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Thinking about it.....
I used to guide transalp tours. One week riding and another week or two or driving the luggage from one hotel to the next.
I stopped to help many a roadie, gave cheeky uplifts to various MTBers, drove well out of my way to get riders to a bike shop.
Me a good person.
I couldn’t give a shit what kind of bike it is.
Well said
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.
You didn't need their help.. it would have been sh..
On a very hot MTB marathon gave a Polish (I think) guy a drink and gel as he was in a bad place ... he couldn't speak English then but as the drink and gel worked their magic his English came back. So I guess he was feeling rough.
We can all go well prepared but have a nightmare.... Leyzne pump strapped to my frame , the hose had seized into the pump.. bugger.
A couple of things spring to mind.
Firstly, your post is both judgmental and assumptive, which is a shame because you raise an interesting point.
Irrelevant of whether we would ever be friends, the bike you ride or your appearance I would have asked the question as I coasted by.
Secondly, are you a woman? It would not have effected my course of action but the world is a funny place nowadays, offering a woman help is a tricky proposition.
I'll not list my list of good deeds but would say that I've been helped out on occasion, the wheel turns.
I always ask, roadie, mtber or even beardy gravelister.
Stopped in my car to tell a cyclist his light wasnt on last week.
I’ll always ask the question.
Even stopped and changed a car wheel for a couple of young ladies in Richmond Park one evening this summer. Doing my bit for cyclist / motorist relations.
I would always stop and ask but people can be funny like when I ride my mtb no nod or wave but if I’m on my road bike there like my best mates . I’m always friendly to cyclists except tyre suckers especially when I’m on my mtb 😂
I’ll ask if all is ok. Helped a few riders neet bother.
Always a friendly 'Are you ok?' or 'Need anything?' from me. Always.
Always stop and check id someone seems in need of help. Plenty of people have stopped for me too.
Am also in the South.. whatever that is supposed to mean.
OP Earlier today 😉
ChunkyMTB
Member
Always stop and check id
a touch gestapo-ish, no?
The converse of this, is that if you are prepared and have all the stuff you need and are in mid fix. It's a pain in the arse if every 2nd rider stops to ask if you are ok and wants to help fix the bike!
Aye mate I'm fine, in fact I'd have this sorted if people would stop asking if I'm ok every 2 seconds! 😆
I always ask any person who looks in trouble or may need help not just "cyclists".
But I don't care if others don't. Plenty folk are selfish dicks. plenty other folk don't have my confidence to speak to strangers. If I really needed help I'd actually ask. Some folk will still attempt to blank you when you do this.
Many years back on a bitterly cold winters evening road ride in the dark I found myself in need of help at the road side no one around and on an unlit quiet road. I managed to walk back to the nearest houses I'd passed earlier, lights on, cars in the drive to ask to use a phone (this was before many people had mobiles). I could actually see people in their house NOT answering their door to a stranger. this was 6pm on Friday. it took 4 houses before I got an answer. After thanking the guy for using his phone and offering him money I mentioned his neighbours not answering their doors. His reply was something along the lines of "We don't get people at our door here" as if it was somehow normal not to answer.
Moral here is some people simply aren't great at being human.
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.
Do this all the time, have saved a few people's rides when they say no too! Usually it's just rejoining a chain as they have a split link but no chain tool or lending a tyre lever after theirs snapped but one time I had to help a father/son get the rear brake unlocked from the son's bike. It was an Avid Elixir that had heated up on a sunny day and jammed the rear wheel solid at Afan. I had a multitool on me that could crack the bleed screw and release a lot of fluid to get it released, they had been stranded for nearly 30 mins with no offer of help and no idea how to get back other than following the trail, then showed them the way back down on the fireroads. The dad bought me lunch in the cafe as a thank you!
Have also stopped in the car and given a lift to the odd stranded rider if the weather has been crap or close to getting dark to. Got a date out of it once too.
Moral here is some people simply aren’t great at being human.
