Watching out for each other

I was out walking our wonderful pooch yesterday, enjoying the sunshine and catching up on podcasts. At the end of one of the episodes, the narrator is talking about fixing a flat tire, and it made me think about being broken down on the side of the road.

When riding along, it is not uncommon to see another cyclist at the side of the road. Many are just taking a break, but others are trying to fix something that has gone wrong - a flat tire, a dropped chain, trying to locate that ticking noise, etc. An upside-down bicycle is a sure sign something is wrong. If it is a group ride with other cyclists on the road, it won't be a minute before you hear "Are you doing OK? Do you have everything you need?"

On the bigger rides, there are inexperienced cyclists who may not know exactly what to do or have the right tools to make the repair. Even experienced riders may need a hand if they have already run across several problems and are simply out of supplies (or patience). 99 times out of 100 they will smile and wave you on, but I've pulled up to others that were frustrated, confused and welcomed a helpful hand. It is a supportive community and you are rarely out there all alone.

What a wonderful question, "Are you doing OK? Do you have everything you need?", and how great would it be to hear it sometimes when you're feeling a little broken down. 99 times out of 100 your response would be "I'm fine" even if you weren't, but just hearing the question may be enough to help get you right-side-up again.