[Closed] helping another cyclist?

depends on if she was fit or not.

Of course. Have done so quite a few times - I suspect that a female MTBer is more likely to be offered help!

1st rule of Ride Club = always ask if OK if someone is off the bike.

If your pretty I'd help you, lol just kidding yeah I'd stop and ask if you were ok/needed a hand.

I'd like to think if I was struggling somebody would stop. In fact they have/did.

i always ask if riders need help. civility costs nothing

I always ask if they are alright,then at least if they don't need my help then I can carry on down the trail and not feel bad for flying passed them 🙂 Sometimes you forget to put the right tool in or they are a beginner and just need a few tips so i wouldn't see a problem with having to help someone.

thats all reassuring 🙂
i think it just puts me off a bit thinking i would have a long walk back.
but nothings actually gone wrong with my bike so far. (must be lucky:))

I always ask people if they have everything they need. Avoids denying anyone's pride. I do this everywhere, not just at trail centres.

Regardless, It's more fun to ride with other people anyway.

i stop my van as i got stuff in if i see a cyclist with punture etc and offer help

yes its more fun to ride with others, i agree. but my mates just are not into it.

I always ask if they are ok and if they have everything they need. Always.

I always ask and have stopped many times to help riders with help, tools, spares such as tubes, energy food, spare links often if i am doing a big enduro ride i will take extra tubes for other folk. I like to think that others will do the same for me one day

Always. Normally a "you alright?" or if they are in the process of fixing something "Have you got everything you need?" seems to do the trick.

Although you'll probably get a lot of positive replies on here I reckon in the real world something like a quarter of people would stop*. Some probably won't stop because they feel they lack the skills to help and some will just be bit grumpy gits.

But you are right you really should teach yourself how to do the basic get you home stuff like puncture, rejoining a chain and tightening stuff that comes loose.

* Slightly random statistic that sounded about right.

i always ask stopped riders and offer help/spares

I would ask them if they were ok and help 'em out if I could. Who wouldn't?

My normal greeting is "Allright there!" or "Allright mate!", if I see someone with a breakdown I'll slow down and make it a bit longer "_You_ allright there?" and look a bit longer at them. If someone is in obvious difficulty (physical) than I hope we'd all stop straight away.

Have to learn the basics for looking after yourself though. Do you carry a basic kit Jane? Inner tube, puncture kit, pump, chain tool, power link, allen keys. Do that, and learn to use it. Basic first aid kit as well...

I always ask ( hoping they say no)

Always stop, even when commuting.

I think my best one was when I was on the A27 dual carriageway near Brighton and a guy was pushing an old motorbike up a hill. I was in the work van and had transported my motorbike the previous day, so still had a plank for loading and tie-downs. I stopped, the guy had run out of petrol, and it was about 5 miles to the nearest petrol station, he was pretty pleased 😆

Cheers, Rich

People run out of tubes or patches (or Stan's fluid) or don't have the right tools with them - someday it will be me.

I believe in repaying your favours in advance - I always ask, stop if needed (even during the Kielder as can be vouched for - it's not like it affected my chances of winning).

I always ask. I like the diplomatic "have you got everything you need?" I'll use that from now on!

(I have been teaching a series of basic bike maintenance courses this year and it's always a warm feeling to know that there go another bunch of riders who can fix their own bikes.
(Sorry LBSs, less punctures to fix. But the way I see it, they'll be buying tubes, brake blocks and cables...))

I always check people are ok if I see them on a trail tinkering with their bikes/or perhaps lost, but then I waff to most people I see anyway as Mtber's are all one big happy family 😉

always ask...

have been asked...

have helped fix peoples bikes before and people have helped fix mine.

Kev

Always, ALWAYS ask at the very least, no matter who or what is wrong. Bikes are easy to fix usually. I had a mate come round my house when he was new to MTBing and I went through his whole bike and showed him how it worked and how to fix it. I think it helped. 🙂

I always ask and I've stopped and spent 20 minutes helping someone put a shifter back together. I'd like to think people would help me if I was stuck so I try to make sure I do the same for others

Actually, if you sit at the side of the trail with a flat or a snapped chain, I reckon you could make new friends pretty quickly.

Yes, always ask. Have done various things from lending a pump as they haven't got one, replacing snapped gear cable (yes I do carry spares) even gave someone a Park chain tool at Mountain Mayhem one year, he'd snapped his chain & didn't have a tool with him, thought it'd be better for him to finish his night lap rather than walking.

I think people will always offer help. However the trick, whether you know how to use them or not, is to carry the tools and spares you need, that way anyone can help you.

