A True Lifesaver: A Fellow Cyclist's Act of Kindness
The Ride Begins:
I was on day 11 of a 12 day tour from the Oklahoma-Texas border to South Padre Island. This was going to be my most difficult day. It was a little more than 80 miles, which isn't bad, and it was a flat ride, which is very good. What made it bad? There was a 60 mike stretch with absolutely no water resources available. Making matters worse was the weather forecast. It was going to climb up over 110 degrees in the mid-afternoon. I pedaled away before sunrise trying to ride as much as I could in the coolness of the morning. Little did I know, however, that this ride would test not only my physical endurance but also my resourcefulness and the kindness of others.
The Unforeseen Challenge:
Abiut 20 miles into the ride from Kingsville, I came across the last convenience store I would see until I arrive at my destination, Raymondville. I filled my water bottles, bought as many bottles as I could stuff into my trailer and even had a bottle in each of my jersey pockets. Sixty mikes doesn't seem like a huge amount of miles and I figured I probably had enough to make it. The challenge was staying hydrated in the face of extreme heat. I had no idea how bad it was about to get.
I was consuming water much faster than I had thought I needed. The sun was intense and trying to stay hydrated became a huge issue. Some of the water had to be poured over my head to keep my core temperature down. Making matters worse was the lack of places to get out the sun. About 20 miles from Raymondville, panic started to set in.
A Glimmer of Hope:
Just as despair was threatening to consume me, a car pulled up beside me, its window rolling down to reveal a friendly face. The driver, a fellow long-distance cyclist, had noticed me riding, hauling a trailer behind me. He knew immediately that I was on a long distance ride. Furthermore, he figured I was many days into the ride because I was so close to running out of land on my way to the Gulf.
He kindly offered me a few cold water bottles. Relief washed over me like a wave as I gratefully accepted the refreshing gift. It was a simple act of kindness that made all the difference.
A Serendipitous Meeting:
As I caught my breath and sipped the water, I struck up a conversation with the stranger who had come to my rescue. It turns out he too had experienced similar challenges during his own biking endeavors. He understood the importance of staying hydrated and recognized the signs of dehydration that were slowly creeping upon me. A shared passion for cycling had brought us together, and in that moment, we became comrades on the road.
Lessons Learned:
This unexpected encounter taught me several valuable lessons. First and foremost, it emphasized the importance of preparedness. While I had planned my route meticulously, it became clear that I should have carried even more water. I didn't think of the effect of the previous 10 days of riding and how it would play into the need for even more water. I simply was unprepared and I am lucky someone stopped to help.
Secondly, it highlighted the inherent kindness of strangers. In a world often focused on individual pursuits, this fellow cyclist went out of his way to help a stranger in need. His act of compassion rekindled my faith in humanity and served as a powerful reminder that we are all connected, even in the most unlikely of circumstances.
Lastly, this experience reinforced the power of community among cyclists. We share a unique bond—a mutual understanding of the joys and challenges that come with long-distance riding. The willingness to extend a helping hand, even to someone we've never met, speaks volumes about the camaraderie that exists within the cycling community.
My long bike ride became a testament to the resilience and compassion found in the human spirit. As I reflect on that fateful encounter, I am filled with gratitude for the fellow cyclist who recognized my plight and offered me water when I needed it most. May we all be reminded of the potential impact our acts of kindness can have on the lives of others, and may we never hesitate to extend a helping hand to those in need, regardless of how we cross paths.
I hope you liked this post enough to check out more of my blog. Here is my next blog post: Bicycle Maintenance: 3 Important Maintenance Chores to Regularly Take Care of on Your Bike
