Originally Posted by 52telecaster

coal rolling is when a diesel pickup truck by means that i dont understand makes a huge cloud of soot, preferably engulfing the cyclist. i dont know how they do it but this driver thought he was really funny when he did it to me.

Originally Posted by debade

This got me thinking. We (wife) documented most of these in our blog. This is off the top of my head:

- A couple pulled over to help us when we were stuck on the side of the road (happen to be a freeway). While they had no tools, they provided chocolate bars. Coincidentally, it was my wife's birthday.
- On another tour, we got into a conversation with a person at the next table. When he learned where we were headed, he insisted (demanded) that he take us past the location where a touring cyclist was hit by a car and killed. He loaded our bikes into his pick-up and he took us several miles down the road. A motivating factor for his insistence is that he had lunch with the cyclist the day he was killed.
- We had a nice conversation with a man at a convenience store during a rest stop. Shortly after leaving the store, a car pulls a bit in front of us and the same man gets out of the car. He really wanted us to enjoy our tour. He insisted we take $20 to make our tour better
- In a couple of incidences during storms: 1) the employees at a convenience store set up a floor heater in the back and let us dry out. 2) Drivers pulled off the road and asked us if we wanted to load our bikes on the back of the pick-up to get out of a terrible storm.
- On at least two occasions, strangers were so impressed with our tour, they bought us lunch.
- When my wife had an accident, a ton of amazing stuff happen. A stranger took her to the hospital because the ambulance took a long time. During the same incident, a group of recreation cyclists watched all our stuff and made sure it found its way to the local police station. Then our WS hosts picked us up (about 45 minutes one way by car from their house to the hospital) and allowed us to stay for one additional recovery day)
- On several occasions, bike shops went out of their way to get us on the road. Typically moving us first in the repair line.
- I bent a rim in a sewer grate. Some local guys volunteered to help by beating it with a rubber mallet but it did not work. We were sitting on a town bench trying to figure out our next steps. We knew the bike shop was about 25 miles behind us. At about that time, a couple walked by and asked if we were OK. We told them the story and the man said, I am really tired of shopping. Would you like a ride back to the bike store? I called the bike store and he said it would take a while but he would try to help. At that point, I thought I would get to the bike store and hitch back to the town. But, the bike store found a suitable wheel. My ride waited and we were back on our way.

This was a great walk down memory lane. And, there is still more but a good time to stop.

Originally Posted by TulsaJohn

I have found that in my worldwide travels (~45 countries) that people are generally nice, curious about others, and basically just want to live life in peace. Vast majority just want to raise their family/live in health and safety and without fear, earn a living, have peace, enjoy life with their neighbors/fellow citizens, and not be hassled by their governments. To me, it is the government leaders and/or policies that GENERALLY (not always) cause the international problems, not groups of people or individuals (except government leaders).

I have also found that almost universally, people think their regional/border neighbors are worse than they are, i.e. be wary of the New Yorkers (if from the plains) or the Southerners if from anywhere else. Guatemalans say to be cautious of the Mexicans (and vice versus), etc. I don't think I have ever found a particular region to live up to its bad reputation, except may Pedro San Sula, Honduras (even the locals said it was pretty bad) a few years ago.

Originally Posted by TallTourist

I'm going to try and skip Honduras too. I've never heard anything good about it...

Originally Posted by mev

For what it is worth, Honduras was probably my favorite Central American country in my recent travels. Some of this had to do with the routing (stayed higher and hence cooler than my routes through Panama and Costa Rica), some had to do with being just slightly less hectic than Guatemala (perhaps also some routing). However, overall, reasonable smaller roads and friendly people.

I posted a longer reply to this string about some of my learnings...and included links to my "reflections/retrospectives" I had done for five of my longer tours. Apparently, that caused it to be marked as spam so I won't do that again...

Here for example was the one for Russia: ********************?, epilogue to the trip ? Amsterdam to Vladivostok

Here was the one for Africa: Cape Town Rest days, a few notes/tips reflecting on the trip | A bicycle ride across Africa

Here were the Americas: SCC to USH, reflections from the trip - A bicycle ride across the Americas

Originally Posted by TallTourist

Wow, that's the kind of driving that gets a guy a rock in the windshield, haha. I can't believe one guy was dumb enough to come back twice! You definitely have more restraint than me. I'd have had a surprise for him on round two.

FWIW I think that exhaust, if I remember correctly, is partially burned diesel from when too much fuel is introduced into the cylinders before the air volume is increased. Not good stuff to breathe in, that's for sure :/

Originally Posted by TallTourist

Interesting perspectives there.

I'd love to do more backroad riding but 'm currently running 35-622 tires and a really crummy saddle. My last backroad experience was rather painful. Maybe once I can get fatter tires and a Brooks saddle I will get more adventurous

Originally Posted by Leebo

The same redneck rolling coal might have some protection as well. FYI.

Originally Posted by Leebo

There's a reason why a 29er with say 2.3 to 3.0" tires are great for touring and mixed use bikepacking. All day comfort on different surfaces.

Originally Posted by TallTourist

Sure, but that's no reason not to stand up to a bully IMO. I liken it to this: if there's a dog that weighs 5 lbs and someone wants to tease it or whatever but the dog is vicious and bites its tormentor, what do you think is the most likely outcome? Probably the person bothering the dog will respect it (if only begrudgingly) and leave it alone.

When in your life have you stood up to a bully and had it turn out worse? For me, never. And I've had a lot of people try to scare me or aggravate me. Ironically we usually end up being buddies (if I see them regularly) after whatever needs to happen happens or I can sense a begrudging respect; it's exactly like dealing with highschool bullies...really quite comical.

YMMV obviously but my attitude has gotten me out of a ton of dodgy situations.

I guess if that fails you can always stop and brew up a coffee beside a telephone pole...good luck running someone over then, haha.

Originally Posted by TiHabanero

This reminds me of the day I found a voice. 6th grade. Every day walking home from school this kid picked on me and as I was taught, I dutifully ignored it and quickened my pace. Then my oldest brother told me to challenge him, and I did. The kid backed down and never bothered me again. Never have I backed down since. Of course you must be wise enough to pick the battle, too. 6000 pound SUV's win every time.

Years later this kid was on the front page news headed for jail. Dealing dope. What an idiot.