Think most mountain bikers do - generally a very friendly bunch 🙂

Cannock is my local too, I've offered to help many people but seldom see a lady in distress there. I'd certainly let her know I've got the right tools for the job and the fact that I'm devastatingly handsome will make it a pleasure for her too. 😉

Always ask

Have helped a few people

Have always been asked when I'm fixing a puncture or something

Have been helped a few times with chain repairs even though I can do it myself - often helps to have another pair of hands I find

Totally agreee with thebikechain and Jedi.
😉

Please, do not let the minor risk of a [i]mechanical[/i] get in the way of going out for a ride on your bike.

If things really did grind to a halt, then you've just got a bit of a walk back to your car, or wherever.
Its no biggie 🙂

Like most MTB'ers I've met, I ask if people need assistance, I carry far too much in the way of spares and tools 🙄
I've handed out several inner tubes along the trail which are not always returned or replaced.
But I view it as my just being a part of the MTB crowd.
I've even broken off from a ride to take people to hospital 😯
(it was their collar bone)

So, get out there and ride, you'll be fine.
😀

Why just a trail centre? Wherever I'm riding I'll offer help, and it is nice to be offered assistance in return.

Last time out at Llandegla I twisted a chain link through 90 degress, never buggered a chain so badly without breaking it before, took me & my mate between us about 15 minutes to sort as the link had got stuck in the rear mech cage, so if I had been on my own then some help would have been gratefully accepted.

[edit] I've done rides where I've forgotten to pack essentials, usually I forget to pack a pump when I'm riding on my own ( 👿 ) which is a PITA on a wet weekday in the Lakes!

I'm riding there Sunday, youre more than welcome to join me and a few others...

Drop me a line?

Yeah, always. As jedi says, I've even stopped my car before and offered the use of the track pump that lives in it.

Helped out a lost Sportive rider recently, he was stopped on a hill looking at his little printed map they'd given him so I said I'd show him the way back (it was on my way so no probs). Got to the top of the hill, looked back and he'd set off and broken his chain almost immediately. 🙄
Obviously he didn't have a chain tool so I had to lend that out too.

I don't mind helping people out but some people really don't help themselves...

I've always asked if someone needs help, usually by shouting "have you everything you need?". Given out a couple of inner tubes in the past - once in Dalby and found when I got back to the café there that the kind person had bought me a hot chocolate and cake. Karma - love it!!! 😀

Rachel

I've helped out lots of people and people have helped me. But you should be able to do it yourself, take your bike apart and put it back together - best way to learn and the insentive to do it is you can't ride it until it's rebuilt

Group hug peeps! 8) 😉

If it's a lone rider I'll always stop and ask if they need a hand altough I don't usually if they're with a group. Have contributed a few inner tubes in the past, let people use my pump many a time and on occasion repaired a broken chain and donated a split link.

It does surprise me though that some folks with otherwise decent kit will head out onto the trail with no tools etc - not even the means to fix a puncture!

I am currently 'in credit' with the 'perfectly useable/repairable tubes found hanging from tree/post and taken home from trails' versus 'other folks tubes replaced or repaired' balance.

My favourite was a dad who seemed to be holding out for his bike being irrepairable so he could stop being dragged up and down more hills by his lad. 😆

Mrs Julian is slim and pretty ( 8) ) and once had a passing policeman insisting he changed her tube despite her insisting she could quite easily do it herself. [edit] Is there an innuendo somewhere in there?

I always ask if help, have loaned tools and pump etc many a time.

However, the false offer really annoys me. I had a serious problem (pump failed) at the top of a hill once, EVERY person asked "are you OK" but not one stopped when I yelled back very loudly "NO I'M TOTALLY NOT OK CAN I BORROW YOUR PUMP PLEASE" they suddenly went deaf. This was a road race mind so perhaps roadies do the fake help offer thing.

Learn to fix the basic stuff, or just die your hair blond and strip to your bra top men are simple creatures.

Always ask and actually stop have helped a few and borrowed a pump off someone when mine broke during puncture repair

I usually check that they have a problem then hit them over the head and rob them 😉

Nah, I ask if they're alright.

Yes I ALWAYS stop to make sure the person is OK & if they need any help fixing their bike. I carry both presta & schrader spare tubes, scram & KMC links, spare shimano pins, small bit of spare chain, etc .... no wonder my backpack is so blinkin heavy.

I've even stopped during an enduro race to lend someone my pump, not that I was ever going to be on the podium mind. I once had a mechanical when I was riding the Devon coast to coast. The chain jumped off & was stuck fast between the frame & granny ring and wouldn't budge. I went into Southfork bike shop in Braunton & the guys whipped the chainset off to sort it out for me & wouldn't charge me - top blokes & I was very grateful.

