Anyone else have Good Samaritans who stop to help with your bike? [Archive]

Jiffer

09-30-2008, 07:28 PM

In the past couple of weeks, my riding buddy and I have had to deal with three tire issues out on the road. Two flats and that tire "tumor" I posted about, all three resulting in taking the BACK wheel off and on and putting air in the tire. (Not to mention my front tire was flat just before a club ride once recently and I changed it all by my very own self ... my very first tire change on my own ... and I was even on a time limit to get to the ride before everyone left! :D)

Anyways, all three of the times out on the road, we were pretty far along in our tire fixes when one or more guys stopped to see if we needed help. The first time, the help was really useful. The second it was nice, but less necessary. However, when it happened today, I was pretty excited for us to accomplish the entire task all on our own, which we could have done perfectly well. But just as we were putting the wheel back on the bike, which takes some doing with the back wheel, a couple of friendly guys stopped to see if we needed help. We both said, "No thank you. We're fine", ... but they felt inclined to come over anyways and just to make sure. Since they were there, I went ahead and let one of them put the wheel back on. I did, however, fill the air all on my own with the C02 cartridge (something that frustrated me the other two times, resulting in either letting the guy do it or the guy using his own regular pump). But today I did the C02 cartridge on my own. :) Woo hoo!

When my husband heard of our latest adventure, he said, "Well, I guess i don't have to worry about you guys anymore." Not only are we getting pretty capable of taking care of things on our own, but there always seems to be a Good Samaritan guy or guys going by ready to lend a hand, whether it's wanted or not!!! ;)

MtnBikerChk

10-01-2008, 03:19 AM

Nice job!

We've had a few people offer to stop and help - even 1 guy in a passing truck but my favorite was the cop that pulled up and said "can I call AAA for you?"

(he was kidding - it was pretty funny)

Dogmama

10-01-2008, 04:43 AM

It's about 50/50 here.

I always slow down & yell, "Got everything you need?" I always carry two tubes so I can give one away.

It's a karma thing. Or a bike-ma thing?

Aggie_Ama

10-01-2008, 04:51 AM

Sometimes, usually someone asks if you have everything you need. I say yes and they head on. I usually ride with DH so maybe that is why but personally I prefer they go on their way. We did take a CO2 off a nice guy one day when we were on our third flat. Had three tubes but not CO2.

indigoiis

10-01-2008, 05:49 AM

I have found mostly good samaritan action. Yesterday my red flashing taillight went flying off my bike, batteries and everything scattered, on a steep downhill (so everything went everywhere.) I set my bike down by the side of the road, walked back up (klunck, klunck, klunck) and used my headlamp to look for all the parts (amazingly, the thing was not broken - it is a Cateye and I will buy this brand again). As I searched around, three cars came down the hill and all of them slowed and asked if I was okay. Granted it was dark and may have looked odd with me wandering around in cleats and a headlamp. But it was still nice of them to stop.

Kalidurga

10-01-2008, 07:25 AM

Not only have I had multiple people stop and offer help on the rare occasions I've had a flat, I've also noticed that folks show concern when I'm just stopped for a break. I'll be leaning on my top tube or sitting on the ground admiring the view, and folks will slow down to ask if everything's ok. A guy in a pickup truck even stopped and backed up to check on me one day recently when I was out riding gravel backroads (and, no, he didn't seem at all psycho).

I usually pride myself on being self-sufficient, but it's definitely nice to know that the majority of folks would be willing to help if it was needed. Definitely inspires me to offer help whenever I can.

ny biker

10-01-2008, 07:33 AM

andtckrtoo

10-01-2008, 07:35 AM

I get that a lot, too, especially as I ride solo. It's nice. Of course, I'll always slow down and ask if everything is okay when someone is stopped, too. I'd hate to be one of those people who passed by someone in need.

Kalidurga

10-01-2008, 08:03 AM

Sometimes people will ask if I need help if I'm pulled over, but in my experience most people ignore you. There have been several times on very hot days when I've literally been sitting on the side of the road with my head between my knees because I felt sick from the heat, and 9 out of 10 people (joggers and cyclists) passed me without saying a word.

Well, that's cause you ride in Virginia! :rolleyes:

I can crack that joke because I was born and raised in NoVa, before crossing the river into MD ;) Seriously, though, that is a shame. There does seem to be some difference riding closer to the city than farther out. Once you're past the suburbs, folks are also more inclined to wave and say hello as they go by. That's probably part of the reason why I so rarely ride anywhere within 25 miles of DC.

