An Act of Kindness
I went out for a ride after work last night. I did my usual pre-flight checklist and my front tire was quite soft. I had gone on a long ride on Saturday and the tire pressure was fine that day.
I looked over the tire and everything seemed fine. I inflated the pressure back up to 120 psi and waited for several minutes. No loss of pressure and I could not hear any leaks. I decided to take the bike out anyway. This is what happens when you become addicted to cycling. The tire must be okay because I want to ride.
Our home is about 300 meters up the hill from the side of the main road. I headed down with the bike and checked the tire again before I started my ride. Pressure seemed fine.
10 kilometers into the ride and there was trouble with the front wheel. Rapid loss of pressure and a lot of front-end wobble.
Pull off to the side of the road. Grabbed my bicycle pump and began inflating the tire. Perhaps I could get enough pressure in the tire to head back home.
As I started to work on the tire, a man in a large, dark van pulled up.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I was fine. Soaking wet from the sweat mind you. A little annoyed by this, the fifth flat tire of the season. But otherwise feeling pretty good.
“Just a flat tire.” I replied.
“Do you need a lift?”
For some reason, random thoughts flashed in my brain. The robot from Lost In Space yelling “Danger, Wil Robinson! Danger!”, C-3PO: “The ship has been destroyed!” and from the Pirates of the Caribbean: “Dead men tell no tales.”
“Would you mind?” I asked.
I only know the man’s first name: John. And I know that he works for the OPP. I also know a bit more about his character. A man dedicated to serving others. He drove me and my bike 10 kilometers to my home. An act of kindness.
Thank you, John.
Not quite built for your rocket, but pretty sweet bicycle tech :
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/12/15/copenhagen-wheel-mit-unveils-the-swiss-army-knife-of-bike-wheels/
Very cool indeed!