Yes, There Are Angels Out on the Road Sometimes
Last Updated: September 5, 2025 Quick Take: On a scorching ride home, a friendly neighbor turned his garden hose on me as I passed. That unexpected rush of cold water lifted my spirits and made the last miles easier. Yes, There Are Angels Out on the Road Sometimes I’ve been out on some long, brutal training rides before. You know the kind—heat pressing down, legs dead, every mile heavier than the last. By the time I hit the neighborhoods closer to home, I’m usually counting the pedal strokes and wishing for a breeze. One day stands out clear in my memory. It was a scorcher, and I was cooked. I turned a corner and spotted a man in his front yard, garden hose in hand as he washed his car. He saw me coming, grinned, and without a word turned that hose on me as I rolled by. What a rush of refreshment. Cold water, right when I needed it most. My spirits lifted instantly, and suddenly the last few miles didn’t feel impossible anymore. It’s moments like that...