Veronica

10-01-2008, 08:16 AM

Coming home in the car from my race on Saturday we stopped for three cyclists pulled over changing a flat. We figured they would appreciate the use of our full size pump.

We do that a lot.

Veronica

ny biker

10-01-2008, 09:56 AM

Well, that's cause you ride in Virginia! :rolleyes:

I can crack that joke because I was born and raised in NoVa, before crossing the river into MD ;) Seriously, though, that is a shame. There does seem to be some difference riding closer to the city than farther out. Once you're past the suburbs, folks are also more inclined to wave and say hello as they go by. That's probably part of the reason why I so rarely ride anywhere within 25 miles of DC.

Actually it has happened to me in Montgomery County! But it was on Beach Drive, which I think has gotten less pleasant for riding over the years. Just too many people in too much of a hurry.

There was one very hot day (riding in Virginia!) when I had to get up a very big hill in order to get home, and I was resting under a tree at the bottom before starting the climb. A woman in a minivan pulled over and offered me a ride to the top. I said no thanks because I generally don't get into cars with strangers, but before long I was wishing I had taken her up on her offer. Luckily someone living at the top of the hill had a sprinkler on in their front yard, so I stood under it for a few minutes to cool off. I half-expected the homeowner to come out and ask what the hell I was doing in their yard, but either they didn't see me or they didn't mind.

And yes, I have since realized that I need to avoid riding on hot summer afternoons. I just can't handle the heat.

Jiffer

10-01-2008, 02:08 PM

I have since realized that I need to avoid riding on hot summer afternoons. I just can't handle the heat.

Just a tip for times when you can't avoid riding in the heat. If you have a place for two bottles, keep water in one and your sports drink in the other. The water bottle being primarily for dumping on your head, down the front of your shirt, on your legs. It's good to soak your clothes with it, because it will last longer.

On a 65 mile stupid hot and humid day, dh and I had to do our last training ride on our tandem for a century. We stopped often for water refills and dowsed ourselves as often as possible. It's the only thing that made the ride somewhat bearable and the water was amazingly helpful. And you can fill your bottle at a hose or drinking fountain or whatever. Doesn't have to be special "drinking" water.

spindizzy

10-01-2008, 05:41 PM

Alas - I have only had one flat out on the road; when I was brand new to serious cycling. I was a mere 5k from home and felt my rim. I had only practiced changing a front tire! Pulled off to the side, flipped my bike over and got to work.

I have never had so many fine looking male cyclists and even fine looking men in cars just looking for a (sweaty, tired) damsel in distress. Unfortunately for them, I am a very proud damsel, :D sent them on their merry way with a smile and a wave and managed the flat all by myself!

I carry extra tubes myself and have given a few away - just asked them to "pay it forward."

RolliePollie

10-01-2008, 07:39 PM

I've had several flats on the road this year, the latest being today. I usually don't see too many other cyclists on the road...it's a very rural area. But also friendly...99% of other cyclists I see wave or say hello.

Today while I was wrestling my tire, two women rode by on hybrids within a few minutes of each other and neither said a word to me. One even stopped to stretch about 50 feet past me but never looked back. They're certainly not obligated to stop or to talk to me...but if I come across someone with a flat, I always ask if I can help or if they have everything they need. Maybe they figured my wheels were too skinny for their tubes? I don't know, but I was sort of disappointed that they didn't even offer any assistance.

I would be forever grateful if someone in a car happened to come by and offer me a full sized pump! My frame pump wears me out and I gave up on CO2...I can never get those things to work when I need them!

crazycanuck

10-01-2008, 09:36 PM

I often will pass a person slowly & ask if everything's cool. I'll stop if need be.

I did pass someone last week & knew I couldn't help him as i didn't have the tool required. I thought it would be stupid to say "everything cool?" if I knew it would be out of my hands! I think he bent a crank..?

pardes

10-01-2008, 09:47 PM

I can be waiting at a bus stop and people stop and want to help....they think I have a flat tire. Then when I start to put the bike on the bus, several people offer to help. Then you'll hear the bus driver say, "She don't NEED no help, that woman's got it DOWN!"

If I get this reaction at 62, I can just imagine the reaction I'll get at 72.

SouthernBelle

10-02-2008, 05:14 AM

I've frequently received offers of help, esp if I'm in a high traffic area. Once, before I got my CO2 carts, I let a guy help me pump with my mini-pump.

