An incedent today made me think, I always stop or ask if help is needed if I see a rider in trouble, rarely get asked for help but surely it’s the nice thing to do?
Out on my own at QECP this afternoon, dropped into a section called Snakes and Ladders and my front tyre burped all it’s air out, high siding me over a berm. A rider had been waiting at the entrance to the trail, and he passed me as I was picking myself up, wondering what had just happened. No acknowledgment from him, not even eye contact.
Sat by side of trail, covered in mud and a bit of blood from a cut on my arm. Tried to reinflate tyre but had to admit defeat and fit a tube. While I had the front wheel out, struggling to clear the mud and get the tubeless valve out a group of 3 riders passed me, once again not even eye contact. I was able to sort the problem and continue with my ride, and indeed the only help they may have been able to offer would have been words of sympathy or encouragement but what if it had been worse, or I hadn’t been self sufficient?
The group of 3 had grumbled at me earlier too, when I overtook them as they walked their bikes up a climb. Guess riding it on a ss when they couldn’t with gears had pissed them off….
Am I just being a bit sensitive because I had a tumble and had to faff with a muddy bike, or were they a bit rude/selfish not checking if I was alright?