When a $5 bike becomes a $6000 winner, and more

When a $5 bike becomes a $6000 winner

Greg Estes recently purchased a bike with two flat tires at a garage sale, shelling out all of $5. But after locating the manufacturer, the 38-year Owenton, Ky., man realized he had just purchased a custom-built bike that was made for cycling star Floyd Landis. Landis used it in the 2007 Leadville 100, a mountain bike race in Colorado. (It’s not clear how it ended up in the yard sale.) “It’s a Cadillac of bicycles,” said Estes. “It’s just unreal how good it rides.” The bike is worth about $6,000, not taking into account its famous pedigree.

Amputee veterans conquer Mt. Kilimanjaro

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Three U.S. veterans have conquered Mount Kilimanjaro—with only one good leg among them. Dan Nevins, 39, and Neil Duncan, 26, each lost both their legs, in Iraq and Afghanistan, respectively. Kirk Bauer, 62, lost one leg in Vietnam, in 1969. All use prostheses. They hiked to the top of Africa’s highest peak, at 19,330 feet, to show that disability need not lead to inactivity. “If three amputees from three different wars and two different generations with literally one good leg can climb Kilimanjaro,” said Bauer, “our other disabled friends can get out and go hiking or go biking or swim a mile, can get out and lead a healthy life.”

Executive loans homeless man her credit card

Merrie Harris, an executive with a Manhattan advertising agency, wanted to help a homeless man she encountered last week, but she didn’t have any cash on her. So she lent him her American Express card. “Everybody said they thought that was the dumbest thing,” said Harris, “that there’s a fine line between charity and stupidity.” But after 10 minutes, her trust was validated when the unidentified man returned with her card, having purchased a bottle of water. “I gave him a hug,” recounted Harris, who volunteers at a homeless shelter. “I said, ‘I knew you were coming back.’”