Another time, I decided to walk the bike about a mile home and change the flat as it was extremely hot. I walked by a guy out mowing his yard. He stopped mowing, got his jeep, came and got me and took me home. Bless his heart.

jobob

10-02-2008, 08:53 AM

My husband was riding our local MUT (the Alameda Creek Trail) yesterday. He saw a cyclist stopped on the side of the trail working on her bike so he pulled up and asked something along the lines of "do you have everything you need?"

(which, I might add, is the standard question both he and I ask any cyclist stopped along the side of the road with an apparent mechanical problem).

According to Lee, this woman came unglued on him - "Why would you think I need help just because I'm a woman!!!" (and so forth).

Getting the hint, he gave her a cheery wave and continued on his way. :cool:

Aggie_Ama

10-02-2008, 08:59 AM

Good lord JoBob! I do feel sometimes I get the question in a way that sounds patronizing since I am a woman. My standard reply is "Got it under control" or "It's okay, I have plenty of practice".

jobob

10-02-2008, 10:47 AM

I know what you mean Ama, some guys do give off that vibe.

Happily, my husband isn't one of them. :)

otherwise I'd keel him

sundial

10-02-2008, 01:00 PM

Someone will stop to help me if I'm already fixing something. If I just pulled over and am dying of heat stroke, well, that's another story. :mad:

I have the gas can theory. If you are walking with a gas can, someone will come to your aid pretty quick. If you are just bumbling along, you can kiss your chances for assistance good bye.

Jiffer

10-02-2008, 01:07 PM

"Why would you think I need help just because I'm a woman!!!" (and so forth).

Oh brother. Some day that lady may actually be stranded, but will have previously chased off all the friendly people who might have, otherwise, offered to help.

My husband called me to bring him a tire pump one time because he had a flat and forgot to replace his C02 cartridge the previous time. Just as I got there, there was a lady driving by who slowed to ask if he needed anything, as she lived around the corner and had "bike stuff" there. A "woman" asking a "guy" if he needed help. It works both ways.

If your husband gets that reaction again from an irate female, he should respond with, "No, I thought you might need help because you're a human being." ;)

kie_fujo

10-02-2008, 01:31 PM

i have had a flat one time. we were way out of town on a highway with a nice big shoulder. it was my first day on my brand new bike. and of course we didn't have a pump!! my husband took off to get the car and i just began walking to get as far as i could. a few minutes after he left there was a cyclist on the other side of the road. i wasn't going to yell across the highway to him but i couldn't help but think "he probably has a pump". a few minutes later i hear "ding, ding" behind me. he had come around and offered help. i had a tube and tools...just no pump. so he helped me change it and by the time i got a few pedal strokes down the road my husband showed up!! i made sure i got a pump after that! the last time we went riding my husband got a flat and i got to change it for him!!!

tab123

10-02-2008, 02:09 PM

crazycanuck

10-02-2008, 04:06 PM

If someone stopped, asked me if i needed help but I didn't want it i'd just say " Nope, i'm coolio thanks!"

Jiffer

10-02-2008, 07:10 PM

Early on in my biking career (before I knew to carry some basics with me), I had a flat about 10 miles from home on the Chicago lakefront path. Normally not a big deal, except it was February and about 30 degrees out with a NE wind off the lake. I started walking home and began shivering in minutes. Another cyclist stopped, gave me his extra tube (in exchange for mine), fixed my flat, and gave me good tips on fixing a flat. After that heartening experience, I always ask if someone needs help. (Men are almost always shocked that I have tools, a mini-pump, etc.)

My husband is sort of the overseer of the bike bag with tools in our world. When he realized my friend didn't have a big bag and was, apparently, never going to bother to get one ... he took his off his bike and put it on hers.

When my OTHER friend bought her first bike and was having "sticker shock" with the cost of, not only the beautiful Ruby bike, but all the add ons (helmet, shoes, etc) ... she just couldn't bring herself to spend one more penny to get the bike bag and tools. So, hubby went to the LBS and bought her one with everything she needed and gave it to her as a "welcome to cycling" gift. He gave me a hands on lesson on fixing flats after I got mine. Lucky for me he did, because although it took over a year, I finally needed to do it, and then again and again! (Time for some new tires!)

melissam

10-02-2008, 07:20 PM

My husband was riding our local MUT (the Alameda Creek Trail) yesterday. He saw a cyclist stopped on the side of the trail working on her bike so he pulled up and asked something along the lines of "do you have everything you need?"

According to Lee, this woman came unglued on him - "Why would you think I need help just because I'm a woman!!!" (and so forth).

