[Closed] Would you stop to help a cyclist in trouble?

Always at least slow down and ask if someone needs anything,
tools, help, etc.. If at a junction/convenient spot, would always stop and ask the same.

I always offer help. couple of times I have saved folk without a puncture kit or a chain tool from a long walk.

Maybe they could see you were OK
Was this in the south ? 😉

I Do, although I started out as a mountain biker.

If I see someone stopped I'll slow down and check they're okay. Would be weird not to.

" Got everything you need mate?" Is my normal call. That's way, no challenge to pride suggesting they can't manage.

Rode once with some guys who shouted "loser" riding by a kid with a snapped chain. Never spoken to them since, cockwombles!

I'll always ask "got all you need?" or something as I trundle past.

Was this in the North? 😀

I always shout out to ask if they need help, and a year or so ago at Gisburn I was the bike equivalent of the AA (helped fix a couple of minor issues and lent a tube)

But I don't mind if people ride past me without offering either, makes no difference to me. They might not be confident, have enough spares, whatever

I’ll always stop if a lone cyclist looks to be in a pickle. I once cycled home to get the car and returned to collect someone with an irreparable wheel from a crash at the bottom of honister. I’d hope others would do the same.

On my commute to work I always yell out 'Are you ok?' when I pass someone stopped. I've not had to stop, which must say something about the preparedness of Cambridge commuters.

I was out on Sunday, middle of nowhere, 3 separate incidents of cyclists going past without asking a question. Long country lane, 1.5 miles from next village and i'm walking pushing the bike....

I've given away an emergency blanket and a bivvy bag to some poor sod who'd punctured in the arse end of nant yr arian.
I didn't have tubes or patches with me and it looked like he'd have to walk out. It was a fair distance from the car park and light was fading.

Depends, mountain biking, yup. Commuting, depends (mainly on whether I'm under time pressure to get home to get the car and do the school pick up).

Also a quick assessment will be done to see if it looks you're stopping for a world of pain (BSO that's seen no maintenance in the last 10 years 🙂 )

North of England. Near Ormskirk.
Can't quite get my head round why they wouldn't at least ask. Just found the mamils on Strava. I see them regularly on the local roads. Cards have been marked!!!

always ask.
and in the past have been asked and have been helped to fix a snapped chain

I've even pulled over in the car before to [s] point and laugh[/s] offer use of the track pump i keep in the boot.

Some people are miserable, some people CGAS about anyone else and some people cycle, the three are always going to come up together somewhere unless you let i-pod shuffle draw your Venn diagrams, even then it's likely to show up "People are People" every now and again.

A shame. Were you on a road or mountain bike yourself?

Yes I always at the very least slow down and ask. Or I do in the countryside. If I was one of hundreds in a crowded London rush hour I'm not sure I would (if I ever did that kind of riding).

I was out on Sunday, middle of nowhere, 3 separate incidents of cyclists going past without asking a question. Long country lane, 1.5 miles from next village and i’m walking pushing the bike….

Now that really is a bastard trick.

I'm not a roadie, however whenever I see someone stopped on the trail with their bike wheel-side up, I always ask if they're OK.

I always like to think other riders would do the same...

Usually just shout 'You OK?', answer is usually 'Fine thanks, having a breather/mars bar' Very occasionally have to stop and do something, help a novice put a chain back on, that sort of thing.
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Track pump lives in the car, usually quite pleased to see me when I offer it to them. The thing I lend most though is a chain tool, amazed how few people carry one.
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To be fair if I'm standing around, reading the map, eating a banana or whatever usually someone will ask if I'm OK and I usually am. Only had to ask for help once this year, got completely lost out running, had somehow doubled back on myself and came out the road I'd left three hours earlier, didn't fancy another five hours running to where I should have been. Tried my hand, or thumb anyway, at hitchhiking and the first car passed stopped. Took me part of the way, next one tookk maybe a dozen attempts.

I normally stop if anyone looks like they're struggling. And I find most people stop and ask me too.

Mostly self-sufficient and prepared for most eventualities myself, but there have been a couple of times offers have been accepted and muchly appreciated.