On another occasion I had a puncture on the commute home, as I was only about 1 mile from home & it was flattish I decided to walk the bike. A bloke stopped with his Mazda Bingo Bongo van & gave me a lift home - fantastic.

I believe in bike karma & if you help someone then someone will help you in return. Spread the biking love & never look the other way if someone needs help.

I always give a, "you ok, need anything or a hand" if its clear I'll pull over and do it in the car aswell as on the bike too.

I ask but most of the time people are ok.

I really regret one time i saw someone fall off their bike while i was on my way back from a hard ride. I was shattered so not totally with it but i still slowed down to ask if she was ok, she said yes but promptly burst out crying but for some reason i cycled off thinking about drinking raspberry jam from the jar. It was only as i was putting my bike away when i was home that it registered that she had started crying despite saying yes. I have no reason why i did it, total brain fart and i keep hoping to see her again to apologise.

As above, ill always ask, even if they look like a competent group ride, if they have got everything to fix the prob.

But also as stated earlier, it ain't reciprocal, i once snapped a chain at the top of the berms section at Lee quarry, i was fully kitted, quicklinks and chain tool on by crank brothers 19, so no danger of having to roll down to the car park, but one rider deliberately took a fair old short cut to avoid me and the upside-down bike sitting so obviously off the trail to the side...

I always stop and offer help. It's all about Karma innit!

always stop to top up my karma levels and topped up others karma levels when they have stopped for me. everyone a winner

Always say 'Hi' as you pass other mtbers

Always ask if they're alright if they're not actually riding.

Does surprise me how many people don't say hello back, or look at you as if you're mad.

I don't. They might say yes and that would be a problem because
i) I'm more likely to make things worse
ii) it wouldn't be my bike so why would I want to stop
iii) I ride on my own almost all the time becuae I hate the stop/start/stop start element to group rides so stopping for a stranger isn't going to occur
I'd stop everytime if the person was injured though.

Stop to help everytime, could be an easy fix. At the weekend there I was out doing a night run at GT and came across 4 young girls on supermarket specials and a bmx at the bottom of the spooky wood climb. They had no lights and didn't know where they were (disorientated in amongst the fire roads) so I walked them back down to the hub. It was a pain in the arse yeah but who knows what would have happened otherwise!

Helped a few folk over the years and it still surprises me the range of knowledge and preparedness out there. No one's going to carry a workshop stand and full Park toolkit but the lack of kit and basic mech skills in some people out in the middle of nowhere is quite scary. Conversely, some rucsacs contain an astonishing array of ironmongery 'just in case'.

Last mechanical I helped with was a broken mech hanger. The chap involved didn't seem to understand the concept of removing the rear mech, shortening the chain and finding a magic ratio to get him home. It was a group ride so we got him going again. Had he been riding alone, he would have had a 2 hour walk.

I always help, even if it's normally just advice - "get off the ****in trail"

Hels...road race with no support?

Sorry, I wouldn't give a pump to someone in a race, apart from maybe a team mate.

Always. Everything from tube replacement to broken chain repair. I normally carry enough tools to fix anything within reason (including SPD cleats). Plus the obligatory zip ties and Duct tape.

I once stopped for a young lady with a puncture on Fulham Road. Invited her back to my house which was "around the corner" and taught her to change a tube and fix a puncture. Every cyclist should be able to change a tube. Other stuff might need assistance. But there is a skill required to mount tyres on rims.

Oh and my wife's nickname for me is Bicycle Repair Man - I built her a bike from bits at college "to get to know her better".

always help, it might be me 😉

Al - it wasn't really a road race sorry more of a Sportif really (Fred Whitton - is that a race ?) although obviously I normally have a team car with my name on it driving around after me...

I have helped a few recently both on the road and off, the last being a guy who had gone over his handlebars after hitting deep mud. unfortunately he had damaged his seat and was struggling to ride back to his car, he looked absolutely knackard and was well pleased when I supplied him with cable ties and gaffa tape to make a temp repair.