What?!?! Some woman gave LeeBob a hard time? I'll go beat her up!!! :mad:

(Although I'm sure LeeBob could defend himself just fine, thankyewveddymuch...)

I could just picture him smiling politely, waving cheerily and heading off into the sunset.

channlluv

10-02-2008, 08:32 PM

If your husband gets that reaction again from an irate female, he should respond with, "No, I thought you might need help because you're a human being." ;)

Ha! I love that response.

Roxy

tennisgirl43

10-03-2008, 04:10 PM

not really help with my bike, but when I stopped to take a water/stretch break at the top of a particularly tough hill today, this sweet older woman came out of her house across the street (really rural area) and offered to refill my water bottle. I told her thanks, but I had another bottle left and was almost home.

That really made my day to have someone be so kind!!

Jiffer

10-04-2008, 08:10 AM

I had another Good Samaritan experience, this one a little more interesting. First of all, I had a flat again before I ever left for my ride with my friends yesterday. The same tire that was changed on my last ride. We fixed it, but about 7 miles into the ride, going uphill .... thump, thump, thump. It was flat again!!! (Taking my bike to LBS today, by the way. Getting new tires and having them check it out for me.)

Anyways, since we were so close to my friends house, where we started, and it was pretty much all downhill, I had hoped that if I simply put air in the tire, it would get me back.

But the funny part is, right after I stopped and got off my bike, I heard a honk and looked to see my pastor waving to me as he rolled by the opposite direction with a car behind him. I pushed my bike up to where my friend had stopped and, as I suspected, Pastor Danny pulled up behind me shortly thereafter, to see if everything was okay. (He rides, too, by the way ... we even sucked him into trading up his ancient cobweb filled bike for a decent newer one!) I was about to put the air in and must have at least "appeared" to look competent, so he went ahead and left to get to the gym. I laughed and told Dawn, "Another 'guy' stopped to help!" Who'd a thought it would be Pastor Danny?!

Of course, 100 feet down the road, the air was gone and we had to replace the tube ... again. Three guys came zooming by downhill as we changed it and asked if we needed help. I yelled, "We're good!", and waved them on, which I think they were happy to do.

I'm off to the LBS now!!!

Kvixen23

10-04-2008, 08:34 AM

I recently had the misfortune of a flat tire while out on the road with my husband. We changed the tube, aired her up and headed out. However, within less than a half mile, it was flat again. We didn't have anymore CO2 as we fumbled with the one I had and then used my husbands for the first flat.

We knew we were 5 miles from home and I couldn't walk it with my bike shoes or barefoot. Seeing as how we both left the house without a cell phone :eek: and were nowhere near a gas station or other useful public place, we decided that he would ride home and get the truck to retrieve me. However, we saw a couple of women coming out of the museum up the hill and rode up to ask if we could borrow a phone. One lady was kind enough to let us try our friends but we had no success.

So, my hubby pedaled away and I sat in the grass on the side of the road with my bike and my flat. While sitting there I was working out what to say if someone did stop to offer help. However, no one stopped. I started counting cars due to boredom. I stopped counting after 30.....no one even slowed down.

Thankfully my friends called back the unfamiliar number and the lady told him where I was stranded. He showed up and rescued me while his partner waited at our house for my husband so he would know I was being retrieved from my demise.

Usually people in Oklahoma are very friendly. I don't know what happened that day that no one stopped. I'm still trying to figure that out.......Needless to say, we will not be forgetting a cell phone anytime soon. Also, I took my bike to my LBS and they found a small piece of glass in the tire.....go figure!!

Jiffer

10-04-2008, 09:33 PM

Ino one stopped. I started counting cars due to boredom. I stopped counting after 30.....no one even slowed down.

Were there any cyclists who rode by? All of my help has been from cyclists going by, and in our area, there are always cyclists on whatever road I'd be riding MY bike on.

The only time a car stopped for me, so far, was when it was my Pastor, so he knew me.

And, yes ... ALWAYS have your cell phone on you!!! ;) When I was with my two friends and one of them crashed and went unconscious, my other friend didn't have hers. She purposefully left it since she knew we had ours. But it was so frustrating for her not to have it to be able to call her husband and other people during the midst of our crisis. I used mine to call 911 and friends and she took the "fallen" friend's phone out of the back of her jersey and used it some, but it didn't have phone numbers on it that her own phone had.j

Glad you got home okay. :)

SouthernBelle

10-05-2008, 08:29 AM

If you were just sitting, they would assume you were resting.