Clearly not as great as you as you are awesome. Maybe some people don't want strangers coming to their door at night but be judgemental about it by all means.
Mostly. Out on the trail, or on the road miles from anywhere ... Yes, all the time. Commuting/getting to a meeting? Depends how up against time I am, if I've time to spare then Yes. If the kids are going to end up waiting and worrying as to why I've not collected them from school on time, then No.
I have stopped and asked before, even helped out a couple of times in the past. Wouldn't hesitate to stop and ask, regardless of bike. Would like to think someone would stop and ask me if the situation was reversed.
Sometimes I have found that even though they don't need help, a chat and a bit of banter seems to help the mood.
Maybe some people don’t want strangers coming to their door at night but be judgemental about it by all means.
Why doesn't it surprise me you'd be one of "those" people Kerley?
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
"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
Like I said. Some people just aren't great at being human.
Yup, always ask, have rescued a couple of people via berlingo, even checked with a rambler who had a boot off
I always stop and help if possible. We helped a few people last week up Hamsterley with quick links etc. Would be a bummer if my chain snaps though and on a down note I have to order another link. I always try to be prepared but would hope someone would help me if I was stuck.
On the other hand I give myself over a hundred stitches and lost a big chunk of my nose in September and not one cyclist asked if I needed help on the way back to the van. Could be they were shocked at what I looked like and I'm a bit glad they didn't as I didn't know how bad I was until I drove to a&e.
Glad I read this thread reminded me to order some quick links 🙂
The dad bought me lunch in the cafe as a thank you!
Not that you'd do it for that reason or even expect more than a sincere thank-you but that's how the world should work.
If they are with a group i wouldnt tend to bother but otherwise would probably ask them. Exception would be if they looked happy enough I might not bother eg for puncture looked halfway through replacing it rather than looking at the flat tyre and swearing.
Think every time I have been pushing a bike every half serious looking cyclist has offered help. Although all but one time it was because I was close to home and couldnt be arsed to roadside fix and walked back instead. The one exception wasnt actually a cyclist but a white van man who passed me one direction and then as they went back the other way about 20 mins later seeing I was still pushing stopped and turned around to go out of their way to drop me off.
A few years ago, My family and a friends family were on holiday in the South Downs. My friend and I went for a ride on a nice Saturday morning. My friend snapped his chain and we both had not packed a chain tool. We found the nearest road and I towed him along. We were passed by dozens of roadies, none of whom would even give us the time of day. After an hour or so we pulled into a path entrance to phone a wife for a lift. Within 30 seconds of stopping a group of mountain bikers rode down the path, stopped, asked if we were alright, lent us a chain tool, had a chat whilst my friend sorted his chain and we were all off on our way and happy within 15 minutes.
Commuting, then no. There are just too many cyclists around in London
Out for a fun ride then yes
Person on their own I’ll shout “are you ok”.
I spent most of 2018 riding on the roads training for the c2c in the summer. Roadies do some seem to be a sour, unhelpful sort. ... unless you're in the same club as them.
I'll always stop and help. Too many people helped me out as a newb in the peaks when lost/ battered/ on a duff bike.
Always ask if they are ok / have what they need. Why wouldn’t you ?
I need to know what kerley looks like so I don't bother stopping for him.
Anyway, yes, I always slow down/stop pedalling & ask.
I was doing a 'killer loop' from a magazine, out of Gargrave a few years ago & came across 2 youngsters who were obviously in need of help, turned out they were on a road ride with some 'adults' but been left behind & the lads rear mech had lost it's pulley wheels. I had the gear & some idea how to 'singlespeed' his bike so he could get going again.
I was disgusted with the fact that the leading group hadn't kept an eye on the pair of them, they were only about 13-14 yr old.
More recently me & Mrs Egf were coming down Wrynose pass in the Lakes in the car & came across a guy on a road bike who's brakes had failed on a bend, he'd performed a spontanious frontal arial dismount & was pretty shaken, so he got a lift back to his campsite near Wray Castle.