Years of riding Italian motorbikes has taught me that it's always nice to be asked if you need any help - even when it's obvious that you're a lost cause...

I always pull up and ask if they're ok. I'm usually glad of the excuse to take a rest.

To the OP - said MAMILs probably had no spares, tools or wrenching skills. Best thing they could do was keep going.

Always! Karma comes around. Years ago, I passed a very unhappy guy in the Peak, out of inners, out of patches and wrong side of the valley for home. So I gave him my spare inner to get home.

Last year, I was stuck up at Hope Cross with a puncture, stubborn tyre, two broken levers and sore thumbs. Billy from the Adventure cafe stopped to help. He also broke a lever (not just me with soft hands), getting the tyre off and helped me fix.

I now always stop at the Adventure cafe when in the Peak, for the tea and sausage baps to keep everything in balance.

Were you on a road or mountain bike yourself?

Good point. I don't stop for roadies, strange lot they are.

Out in the trails I always ask if they are ok or have everything they need.

Always slow down and ask a lone rider or small group

To the OP – said MAMILs probably had no spares, tools or wrenching skills. Best thing they could do was keep going.

Good point. Never thought of that.
Of course they could have been so obsessed with Strava segments that the red mist had descended!

A shame. Were you on a road or mountain bike yourself?

Road bike, but when I used to ride MTB I would still stop. I can't understand why anyone would leave a kindred spirit in a spot of bother whatever type of bike you ride.

I don't stop for people who clearly look like they are fixing the problem without stress. Because they don't want to be asked by everyone if they are ok I'd guess. For me, a puncture isn't a problem, it's just part of cycling and I can easily sort it out, so I expect there are others like me around.

If so.eone is struggling I'll always stop and ask. And then help however I can.

Always slow and ask.

I've stopped the car and i've turned round to check.

During some snow i've had the boot doir open and waited in a laybye having passed a couple of cyclists having to push up a hill in shorts. Straight in the back they went.

I couldn't give a shit what kind of bike it is.

I always at least slow down and shout "you OK?". I did once stop to ask a cyclist if they were OK whilst driving a van from work. It's a huge blue Renault Master long wheel base high top covered in Shimano logos so I thought I should really.

I probably give away more inner tubes to fellow cyclists than i use myself, some of the memorable ones are...

+ Ard Rock, came across a bloke pushing towards the last stage, he'd been running tubeless and used the 2 spares he'd brought. Gave him a tube so he could do the last stage. Saw him later and he kindly bought me a pint.
+ On the canal near Elland a bloke commuting had a flat so I gave him a tube and another lad in our group change it over for him.
+ Gisburn at the bottom of Hully Gully I came across a chap with a flat and no spare, gave him a tube so he could finish his ride, he was probably at the farthest point from his car when he got the puncture.
+ Not an inner tube donation but about 8 years ago I was travelling with the missus on the great ocean road and was flagged down by a cyclist, he was on a 5 day cycling trip to meet his wife and kids but had fallen behind schedule and it would be getting dark well before he reached his destination and with no phone signal he was unable to contact his family so was concerned they would worry about him. We loaded his bike in the camper van and dropped him off at the family holiday home where we had tea and cake and the offer of a bed for the night, unfortunately we had a pretty tight schedule but it was a nice gesture.

When on the trails, always. Back when I was commuting on a roadie I dont think I actually came across anyone, think I would have slowed and asked at least.

I was driving up to Haytor for a MTB ride last year at the same time there was a road sportive going on, saw a cyclist on the side of the road halfway up the climb with bike upside down wearing a football shirt, stopped went over and changed the guys tube and inflated it with my trackpump. He was new to cycling and hoping to make the time cut off that the 100mile loop was still open to him and not the 60km.

Thought I would have banked some good bike karma credits after that but crashed during the Dartmoor ride going flat out bending my bars and mech hanger and hurting my knee and being out for several weeks!

I would always ask on trails or rural roads, I would not bother if commuting about town.

It won't stop me but have been put off a bit by a couple of poor experiences stopping for entitled knobs.

