I pretty much will always offer help to another rider. I used to drive with a pump, patch kit and a couple spare tubes in my car in case I ever came across a rider in need.
I carry a patch kit, pump, tools, etc. I always ask if a cyclist needs help when one is stopped. It is one of the things I like about cycling and cyclists. Help is generally available and friendly.
If the cyclist doesn't even carry a patch kit, they probably don't know how to patch a tube and the "Good Samaritan" will end up doing all the repairs and not have a patch for the next time he needs one. If it's a kid or an elderly person, that's one thing, but there is no excuse for a grown adult to just sit on the side of the road with a flat tire. Start walking bud, and you'll garnish a lot more sympathy from me.
@GR - that's happened to me too! I was on the Los Gatos Creek Trail, happened upon a cyclist in distress, offered help, he said "Dude, that would be so awesome", I opened my saddle bag and... it was empty of anything useful. So then I felt like a dirtbag for psyching this guy out like that.
@Anon 11:20 - been there, done that as well. I've been on the receiving end of that help, too, a couple of times, so I don't mind paying it forward.
I gotta say that when I help somebody they also get to know that gosh, you can be a lot more independent if you have the stuff (with that implied "like, grow up, dude!") -- that if you're going to wear the Big Girl Pants you should bring the Big Girl Patches :P ... a frame pump's a little more involved, but that's a loan thing. You should have your own stuff. Now, kids & elderly... that's profiling. Any age & size has a right to be a newbie & for me not to pass judgment.
Of course! I've been on both ends; I've helped riders with flats, and I've been helped by fellow cyclists when I've been caught without a pump. (Doh!) It's one of the things that I think makes riding a bike so wonderful...the connection to others out there on the road. I don't see drivers pulling over so much to help each other, that seems to be left to the "professionals" like AAA.
...i generally ask roadside cyclist's if they're ok & around here the reply is usually "i'm good, thanks !!!"...
...i have given mtb tubes away up in the hills when i knew i was close to being home w/ the only caveat being, "please do the same for someone else when it's needed"...of course, now that i'm up there on a cyclo-cross bike, there's only a few i could extend the offer to...
...once on july 4th, i was headed down for a party 10 miles away & immediately got a flat a mile from home...changed it out, thought "be nice to have another spare but i hardly ever get flats, so no worries"...
...hah !!!...mile n' a half from my destination 'psssssst'...patch kit, yep, dried out (hey, i did say i hardly ever get flats) & guess what ???...there ain't a bike shop open in all of america on july 4th...
...wasn't about to walk a mile n' a half in sidis, so i stuck my thumb out headed for home...a good (great) soul came along w/ a bike rack even...went way out a' his way to drop me off at my door...
...took that long to explain to his young son why they were helping this 'clue nada' cyclist get home...
...certainly felt like i got paid back many times over for anything i've given away...
On long group rides I generally carry 2 spares. It's not worth leaving someone behind because of the unexpected. I usually don't carry any repair gear for commuting, but it's easy enough to grab a bus or walk.
10 comments:
I pretty much will always offer help to another rider. I used to drive with a pump, patch kit and a couple spare tubes in my car in case I ever came across a rider in need.
I carry a patch kit, pump, tools, etc. I always ask if a cyclist needs help when one is stopped. It is one of the things I like about cycling and cyclists. Help is generally available and friendly.
If the cyclist doesn't even carry a patch kit, they probably don't know how to patch a tube and the "Good Samaritan" will end up doing all the repairs and not have a patch for the next time he needs one. If it's a kid or an elderly person, that's one thing, but there is no excuse for a grown adult to just sit on the side of the road with a flat tire. Start walking bud, and you'll garnish a lot more sympathy from me.
nothing like some forced high five-ing to make me feel ill.
I carry extras so I can help out a fellow cyclist.
But, the last time I ran across a cyclist in need, I had NO tools or patches with me. Bummer.
@GR - that's happened to me too! I was on the Los Gatos Creek Trail, happened upon a cyclist in distress, offered help, he said "Dude, that would be so awesome", I opened my saddle bag and... it was empty of anything useful. So then I felt like a dirtbag for psyching this guy out like that.
@Anon 11:20 - been there, done that as well. I've been on the receiving end of that help, too, a couple of times, so I don't mind paying it forward.
I gotta say that when I help somebody they also get to know that gosh, you can be a lot more independent if you have the stuff (with that implied "like, grow up, dude!") -- that if you're going to wear the Big Girl Pants you should bring the Big Girl Patches :P ... a frame pump's a little more involved, but that's a loan thing. You should have your own stuff.
Now, kids & elderly... that's profiling. Any age & size has a right to be a newbie & for me not to pass judgment.
Of course! I've been on both ends; I've helped riders with flats, and I've been helped by fellow cyclists when I've been caught without a pump. (Doh!) It's one of the things that I think makes riding a bike so wonderful...the connection to others out there on the road. I don't see drivers pulling over so much to help each other, that seems to be left to the "professionals" like AAA.
...i generally ask roadside cyclist's if they're ok & around here the reply is usually "i'm good, thanks !!!"...
...i have given mtb tubes away up in the hills when i knew i was close to being home w/ the only caveat being, "please do the same for someone else when it's needed"...of course, now that i'm up there on a cyclo-cross bike, there's only a few i could extend the offer to...
...once on july 4th, i was headed down for a party 10 miles away & immediately got a flat a mile from home...changed it out, thought "be nice to have another spare but i hardly ever get flats, so no worries"...
...hah !!!...mile n' a half from my destination 'psssssst'...patch kit, yep, dried out (hey, i did say i hardly ever get flats) & guess what ???...there ain't a bike shop open in all of america on july 4th...
...wasn't about to walk a mile n' a half in sidis, so i stuck my thumb out headed for home...a good (great) soul came along w/ a bike rack even...went way out a' his way to drop me off at my door...
...took that long to explain to his young son why they were helping this 'clue nada' cyclist get home...
...certainly felt like i got paid back many times over for anything i've given away...
On long group rides I generally carry 2 spares. It's not worth leaving someone behind because of the unexpected. I usually don't carry any repair gear for commuting, but it's easy enough to grab a bus or walk.
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