My little story today: I ride with a bandanna tied around my wrist for mopping sweat, etc. Today it blew off and was sitting in the middle of the highway. I stopped, laid down the bike to run back and get it. A car stopped, blocking traffic so it wouldn't get run over. :) Wasn't that nice? And it was my good orange one that Meg gave me.

deeaimond

10-05-2008, 06:55 PM

One night I was riding with a friend and my BB jammed up so we were stuck in the middle of nowhere. It was a small narrow two lane road, and we were waving at people like crazy but everyone just zoomed by. And these were all trucks. Sigh. I had to call my dad to come pick me up and send me back to uni. Usually if my dad is driving we always stop and ask if we see people who need help (sometimes even foreign workers who are walking a long distance back to their lodgings), so its not too easy to fathom pple who drive but can't stop to help people in obvious need.

Oh but i've had people obviously slow down and drive behind me while I negotiate a more complicated spot of traffic. In a way helping me block the traffic behind and its a particularly nice feeling.

Cataboo

10-06-2008, 04:49 PM

I've had men pause (in bikes or in cars) to ask if I'm okay when I've stopped at the top of a hill to rest, or if I stop to take photos. I can't say that I've had a female do it, but I do see less females out cycling in general.

Anytime I've had a flat - I've always had the tools to fix it, and while noone's stopped to help, I don't actually need it. Anytime I've had a flat car tire on the highway, guys have stopped to help - which I usually say, it's okay I've got it, and then I let them change it when they insist.

I usually at least pause to offer help if I see someone in bike distress.

I did end up walking home 7 miles after my chain broke once (I didn't have a spare pin, and wasn't confident that I could jury rig it when it was dark and I was in the middle of nowhere) without anyone stopping to help - I think a minivan was about to, but I think she noticed I was on my cell phone.

I did decide to walk that 7 miles home on the highway in the dark (direct flat route home instead of via rural hilly farmland), so I can't really expect someone to have seen me and realized I needed help.

I crashed once and had fairly bad (okay, my first case so for me it was bad) road rash, had warped my wheel, and sent my friend to bike back & get a car because I really wasn't equipped to true the wheel and we were only 2 miles or so from home... I decided to start walking back instead of just sitting on the side of the road, and had helpful motorcyclists shouting at me "why don't you ride that thing?"

colby

10-06-2008, 06:18 PM

I have had people stop and ask if I needed help with a flat, usually I'm with someone when it happens and we wave them on. So far I haven't had any other major malfunctions (knock on wood). I have had strangers when I'm running ask me what I'm training for and say 'good luck' or 'great job', but nothing as cute as the little older lady and water bottle refills. ;)

Earlier this spring I went out for an Ironman training ride and it started to rain. Not mist. Rain. I can handle a little rain and I had my arm warmers (was just wearing a short sleeve jersey), but didn't have them on because it of course did not start out by raining and we'd had a lot of days that threatened, or sprinkled, but then the weather moved on, which I can handle. By the time I was cold enough to put them on, it would have been like putting on a wet bathing suit. ;) I had come up on another rider just as it started sprinkling, and started riding the back side of the loop with her. She wasn't training for the IM this year, but was local (more local than I - about 15-20 miles separated where she lived and where I live). This fine woman offered to drive me home rather than ride the additional 15-20 miles (on top of the many hilly and chilly miles I had already done). It was pouring when we got to her house. It was dry when we got to mine. Go figure. I guess it just wasn't my day to ride... (my bike) Lucy and I were soaked to the bone (gills? carbon?).

I will never forget that gesture and will certainly offer others the same courtesy if I'm in a position to do so. One of the guys at work has a saying on his instant messenger, small courtesies are the lubricant of everyday life.

So, thanks Christine, if you're out there. :)

crazybikinchic

10-07-2008, 02:10 PM

My husband does not ride, but goes with me when I ride. A friend and I had gone to a popular riding spot a few years ago and DH was with us. He had bottled water and gatorade and a few snacks for us. Some other cyclist came through were he was and he gave them all some of the water (it was cold water and Texas heat) and snacks.

This year, I have had 3 flats. All have been on training rides with a group of people that I ride with often. The guys have been quick to help, which doesn't bother me because they can change it much faster than myself. A lady that I was riding with at the HHH had a flat, and again, a guy was quick to stop and help (again, faster than us). We saw him later in the ride helping someone else change a flat. He was funny, had a cooler full of beer trailing behind his bike. He had already had at least 1 when he helped us (at 8:00 am).