Would you help a stranded cyclist? (a poll)

[Quixote]

Let's say that you're on a ride and you come upon a stranded cyclist. He is alone and obviously having mechanical issues with his bike. In the interest of controlling the variables, let's also say that the cyclist is male (not the hot babe that you've dreamed about finding alone on the side of the road).
How much assistance, if any, are you willing to give to your fellow cyclist to get him back on the road?
Also, what's the most help that you've either offered in a situation like this or received?

 

[Martin318is]

I think its a bit circumstances dependant. I always at least take a moment to check that people are okay but what I do beyond that has a lot to do with the person themselves. I've received quite gruff dismissive answers which see me leaving them to it and I've had desperate cries for help that have had me help them get all the way home.

An example:

I did an endurance MTB race last year and about 2hours in (on the far side of the course) I arrived to find a young rider (I'd guess he was about 14) who was on the side of the track just sitting there. He had somehow ended up with a flat tyre and no pump and he looked like someone had kicked his dog. I stopped and used my inflator to pump up his tyre and made sure he was on his way before I continued.

If he had been an adult - or at least a late teen - I would almost certainly ridden straight past him while thinking he deserved the flat for entering a race without the right equipment.

I also don't normally stop if the person looks like they have everything they need and know what they are doing. Personally I get really annoyed when I am changing a flat or something and have to keep looking up to 'happily' let passing people know I am fine...

 

[Quixote]

The most help that I ever witnessed was on a century last year. The rider who I had teamed up with had broken a chain. We were about 65 miles out. I was no help at all other than offering moral support as we waited for a SAG. Then the most resourceful rider I've ever met came along...a retired engineer. He started by asking other riders if they carried a link. Finally got one (wrong size), made some adaptations, fashioned a chain tool out of ??? pinecones or snake fangs, tapped it together with flat rocks, and ... success! We were all riding the last 45 miles together. The guy gave up about an hour of his time solving my friend's problem. Needless to say, he wasn't permitted to pay for a single beer at the finish.

 

[RedheadDane]

Never been in such a situation. But if it happened I'd offer them to borrow my phone if they didn't bring theirs and I brought mine so they could call for someone to help them. Wouldn't be able to provide any practical help on the bike...

 

[WillemS]

Difficult question to answer in a poll. Sometimes I stop, other times I slow down and sometimes I ignore. It depends on the circumstances and maybe my mood.

When I see someone changing a flat, well, I figure that he can probably do that by himself. Unless it's a girl of course, then I figure that they can probably do it themselves also, but hey, it's a great way to get to know female cyclist.

With more serious problems, I tend to stop to see if the cyclist has the equipment. I do not always carry that much around, but even a chain tool, hex key or spoke wrench can sometimes be of help.

When I'm doing a hard or specific training or when I'm on a time limit, I might not stop.

 

[Fus087]

Normally between option 2 and 3 for me (voted for 3).

I usually slow down to see if people are OK. If it's a puncture, and they're getting the new tyre back on (so almost done), I see no point in stopping - I may try to make eye contact or ask if they need help to be sure.

If they're struggling with fixing a puncture, I will stop and help. Once I helped an old man who had patched the hole/replaced the tyre, but then apparently had the wrong pump for the valve type. I borrowed him my pump, and after a minute he was up and going again. He also wasn't on a race bike (although he seemed to have one himself), so my help isn't restricted.
Once I had a puncture (my first puncture on that bike) and then found out that the valve on my spare tyre was too short...
Got another tyre from a passing cyclist (after quite some time), and he wouldn't take anything for it. "When I help another cyclist, I do it in the hope that they'll help me when I need it", he said - and I go by that myself.

If a cyclist is sitting/standing at the roadside with another mechanical problem, I will also stop and ask if they need help. Not that I would of much help (a broken chain is out of my expertise, and even more so out in the wild)... But if necessary I'd let them use my mobile phone.

 

[craig1985]

Option 3 is the one that I voted for.

 

[JA.Tri]

3... but as discussed above... that varies. I too operate according to the paradigm 'pay it forward'.

I have luckily been recipient of all manner of assistance...to all those good people and those of similar view, my heartfelt thanks.

 

[Martin318is]

By the way, my definition of "cyclist" for the purpose of this poll is someone riding something other than a BMX.

Also it gets downgraded if they are a fixie hipster (fixie okay, hipster nay)

 

[python]

as most active riders, i've been in the situation many times..

if i'm in no particular rush due some earlier plans and alone, my invariable routine is to slow down and ask, 'is everything ok ?'

i don't usually measure or evaluate the situation for the need of my involvement, i rather concentrate on making sure my concern was registered.

having obtained a response one way or the other, only then i make a decision as to whether i should stop or not.

this usually takes moments and most of the time, an appreciating gesture or a word, have me continue rolling by.

this pattern, has less to do with being a 'nice guy' and rather having considerable pride in my mechanical propensity. that's why i carry a more extensive assortment of tools and spares than one would find on a casual cyclist.

