All you had to do was wait by the roadside, bike upside down with the wheel off. Wait for a passing cyclist to call out "Are you OK" . If they are a "real" cyclist, they will stop and help. The belief is that if you help others, when you need help, there will be somebody there to help you.
I've offered to help a few times and once or twice have received help from others to get me home.
I've offered to help a few times and once or twice have received help from others to get me home.