Ironman Santa Rosa volunteer gives tire off own bike to competitor sidelined by popped tire

The Ironman Santa Rosa triathlon was far from over, except for the guy out on Highway 128 in Alexander Valley with a permanently deflated bike tire.

Competitor DeShon Davis of Southern California sat at the side of the highway when there appeared just the man he needed.

Rick Bates, an off-duty sergeant with the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, was pedaling the Ironman course as a volunteer. He and other members of the Roving Bike Support Team watched for riders in need of a quick repair or other assistance.

Bates, himself an Ironman veteran, saw at once that Davis was having a bad day. His bike's front tire, of the type known as a tubular or sew-up, was punctured and beyond repair.

“Once they pop, you're pretty much done,” Bates said.

Bates knew that if Davis, who'd already swum 2.4 miles at Lake Sonoma, did not finish the 112-mile bike race he wouldn't qualify to compete in the concluding 26.2-mile marathon in Santa Rosa or advance in Ironman standings.

There was just one thing to do. And Bates did it.

He removed the front tire and wheel from his own bicycle, and he and Davis installed it on Davis' bike.

“I've done that race,” the sergeant said. “I've finished Ironman and I wanted others to have that experience. I'd hope somebody would do the same for me.”

As the grateful athlete pedaled off, Bates used his cellphone to arrange for himself and his no longer rideable bike to be picked up.

Hours later, he and Davis reconnected in downtown Santa Rosa to swap triathlon stories and also front tires and wheels.

You can reach Chris Smith at 707-521-5211 or chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.