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

**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.

**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

**Jiffer** · 10-02-2008, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by jobob

"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!!!

**channlluv** · 10-02-2008, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by Jiffer

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

**melissam** · 10-02-2008, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by jobob

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!!!

(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.

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

Thread Tools

Display

Hybrid View

passing

and now, the flip side ...

Posting Permissions