spare tube on every bike. It may be silly, but it's worth not having to think about it.

[Triskeliongirl]

I keep a separate flat kit on each bike. I wouldn't risk crossing the traffic to fetch it, just not worth the risk, just buy a new pump (or 2). You could also consider C02, unless I am traveling and really on my own I use C02, its lighter and easier to use.

[GLC1968]

Yep, I've got the seperate tool kits and spare tubes (a necessity since I have 3 different tires sizes!)...I just hadn't bought the second pump yet.

Now it looks like I'll be buying 2!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Call the local police or the highway dept- I'm sure they'd be happy to do a good deed- perhaps they could leave it someplace nearby in your name for you to pick up.

[GLC1968]

UPDATE!

Last night, I was driving home around 8 pm (after riding with a friend near work) and I was watching the traffic on the opposite side (where my pump was). It was consistently a big bunch of cars, a big open space, a big bunch of cars, etc. I decided to get off my exit, and then get back on again to see if I felt safe enough to give it a try. When I parked across from where the pump was, I discovered that I had a LONG view behind me (I was on a rise and could see well into the distance). I waited with my flashers on for a minute or two and then I got my chance...a big open space.

I jumped out of my car, ran across the road, grabbed the pump, ran back, got into my car, and was ready to drive long before the car in the distance even reached me.

YAY!!! I got my pump back!! (and I ordered another one for my other bike!)