Cyclist has a spill

I needed to stop and put on some more rain gear, and I just passed 2 cyclists before pulling off the road.

Pulling on rain pants over riding pants and muddy boots is one of my least favorite rituals.

After several minutes of grunting, groaning, and holding onto the bike to keep from falling over, I wondered why the cyclists hadn't passed me.

When I looked back, I saw bikes on the road and one of the cyclists was lying on the grass and being comforted by the other.

I walked over to see if I could help.

They were college students on a bike tour, and as they were trying to ride on the shoulder of the highway, trucks were passing only a couple of feet away, and the width of the shoulder was decreasing.

Finally one of the women got too close to the edge of the pavement and dropped off, causing her to tumble over the bike and scrape her knee.

I was glad I was able to assist by... umm... talking with them while one bandaged the other.

She had a lot more first aid gear than I did, and seemed to know how to use it, so I bid them farewell.

Actually, my boot covers could use some first aid, but I didn't ask.