I would also say the odds were he was thanking you for pulling him in - tho' impossible to say for sure.

Since he used that phrase, that adds to the evidence that he's got at least some experience. You rode together for a good chunk of the ride. I think most people are the "silent-communication" types (and could learn a little from Grog )... If he had expected you to hang back and pull him all the way in, then I think he'd have been hanging back for you, earlier. It sounds like he was appreciating the bits of help along the way, really, because
a: he was worn down bcause he was riding his slower bike and having to work harder,
B: he had had to ride extra because he kept missing turns (which was probably because he'd already fried himself going out too hard)
C: he probably didn't quite have enough to hang with you and at a certain point, yea, I know I just want to be able to have my own fits and starts and not make people wonder why I'm with 'em, then without 'em.

and D: remember, he was exhausted... so if his words sort of didn't *quite* make sense and no, you didn't "pull him in" as in all the way, but ... you did pull him through probably that really rough "will this *ever be over* part of the ride.