Rude not to innit?
I always slow and ask, as other couldn't care less what they are riding. I've helped a few people out and been helped put with a pump when mine decided to disintegrate!!
Unequivocally yes. Any one I can help I will, in turn I'd hope that I'd get that help in return and I do.
Indeed just the other week on a pitch black canal toe path at half six in the morning, whilst repairing a flat my pump decided to disintegrate in spectacular fashion.
A passing commuter offered his help, the use of his pump. I had another good few miles to go I appreciated it.
It was only after he departed I realised I had been standing in a dog's jobby the whole time.
I've had better starts to the day...
Yep, I always ask. I’ve said no to someone who asked for a tube because I was on a long ride and didn’t want to give him either of my spares.
I’ve fixed a few things over the years, have stopped in the car variously with track pumps etc too. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
I’ve been on the receiving end a couple of times, got a patch after my third flat on a wet ride, borrowed a chain tool once too. Always carry one on the road now. Don’t often need one, but there’s just no alternatives if you break your chain.
I rode to the nearest phone ( yes, im old). When a blokes handlebar snapped,he destroyed his lid & had a fit 😬☹️. My mate waited with him whilst I was knocking on doors a mile away. & A bloke had a dozy **** just pull out in front of him at the junction outside our house. I heard the crunch from in the house. I directed traffic around him. Just stood in the road swearing at car drivers basically. They didn't like having to drive a few more feet to avoid running over the poor sod that was lay in the rd 🙄
Yeah, many times. Tubes, chain links. Gave one German guy a lift into Keswick (he'd totalled his rear wheel attempting to ride down Scafell pike, and I picked him up near Lodore...).
Not e-bikers, though. Wouldn't p!ss on them if their batteries went up in flames.
hehe 😀
ever pissed on an electric fence monty? you should def try it at least once. 😉
Last winter I had a puncture while riding home through Richmond Park in London, it is home of the Rapha clad MAMIL if you don’t know the place.
I lost count of the number of offers of help. One older bloke stopped and lent me his pump, when I managed to break the valve off mine.
I found this impressive as it was absolutely freezing, getting dark and starting to rain. I am sure most people just wanted to get home ASAP but nearly everyone that passed offered to help.
I might add: I am neither female nor conventionally attractive.
Cool story, I know.
On a hillside in the middle of nowhere i’ll Stop (even if there is no obvious issue). On a trail centre or a rural road I’ll slow for a polite question. On a roadside somewhere more populated I don’t stop or talk routinely - unless the person either seems to be struggling or looking at me like they need help. It’s a little patronising to assume they’d need help; or would forget something basic. You can probably stereotype people from their bike, age and dress how likely they are to need help. If you need help it’s easy enough to attract attention.
Last time I stopped for a puncture on a commute I was asked 5 times if I needed a spare tube. Not that it would have done any good as it was a day I'd forgotten the reading glasses and matrimonial rescue (like the AA but with more grumbling and more timely) was on it's way.
I always ask when out on whatever bike I'm on, so far I haven't needed to stop.
Why doesn’t it surprise me you’d be one of “those” people Kerley?
I don't know, is it because I am not as awesome as you?
Like I said. Some people just aren’t great at being human.
And some can't tell when someone is not being serious. I thought the Strava KOM reference would have made that obvious. But you carry on and tell me I am not great at being a human being FFS.
Even had to rescue one poor chap with hypothermia. Breaking down when you are dressed in lycra is not a good idea in Scotland.
The bottom line for me is that you really ought to want to help and would gratefully receive it should you need to.
A lot of folk don't help themselves - granted. A few years ago on a very cold and blustery January day in the Peaks a couple of us were riding when another rider came along dressed in shorts and a single lycra short-sleeved shirt. Where we were riding was no massively remote or anything like it, but I just thought that the guy was so daft to assume that he wasn't going to have a mechanical or crash or injure himself somehow. Dressed as he was, stationary and in trouble I wouldn't have given him more than half an hour.
