WATERFORD — Eliza Dagostino has ridden her bicycle thousands of miles, including from Israel to England, and never gotten a flat tire.

On Tuesday morning, a mile from the North Waterford Congregational Church where the BikeMaine rider from Northampton, Mass., was to have lunch with more than 300 other riders, she had a flat.

For 35 years, her husband rode with her, taking care of the problems, she said. He’s since passed away.

“I’ve never changed a tire in my life,” she said.

That was until Wednesday, when she met BikeMaine participant Jim Shettebak of Kentucky.

“I’m never going to forget him. He’s my angel,” Dagostino said as the two sat on the church lawn fixing the tire for the next leg of the weeklong trip.

BikeMaine is a seven-day cycling tour held in mid-September. Cyclists pedal an average of 55 miles a day through small towns like Waterford.

This year’s 349-mile ride began Saturday, Sept. 12, in Kittery and ends Saturday, Sept. 19, in Kennebunk. A 45-mile leg goes from Bridgton through Lovell and on to Bethel for a two-day layover.

The 1860 North Waterford Congregational Church, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, provided the group with a spot to eat lunch, relax and, if necessary, fix a flat tire.

“What’s your name again?” Dagostino asked Shettebak. “I’m going to buy you a drink tonight.”

ldixon@sunmediagroup.net