Felt good knowing we had helped a fellow MTB'er 😀

I always ask although most of the time i'd not be able to help.

i'll always offer help. stopped on the mega for someone who needed a five mm alan key. why the **** would you go into the mountains with out basic kit is beyond me.
also stopped on dirt merchant for a fella who had a ten inch, very deep gash (finger deep) on his leg, claret every where. surprised me how many people slowed, looked but offered no help. me and another guy held it together while waiting for the mountain ambulance to turn up.
i saw the fella with the gash in the bar the night after. asked how he was, he brought me a jug of beer. 😀

Im my experience when ever I'm stopped and someone comes by they have always asked if I'm OK and I always ask if a stationary rider is OK. During the FOD enduro did ask a lady rider if she was OK but could not help as she had broken rear mec so did not have spairs for this and there were 3 marshals with her as well so did not stop.
Fave time was when knackered down at Afan i stoped by another rider and he in panicked voice asked which way to go and how much further to go as he was in worse state than me, followed him back to carpark as only couple of hundred meters.

MTB riders are the most friently buch of people I have ever met.

I cant say I would stop and help !

I stopped at Dalby last year and tried to help a guy who had a puncture !

He was on a hire bike from the centre and didnt have any tools or spares, I offered up a patch which he gladly refused requesting a Tube instead !

In the end i rode off and left him as he said my patches were of no use as the werent Glueless !

Apparently patches and glue dont mix !

Sorry ! but once bitten !

I always ask if people on the side of the track need assistance, and in many cases stop.
Over the last couple of years alone I have handed out: -
10+ quick links
Numerous patches
a tube or 2
Brake pads (I always acrry a couple of worn but usable pads just in case).
Other things I have assisted with are: -
Fixing Rear mechs (sometime by unorthodox methods i.e. a rock!).
Setting up gears.
Set up forks.
Set up rear shox.
The list goes on!

I do this because
a) It's good Karma
b) I may need help myself one day.
c) I like helping people 😀

Normal rules don't apply down south. Stoped to help some kids with a split tube at Swinely, gave them my rather threadbare patchwork spare tube which promptly blew up.

You'd be amazed how many people rode past without asking.

Felt bad as I couldnt help them.

Even asked a group of bikers at the end of the trail if they had a spare tube to lend them, apparently not!

If you are female some people will insist on helping even if you've passed on their offer of help, in my experience anyway. I must look incompetent 😀

[i]Even asked a group of bikers at the end of the trail if they had a spare tube to lend them, apparently not! [/i]

Handing out spare tubes is a bit more of a lottery. In a group of mates then yes, I have done before and equally I have accepted spare tubes from others.

On the other hand if I'm out on my own with only 1 spare tube I'm unlikely to give it away in case I puncture later. Will still give out patches or assist someone else in fixing their puncture though.

i don't always say hello etc to other riders when passing but i do always stop check if riders are ok and have what they need when they appear to fixing a bike or having a mechanical. even if you're not mechanically minded i think the offer of a loan of tools or a pump is always appreciated. i think we all should, isnt it just the right thing to do?

Seem to be the mountain biker code. I remember when i first started riding and couldn't believe how friendly everyone was and always asking if fixing a puncture.

1st mayhem surprised me when I had to stop mid lap to take my coat off and loads of riders asking if i was okay and got the tools i need.

i have been in the embarrassing situation of having my co2 canister piss all over me but not inflate a tyre 😳 was very glad of the guy who lent me a pump.

have stopped for people several times. once met a guy who said he was ok; clearly embarrassed, cos he wasn't. he had a flat but no tube/ no patches and didn't know how to remove a wheel.

gave him a quick demo of how to do it, pumped up the tyre and then chatted to him on the next hill.

it's always wise to remember whilst i know it all know, cough cough, once i was a inept monkey with no tube and no clue.

c) I like helping people

This +1.

I carry a Mountain Morph pump in my Camelbak, i've made plenty of friends on the trails who are struggling to inflate tyres with stupid minipumps.

Can I be the first to admit that I was helped out by a nice young lady?

Pump was knackered from water/mud ingress, and last CO2 can was used fixing the other puncture.. so I had a last tube but no way to fill it. As I pondered this, she stopped and not only lent me a pump, but insisted on getting it started 🙂

My house was around 1 mile away with a plentiful supply of track pumps but it would have been churlish to refuse!

[i]I carry a Mountain Morph pump in my Camelbak, i've made plenty of friends on the trails who are struggling to inflate tyres with stupid minipumps[/i]
+1
once stopped and asked a girl with a puncture if she needed help and got 'i know how to fix a effing puncture, don't be so effing patronising cos I'm a girl' so I went a bit further and stopped for a butty and 5 minutes later she sheepishly came over and said her pump didn't work and could she borrow mine, which i did, and 5 minutes after that she came back and asked if i had some tyre levers, 😯
Now rightly or wrongly I'm a bit cautious about asking ladypeeps if they are ok, I just slow down a bit and say hello

Always ask, be it trail centre, natural trails or road. Never ride past.