Having said that, though, it doesn't make much sense to leave someone to die of hypothermia just to make a point.......
whether in car (when possible, my wife finds this amusing) or on the bike always stop to ask if they need a hand or they are ok
Always.
Once asked a guy at Afan if was OK as riding past. Turned out was in early stages of hypothermia. Had to abandon bike and half carry him down to Glyncorrwg. It was in January, very cold and just getting dark so there wasn't anyone else about. My riding buddies were a fair bit ahead. Luckily a group came by and helped.
Its no inconvenience to slow down as passing and check.
Yup, even if it's a roadie puke. 😉 I carry one of those cheap Halfords bike toolkits in the car with a track pump. Mainly for the day I forget my own admin.
I've stopped and helped in the past, given tubes, lent pumps and chain tools in the past. I think most people would help TBH.
I ran out of petrol on my gt380 once, so i parked up on the grass verge and phoned my mate to bring me some petrol.
He took half an hour to arrive, there must have been 20 people (it was a quiet road) stopped to ask if i was ok, even though the bike was upright with the fuel cap open.
I was actually quite surprised.
Not all strangers are dicks.
In 2004 I wore through a rear rim while riding from Edinburgh to Cork.
I was about an hours ride out of Belfast when the rim went, out in the countryside.
I flagged down a passing rodie and asked where the nearest shop was.
He went home, put his bike rack on and drove me to a shop, not just the closest one, where I could afford a new rear wheel.
I dropped my bike computer in his car and he went back to the shop to get it posted to me, I'd bought a pair pd second hand wheels as they were cheaper than a new one and the shop was posting the other one to my home.
I always ask and stop to help:-)
Thanks bloke on the fancy look frame 🙂
My best bodges have been removing a bolt from my mud guard to fix someone's sliding dropout on a ti inbred, and securing some lads saddle to the top tube with zip ties and gaffa tape at cannock when his seat post broke.
I'm never going to be out of debt to the karma bank
always been thankful to a guy who picked me up off the verge of the Leeds ring road 30 odd years ago after I'd been hit and insisted on taking me home despite me bleeding in his car and me insisting I was OK - crank was snapped and would have been a long walk in those pre mobile days and pretty sure was a long way out of his way (the driver who hit me wrote down a false address 🙁 )
usually ask if got everything need, done a few bodge repairs, nursed an injured teen to a road and negotiated pick up with his dad the other week, picked up riders walking in middle of nowhere and dropped at towns/cafes ....
I think it's easy to help someone we relate to and why wouldn't you check if a rider has all they need, is OK etc. It's the right thing to do.
How about an attempt to make the word a friendlier place - can you take that helping-out attitude into the town or city where you see people sleeping rough? To go over, sit down next to them and ask how things are going? Obviously, the answer's often not that great ... and it can feel awkward if you're the introverted type, but the answers and the conversations can be (for me) suprising, thought-provoking and (for them) sometimes more appreciated than a quid tossed their way without much of a look or hello. How people can feel that invisible is something I can't get over. It's also easy then to ask if they need anything from the local Tesco etc, go and spend a little on something they might need. How commonly the answer is 'wetwipes' or similar is heartbreaking - we're often told they just spend donations on drink or drugs... Some do, like we spend on the mid-week wine but that's just a line that eases our consciences as we ignore the problem.
It's a time of year when it's needed and it's a little bit of help or contact that's needed any time. If you do, thanks. Apologies for going OT.
can you take that helping-out attitude into the town or city where you see people sleeping rough? To go over, sit down next to them and ask how things are going?
Did exactly this on Thursday with my daughter while we were meant to be christmas shopping amongst a bunch of materialistic morons who struggle to even understand the value of holding a door open for the next person. We chatted about music.
Been in the same position myself.
Apparently I'm awesome though. 🙄
I'll always offer help by saying 'alright mate?'.
People have helped me out too before.