If i notice them i'll slow & a quick 'you OK?' will be offered. I'd not bat en eyelid if our rolls were reversed and I didn't get the same, it's why i come prepared.

covered in Shimano logos

When they replied "no my inner tube is shot" did you tell them "sorry that's not available as a spare but i do have a whole wheel you can buy"

I'm a club rider, my club always stop and chat asking if a rider has all they need. We've even called one of our wives to bring a spare wheel out for a rider whose spokes had snapped. His wife was out so his dad came out....wasn't far from his home so he was ok with it. (My club are all older riders who have been riding a long time, pretty much all of us are in our 40s and 50s)
I'll always stop and ask. I've been very lucky and never needed assistance, but I'd like to think that one day if I need it someone will try and help.

Don't take it personally or be too snidey about MAMILs and OG Dodderers.
I always ask, even if I'm not on a bike.
Maybe you looked like you were handling it so they didn't bother?

I have asked if people are ok and would stop in my van if I thought I could help as there are always bike tools/spares in it, can't see any reason not to really.

Generally speaking no. Around Cannock if it's not an ambush it'll be a cockrotter who has done literally zero preparation and no I don't have a 29+ inner tube or an SRAm 12sp quick link or some pads for your brakes.

Elsewhere I've stopped once maybe twice in 20+ years. I've had my own misfortunes and never expected anyone else to help so that's how it is.

Would you stop to help a cyclist in trouble?

I'd stop to help anyone in trouble. Whether on foot, on bike or in car. Anyone who wouldn't is a ****.

I would always stop or slow and call out. Can't imagine why you wouldn't (unless it's a group of hoodies at night in an unlit alleyway).

I don't see many cyclists when I'm out but, thinking back, I have helped disentangle a bungee in a cassette, a dropped chain, given a spare tube, held a torch during a puncture repair... All very simple things and no big deal. It's not really about karma but recognising another human who may appreciate assistance. Like with other gestures, I just hope that they'll think to do the same one day, pass it forward.

Sometimes I'll ask, other times I'll just slow and assess, you can normally tell if people are struggling or not. But usually I'll say something if I think they need help.

Yep, always ask if they need any help. On one occasion I was driving to work and I saw a fella pushing his bike along the road a good couple of miles out of town. I asked him if he was okay, and it turned out that he had a puncture, and the spare tube he had had a puncture too. We ended up slinging his bike in the back of the back of my van, and I gave him a lift back to mine, where I dug out some patches for him and made him a brew whilst he sorted out the tubes.

On another occasion I was out riding with MartynS of this parish and we ended up changing the wheel of a car for a stranded elderly couple.

It's nice to be nice, simple as that.

Based on how judgemental you seem to be about what other cyclists are wearing, if they have helmets on etc,. then no I wouldn't check to see if you were okay

Gave someone a tube in transition at a triathlon relay once. He then paid me back by catching me for a good 2 or 3 minutes.

Always ask if ok. From mountain bike background too though ?

I towed a fellow commuter across Hyde Park this morning- her chain had snapped. Feel bad now that I didn’t offer her my quick link but she worked next to cycle surgery and by the time I left her she was only ten minute push away.

Stopped to help an elderly gentleman unlock his bike the other morning it was so dark he couldn’t see the combination.

Hmmm..if they looked like they were mid fix no. If they were standing around looking confused id probably ask if all was ok. I wouldn't hand out an inner tube to someone who needed one though as I only bring one spare with me...so not exactly sure what help I'd be.

I didn’t offer her my quick link

I should think not, you dirty boy.

Ofcourse. I usually ride by myself, so it’s nice to have someone to talk to.

Often pulled over whilst in the van to help a cyclist at the road side.... Have handed out water, bananas and nuts in the past, too.

Probably wouldn't stop to help the OP, mind.

Depends

Yeah, always - don't even think otherwise.

I always stop to check if the person is in need of any assistance regardless if I’m walking, mtb, road bike or car.

Couple times me and my group have come across people who needed help and we’ve got them back on their wheels and saved them s very long walk. Hopefully karma will pay me back if one day I need the help?

