Acts of cycling stupidity

Only recently remembered an incident several years ago. One freezing cold winter morning I was out for a training ride and saw another rider — in shorts and short-sleeved jersey — standing disconsolately by the road.

“You OK?” I shouted.

“Can I borrow your gloves?” he called back. I stopped.

“I’ve punctured, and my hands are too cold to change the tube,” he said. “Can I wear your gloves for a bit to warm them up?

Seemed a bit odd, but I said OK. He put my gloves on, I tucked my hands in my armpits, and we stood together on the frosty verge.

After about 10 minutes of awkward conversation, he said, “To be honest I was hoping you’d just offer to change the tube for me.”

“I know,” I said.