Best one was a guy on a BSO full susser who's bike had collapsed.
As chance had it, I was carrying an 8mm Allen key which it turned out was just the right tool to get him home!
most riders are selfish shits as far as I’m concerned,
Unequivocal heroes according to this thread! 😂
Always, or at the very least slow down and ask.
Best one I had was second lap of 24/12 about 10 years ago. Nearly every rider slowed down and asked if I was ok, needed a tube etc.. Unfortuntaly I'd snapped the rear triangle of my Prestige Kona Kilauea... when I replied that unless they had a welder on them it was ok it raised many a smile.
The best bit was over the rest of the weekend the number of people who came up to me between laps (pairs) and asked if id managed to sort my bike out, reminded me that Kona had a lifetime warranty etc...
This was my first race in 10 years so I wasnt known on the scene, I was just another random rider. One of the main reason why I started racing again.
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!!!
-
I'm not far away and think I know the exact same group of "mamils" they never greet a fellow cyclist and appear almost elitist in their attitude.
Whereabouts are you diz?
We must have passed somewhere.
I check my Strava flybys for you - if that's your Strava name I'll find you!!!!
Best one that ever happened to me:
Road race in N Wales in the early 90's - lots of attacks going off the front of the bunch, including me having a go to (I was quite good once!).
I flick of an elbow and the guy infront of me went down & I hit him at about 30 mph - over the bars and landed square on my well protected forehead (hard shell helmets had just come out) but then took the rest of the impact on my face (very nasty cuts and concussion).
A passing lady motorist pushed past the commissaires who were stood gazing at me bleeding in the road and chucked me straight in the back of her car - straight to Wrexham A&E.....I have no idea who she was but she could well have been a passing angel....
Always stop to help peeps.
Happened to me only last week. The worst riding conditions I've ever experienced, 70mph winds and freezing horizontal rain, icey road, etc. I'd hit the proverbial wall about a mile back and was reduced to walking with my bike to make headway. I'd passed the Cat & Fiddle, which was closed, so couldn't get any respite from the intense conditions and making my way over the pass on the A537 towards Buxton. Stuck my thumb out to passing motorists, they were all going slow in the worsening conditions and within 15 seconds someone stopped. I realised that I was suffering from hypothermia when I started talking gibberish on his offer of help. He was brilliant, and very carmly told me to take my time. He got out of his small hatchback and dropped the seats to make room for the bike. He obviously wasn't a cyclist as he asked me if the wheels could be removed. I apologised, as I'd lost the feeling in my fingers and thumbs! Eventually with some feeling restored I removed the wheels and he gave me a lift back to my car parked in Buxton. Took me a full hour before I stopped shivering enough to drive the car! Top bloke and obviously my guardian angel for Christmas!
Whereabouts are you diz?
We must have passed somewhere.
I check my Strava flybys for you – if that’s your Strava name I’ll find you!!!!
I'm the other side of Crank Hill, strava name Karl Disley.
There are two Karl Disleys!
One has done nothing and the other has a track cyclist as an avatar. I've sent a request.
I'm Franco di Banco.
I'm on the coast in Ainsdale.
There are two Karl Disleys!
One has done nothing and the other has a track cyclist as an avatar. I’ve sent a request.
I’m Franco di Banco.
I’m on the coast in Ainsdale.
Track rider is the one, I've just accepted
Yup, found it.
Bonzer.
I always stop to ask if they need anything or help. It’s definitely weird not to, although once I did it and ended up there for 1/2 hour before someone else stopped who actually had decent mechanic skill took over and sorted the problem in 5 minutes!
I usually ask if they're OK - in the local woods its sometimes just the lack of a multitool that has forced them to walk.
Last August bank holiday I lulled the van over on the NYM to give ome guy a lift to Commondale station, I can't remember what his problem was, but it was a long walk to the nearest railway.
The last time I asked, it was the middle of the night, the middle of nowhere and the guy had snapped his chain. I had him fixed up with a quick link in a few minutes.