Valuable Lesson Learnt

[Caerus]

So there I was enjoying my bike ride this morning, on a stunning day in Cape Town when I got a puncture for the first time in years, this happened as I was forced off the road by a car at the turning circle at Tableview.

 

So I send an SOS message to a mate when second disaster strikes, my phone dies( Lesson 1). So not only have I sent out a mayday call of "please help", now my phone is off and I have a mate worrying about me.

 

At this stage about 20-25 people cycled past me and not one asked if I was OK or required help. Yes, I realise I was stupid( Lesson 2) not to have taken any spares this morning, but I was in such a rush to cycle with not a breath of wind this morning.

 

So I took the decision, thinking it would be easier to run on the beach barefoot back to Woodbridge Island then on the cycle path in my shoes. I also assumed it would be quicker, boy was I wrong. So off I go, pushing/ carrying my bike, in full cycling kit along the beach. People I saw must of thought I was crazy

 

In all the run took me an hour, and was a total of 7km, this after I had already done 40km on the bike. So now, my feet feel like I've been walking on crushed glass, my calves are killing me, but I kind of enjoyed it.

 

So a few valuable lesson learnt, always carry spares, I normally always have on me, make sure your phone is properly charged and that cyclists can be so self absorbed and unhelpful its frighting.

 

To the folks that didn't bother to ask if I needed help or assistance, karma will bite you on the bum and may you be infested with the fleas of a thousand camels

[Kritzie]

Why did you not ask for help

[Caerus]

Why did you not ask for help

I did, but after the 5, 6, 7 or so person that went past and ignored me, I had to make a decision. I needed to get into work asap, so was stuck between a rock and a hard place. At the same time, I'm sitting on the side of the road bike upside down, you would think someone would also ask.

[Wil6]

So there I was enjoying my bike ride this morning, on a stunning day in Cape Town

With 20 people cycling past you without offering help, you might have the wrong impression about CT Edited November 22, 2013 by Wil6

[M L]

I did, but after the 5, 6, 7 or so person that went past and ignored me, I had to make a decision. I needed to get into work asap, so was stuck between a rock and a hard place. At the same time, I'm sitting on the side of the road bike upside down, you would think someone would also ask.

Pffft, roadies

[Pappa Bear]

Did you phone your mate yet to say you are OK??

[StevieL]

I did, but after the 5, 6, 7 or so person that went past and ignored me,

 

Yussy, typical Capetonians...

[Cav']

If you were in pretoria someone would've stopped their bakkie, put your bike at the back and ask: So waarheen vat ek jou.

 

Unless you were wearing pink

 

[Slowbee]

if you were in lycra you should have just bent over ..... *dive, grab coat, tuck, grab keys, roll, open door* gone ...

[Caerus]

With 20 people cycling past you without offering help, you might have the wrong impression about CT

I did ask a couple people, but they didn't have anything either. I realise I have no one else but myself to blame.

[Caerus]

Did you phone your mate yet to say you are OK??

Yip, he was stressing out. Thought I had been mugged or kidnapped or something. We going for a beer after work

[Hairy]

So there I was enjoying my bike ride this morning, on a stunning day in Cape Town when I got a puncture for the first time in years, this happened as I was forced off the road by a car at the turning circle at Tableview.

 

So I send an SOS message to a mate when second disaster strikes, my phone dies( Lesson 1). So not only have I sent out a mayday call of "please help", now my phone is off and I have a mate worrying about me.

 

At this stage about 20-25 people cycled past me and not one asked if I was OK or required help. Yes, I realise I was stupid( Lesson 2) not to have taken any spares this morning, but I was in such a rush to cycle with not a breath of wind this morning.

 

So I took the decision, thinking it would be easier to run on the beach barefoot back to Woodbridge Island then on the cycle path in my shoes. I also assumed it would be quicker, boy was I wrong. So off I go, pushing/ carrying my bike, in full cycling kit along the beach. People I saw must of thought I was crazy

 

In all the run took me an hour, and was a total of 7km, this after I had already done 40km on the bike. So now, my feet feel like I've been walking on crushed glass, my calves are killing me, but I kind of enjoyed it.

 

So a few valuable lesson learnt, always carry spares, I normally always have on me, make sure your phone is properly charged and that cyclists can be so self absorbed and unhelpful its frighting.

 

To the folks that didn't bother to ask if I needed help or assistance, karma will bite you on the bum and may you be infested with the fleas of a thousand camels

Ai dude .. our group of riders ALWAYS ask peeps on the side of the road if they need help ... this covers motorcyclists, motorists, etc.

[LRW]

I think its a northern suburbs/southern suburbs thing (im from the north)......SS guys seem to have something against stopping/greeting etc

 

ive stopped to help guys already......gave a youngster a tube out on bottelary.....

 

then 2 weeks ago....out noordhoek side, got a guy cycling on a flat wheel...stopped to ask if hes ok....he said hed just come from misty cliffs side!!!!...on that flat. Everyone went past him too...no questions about "'are you ok"!!!

 

he was all out of tubes and bombs (used up everything...couldnt get wheel fixed)....so gave him a tube and bomb...got him sorted (hell man...the stuff is cheap anyway).....rode with him to top of suikerbossie ...he stayed around there somewhere........

[Hairy]

C ... pm me and add me to your contact list as I am on that route everyday and might well not be far from you when you could be in trouble again.

[Madlight]

Pity your timing was out, I always carry 2 spares and ride along there nearly every day. Had a flat yesterday and 5 guys asked if I was OK.

[DJR]

Ai dude .. our group of riders ALWAYS ask peeps on the side of the road if they need help ... this covers motorcyclists, motorists, etc.

 

I once helped a driver to push start his car that had a flat battery. Not easy when wearing cycling shoes, I ended up falling on my face and we both had a good laugh at my expense. I like to think that he now has a somewhat better view of lycra clad clowns with funny headwear.