 

[laziali]

Slow down and ask if ok, unless (like Martin) they obviously have it under control or are with a group. Seems to be pretty much universal etiquette where I'm from in oz.

 

[krebs303]

I keep bike tools, floor pump, mtb tube and road tube in my cars boot. And have helped riders several times. I just slow down inquire if they need any assistance.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

I slow down and ask if they need help. Typically, they have it taken care of and I keep going, but a few have seem relieved that I offered and gladly accepted. If they need help, I'll stick around as long as it takes. It has a way coming back to you.

 

[Race Radio]

If you have the right gear it seldom takes more then 5 minutes to fix most issues so I always as if they need help. I carry both 10 & 11 links as well as a multi tool with a chain breaker. The links weigh a few grams and the tool is super small.

If I can't fix it in 5 minutes I let them use my phone to call a ride.

 

[riobonito92]

Since the results of this poll are not in much doubt how about some follow-up questions.

E.g. If you stop and the rider doesn't have a spare tube because they left home without one, do you give them yours or do you pretend that you don't have one either.

I used to regularly give away tubes but now my attitude is more that if you don't carry a spare you should be prepared to hitch hike home.

Unless it's a child, of course.

 

[krebs303]

I give them a tube, take theirs, patch it at home and pass it on to the next guy

 

[Quixote]

E.g. If you stop and the rider doesn't have a spare tube because they left home without one, do you give them yours or do you pretend that you don't have one either.
.

I guess I'm old school...still patch flats. I had a tube two years ago that had six patches (a North American Record) before I had to put it down.
So, I offer the stranded cyclist a patch and a free lesson on how to apply it. I swear, some guys can't believe I'm serious...like it's voodoo. Anyway, that's it, they get a patch but not my spare.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Can usually sum up the situation before I roll past just by looking at body language and what they're working on. If it looks bad I'll stop and offer assistance, if it looks under control I just ride slowly past and ask if they've got it covered.

Surprises me how many people don't go out with essential tools for anything more than a flat. Most common is no chain breaker, I also carry links.

 

[BroDeal]

I guess I'm old school...still patch flats. I had a tube two years ago that had six patches (a North American Record) before I had to put it down.

Six does not even get you to the starting line of the national championships, bro. I think I have at least ten on a tube in one of my bikes. I'll have to count next time I puncture.

So, I offer the stranded cyclist a patch and a free lesson on how to apply it. I swear, some guys can't believe I'm serious...like it's voodoo. Anyway, that's it, they get a patch but not my spare.

Been there. A while back I came upon a triathlete with a Softride-- he must have bought it of eBay or something--walking his bike. No tube, no pump, no nothin'. It was late fall and destined to get cold by the end of my ride, so I was not too keen on giving him my spare tube for fear that I would flat and have to patch the tube in sub-40 degree temps. I helped him patch his tube, but he looked at me like I was showing him how to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together.

 

[mewmewmew13]

I slow down and ask if they need help. Typically, they have it taken care of and I keep going, but a few have seem relieved that I offered and gladly accepted. If they need help, I'll stick around as long as it takes. It has a way coming back to you.

this .....

 

[usedtobefast]

make sure the situation is ok. i have my phone and that is the best repair kit out there. most folks around where i ride seem to be prepared,knock wood.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

Since the results of this poll are not in much doubt how about some follow-up questions.

E.g. If you stop and the rider doesn't have a spare tube because they left home without one, do you give them yours or do you pretend that you don't have one either.

I've only been in that situation a couple times and I gave them the tube because I wasn't too far away from home. They needed it more than I did at that point.

 

[Martin318is]

Surprises me how many people don't go out with essential tools for anything more than a flat. Most common is no chain breaker, I also carry links.

What scares me is the number of so called serious riders that don't even carry a spare tube or pump because, "I don't get flats".

Morons

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

What scares me is the number of so called serious riders that don't even carry a spare tube or pump because, "I don't get flats".

Morons

Ever since moving to Colorado I've flatted far more than in Minnnesota. In the Rocky Mountain region of the US we have these nasty goathead thorns. It only took one double flat, roughly 10 thorns per tire for me to realize that riding with 2 tubes is the minimum here. No amount of tire sealant will save you out here if you run through a patch of these....

 

[Le breton]

What scares me is the number of so called serious riders that don't even carry a spare tube or pump because, "I don't get flats".

Morons

What I have seen more often are "cyclists" that have an inoperative pump. (I have a "real" pump that fits on the frame). Sometime I end up doing the pumping as they don't even know how to properly use a hand pump. I sort of resent having stopped for such guys sometimes.

You also get the guys who punctured instantly their spare tube because they didn't first check to find and remove the piece of glass, or whatever, caused the flat.