Car drivers always get a bad wrap on here (including from me) but once I was stopped on the side of a pitch black contry lane late evening looking for a tiny screw that worked loose and fell of my light mount and all 5 drivers who drove past stopped to check I was ok and if needed a hand. Helped restore my faith in humanity that evening.

Gisburn at the bottom of Hully Gully I came across a chap with a flat and no spare, gave him a tube so he could finish his ride, he was probably at the farthest point from his car when he got the puncture.

I hope you chucked the old one into the ceremonial 'tube tree' there, like everyone else seems to do...*

What is it about Hully Gully and flats? There's nothing particularly rough on it.

I do the checking they've got everything thing. Have offered a tube now and again, conversely someone gave me another tube to get me home when I was staggering around covered in blood after a comedy exploding sidewall crash moment.

*this is a joke. Do not chuck inner tubes into the tree... 🙂

yes - also stopped when driving to see if they needed help.

Yep - always ask if they're OK, got everything they need etc.

Had a ride up in the Peaks over the summer that was at least 45mins longer than it should be as there was a rider at the bottom of Lockerbrook struggling with a puncture and then a lad and his missus who had hired bikes, but as he started up towards WLT the derailleur has gone into the spokes. Rigged it up singlespeed for him with lots of "don't worry about the shop, it's knackered anyway" and "this isn't a perfect fix, but".

I like to think that others would do the same for me. Despite being fairly well prepared when I go out there are always the times when one of the kids breaks something in the house just as you're transferring spares and tools from one pack to another and you forget something.

Very occasionally people get a bit huffy when you ask them if they are OK (always male) - no problem from my POV, I guess it must mean they're struggling with something and too proud to accept any help. Some people can't be helped, but the offer is there.

I’m a depends. Commuting: not if it is going to be late for work. If it is in the middle of town & I am going somewhere where I don’t want to be covered in someone’s road grunge:nope as well. There are plenty of bike shops around in Edinburgh. Otherwise I will always offer, although I was less impressed, at a busy Glentress when a mate insisted on spending 25 minutes trying to fix someone’s chain just above Buzzards Nest. That would’ve been a freewheel down to Alpine Bikes & I was tight on time.

Yep always ask if someone having a mechanical is ok. Why wouldn't you?

Yes, I always do. I've also stopped the car and given someone and their bike a lift when I could see the buckled wheel.

I even gave someone my whole bike once so they could finish their ride.  OK, it was as Mayhem back in the day, about 5 mins before cut off and some skinny snake came out of the last bit of singletrack behind me, stood up on the pedals to accelerate away and his chain just disintegrated. He started running and was clearly desperate, a quick chat revealed they were podium or thereabouts and really needed to get back for his teammate to do another lap. Whereas i was on explicit orders to under no circumstances get back before 2pm.

So we swapped bikes, and I pushed the last half mile back up the fireroad before leaping on and freewheeling the last bit back to the arena..... which was the problem because he was about half a foot taller than me and even stood up, over every bump his saddle just tapped me in the nuts enough to hurt without actually being a full blown whack.

To date it (a full carbon TREK OCLV) is probably still the most expensive bike I've ridden, and the one I'd give back in an instant.

Why wouldn’t you?

- Going for a KOM on a Strava segment
- Don't carry anything that could actually help them
- they look like a wrongun who might be pretending to have an issue and then rides off on my bike when I stop

And probably many other reasons.

most riders are selfish shits as far as I'm concerned, 4 rode past us at Nanty when the wife broke her collar bone, head down refusing to make eye contact and deaf to boot.

Gisburn at the bottom of Hully Gully I came across a chap with a flat and no spare, gave him a tube so he could finish his ride, he was probably at the farthest point from his car when he got the puncture.

I hope you chucked the old one into the ceremonial ‘tube tree’ there, like everyone else seems to do…*

Of course in fact all of those tubes in that tree belong to me!

Standing around enjoying the view with some food in your hand?

I'll leave you alone.

Obviously fiddling with bike or looking lost/broken I always ask 'have you got everything you need'.

