turning a blind eye

[limewave]

I am amazed that people often ignore situations around them. It's so easy to just ask if someone needs help. Even if you think you might not be able to be of assistance, sometimes just having an extra set of hands is needed.

A few weeks ago I was riding with both of my kids with the trail-a-bike and burly. We were on a long, steep hill and I dropped a chain. I think 5-7 cyclists rode right past us. I'm an experienced rider, fixing a dropped chain is no biggie. But I was surprised that no one offered to help being that I obviously had a mechanical issue and two small children with me.

[Crankin]

I ask anyone who is by the side of the road, unless they are obviously fixing something themselves or on the phone. Not that I could help with much, but I do have basic flat changing stuff and extra tubes.
Last fall I was riding with one friend; I came to a stop sign and made a left. After I turned, I stopped to wait for my friend. At the intersection there was one of those New England type triangle intersections, with a small "green" in the middle. Two guys, around my age were lying/sitting on the grass, with their bikes laying on their sides. I asked if they needed help, they waved me off, without even a thank you. After my friend got there, and I was taking off some layers, I noticed one of the guys' wives driving up in a Cadillac Escalade, and putting their bikes in the car. I think they just were tired of the hills around here!

[nscrbug]

I will always slowdown and ask if help is needed...usually I get a "thumbs up" and continue on my way. Was on a ride with a friend not too long ago. Two guys on tri bikes pulled out from a side road and were in front of us...about 100 or so meters up ahead. Suddenly, I see the guy in front violently thrash his bike from side to side, before slamming into the street. I just screamed out loud "Oh my God, that guy just went down". Nearly 2 seconds later, the guy behind him rode right into him, and also went down. My friend and I stopped and jumped off our bikes to help. The 2 guys were hurt pretty badly...lots of road rash and one of them was holding his collarbone, which I presumed was broken. Lucky for them, they crashed right in front of a local fire department...so the EMT's literally just ran down the driveway to get to them. I was so freaked out by the whole incident, that my hands were shaking and I actually had trouble steering my bike for awhile. Turned out that the first guy went down because a bee flew into his shirt and he was trying to swat it away.

I crashed my own bike and went down on the street in front of some busineses, and several people came rushing over to help. One offered bandages and a first aid kit. Aside from a few scrapes, I was okay and my DH was with me at the time. But it was nice to get the offers of help.