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

[Jiffer]

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! )

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[andtckrtoo]

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]

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!

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]

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]

Well, that's cause you ride in Virginia!

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]

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]

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, 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]

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]

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..?