It's not common but it's usually a pump required or a tubeless tyre needing a plug when they've not got anything for it. I've given out a few chain links, some tubeless spooge and loaned my expertise a few times for trail mechanicals.

I once got the air ambulance for a guy I met on the Mendips - he'd sliced his leg open on a solo ride and I took his bike home to look after it until he was fixed.

Always. Used my chain tool more often on other peoples chains than on my own, given out a few (used) quicklinks and tubes to folk on the trail. What goes around comes around......

If on their own and attempting a fix, I always ask.

When my trike had a puncture on its maiden voyage, I was absolutely inundated with passing cyclists asking if I was OK. So clearly number of wheels is a factor!

Only caught out once myself late at night when a tubeless tyre failed to seal and my CO2 had already been used and not replaced. A passer-by walked back from home with a track pump. Now I carry a road morph mini track pump as well as two CO2, two tubes and instant patches.

hi viz black in colour, but massive logos so that’s OK ... Yup they were Mamils.

dodderers ... high impact woolly hats

Were you wearing your snobby arse uniform ? I'd probably have given you a miss too

Yep even as a woman in the South (are you reading tj wink?) with zero technical skills I would stop. Over the years have given away plenty of inner tubes as well as fitting them on occasion, have offered drink bottles and accompanied lost cyclists to get them back to civilisation.

If it’s just one or two riders then, yes, I’ll always ask if they’ve got what they need. Larger groups I reckon will be able to take care of themselves anyway.

I always ask especially off road.
Helped a guy out once up on the Ridgeway. He couldn't get his patches to seal and had used all his CO2 cartridges.
Que smug me with my old fashioned pump.

Always.

Even had to rescue one poor chap with hypothermia. Breaking down when you are dressed in lycra is not a good idea in Scotland.

I can’t understand why anyone would leave a kindred spirit in a spot of bother whatever type of bike you ride.

Pretty much this.

Yep, 90% of the time I'll slow down and normally shout either "You OK?" or "Have you got everything you need?". The second one seems more appropriate if they're part way through a repair. The other ten percent of the time it's just because I've either not seen them until the last second or my mind is elsewhere (which is often the purpose of cycling for me).

I've also been known to pull over in the car. I've only done this for the last 5-6 years and I started because someone did it for me after I had a catastrophic tyre explosion about three miles from the nearest bike shop and about 30 minutes before it closed. On that occasion we bunged the bike into the back of the random fellas car and he dropped me off at the bike shop so i could buy a new tyre and be on my way.

Yep, always and quite a few times have been taken up on the offer.

I even carry a 26" inner tube in my commuting bag, because that's what the unprepared BSO rider is most likely to need. I ride 700c wheels.

Que smug me with my old fashioned pump.

One bloke, on a decent MTB with a puncture, laughed at how cheap my (very functional) pump was. ("Did you get that out of a cracker" I think were his words.) My offer of help was withdrawn, and I don't care if his bones are rotting into the ground as we speak. 😀

I once stopped to help two guys on road bikes when I was on my MTB (not that this is relevant, I ride both, and gravel, and BMX, and fat...)

One of the blokes was obviously more “experienced” than the other, who has a loose SPD-SL cleat. Neither had a hex key on them. I got my multi tool out and the more “experienced” of the two tightened the bolts of the cleats so hard he rounded off both bolts and my hex key. He then told his mate this was how he knew it was tight enough.

Luckily it was a cheap freebie multi tool so I gave it them and left them to it.

However, “got everything you need mate?” is the usual question.

Always, whether I am on a bike, walking or sometimes even in the car in some situations.

Stopped to help a German guy on a ride down a mountain in Garda. ended up sat in the pub with him for a couple of hours having some post ride drinks after finishing our ride together (we both set out alone).

Quite often stop (riding or walking) out on the mendips to help people and it's often young lads who have not come out with the right stuff or are struggling.

Always stopped and still will.

The amount of tubes I've given away over the years... dare not count them up.

Nobody has stopped for me 🙁 Big Bottom Lip Pout 😉