The bike ride was just for fun and exercise. I was planning to cycle 28km north and take the train back, but the southbound train was cancelled, so I ended up cycling all the way.
As for talking to strangers, I just talk to people. It’s what I do.
To give an example, a couple was making their way though a crowded train. I asked if they were getting off at the station too, which turned into us walking to the same platform and finding we’d missed the connecting train. We ended up walking around town for an hour and they explained some of the local history to me, along with talking about the weather and the world. The guy’s brother lives two blocks away from me - Small world!
Then there was a guy on the train and I asked if I could sit across from him. We ended up talking for the rest of the train ride. The lady sitting across from us overheard us talking about computers and managed to ask us a couple of questions about making a website. We all ended up exchanging numbers and offered that she could call us any time if she had any more questions.
Then I also did the classics, approach a guy sitting alone at the counter of a bar, and another sitting alone at the counter of a café.
You just ignite a spark and find that some people are happy to respond and keep the conversation going. Other times they signal that they don’t wanna talk at all, so I just let them be. :)