I dont understand some cyclist

[Andy in Germany]

Not having a kickstand is a bit strange to me. We see a lot of very expensive and heavy Ebikes without a stand, which may gain style points but means you are at the mercy of whatever you can find to chain the bike to. We have portable stands for this eventuality, but they all rely on the bike resting a lot of weight on one small area, which doesn't aways work.

 

[sevenfourate]

As we're talking about risk assessment, I will not stop to help a female cyclist on her own, and I'd hesitate to offer help to a group. My male colleagues in social care operate in the same way. All it takes is one comment about "he made me feel unsafe" and everything I've built for the last decades could potentially be destroyed in a few hours.

Complete understand Andy, and whilst I’m sure not as deep as you - i also get somewhat involved with the dangers of being alone with either women; or our young Trainee’s at work. This reinforced by doing many years of Junior Golf Coaching in the past, being DBS checked, attending courses covering working (Alone) with vulnerable groups etc.

All that aside - what a World we now live in. Would my work (Albeit: background mentality and knowledge) stop me if I saw a female cyclist ‘broken down’ or in need on the side of the road ? Probably not if I’m honest. And as you rightly say - it’s me about to put myself in more ‘danger’ more than her / them at that point……..

 

[Punkawallah]

As we're talking about risk assessment, I will not stop to help a female cyclist on her own, and I'd hesitate to offer help to a group. My male colleagues in social care operate in the same way. All it takes is one comment about "he made me feel unsafe" and everything I've built for the last decades could potentially be destroyed in a few hours.

While unfortunately true, I am now retired. As such I am now in the position to talk to pretty women, smile and compliment them on their dress sense, without a major investigation.
To be clear, I don’t hate them any less than the rest of the human race, but as a man I’ can confirm that we are ‘hard wired’ to enjoy a woman smiling at us.
Similarly with small kids. If given the opportunity, I’ll smile and compliment them on their warm coat, football or whatever. It could be the only kind word they get that day, and it costs me nothing.

 

[steveindenmark]

I am such an anorak that I keep a bike repair kit and an assortment of lights and reflectors in the car.

Over the years I have put the bikes of total strangers in the back of my car and got them home. (Tubeless riders. Waste of space). I have fixed peoples punctures at the side of the road. Handed out lights, reflectors and 2 viz vests to cyclists, joggers and dog walkers.

I think the riskiest and most dangerous thing I could ever do is cycle 500m from the house without a repair kit.

Is this OCD? 😁

 

[Oldhippy]

@Andy in Germany I just don my usual attire of lightweight baggy hippy trousers, lined winter ones if cold and t shirt with fleece if it's cold with Tilly hat, sandals or walking boots. Rain jacket in the pannier. Easy day and comfy for miles.

 

[wiggydiggy]

As we're talking about risk assessment, I will not stop to help a female cyclist on her own, and I'd hesitate to offer help to a group. My male colleagues in social care operate in the same way. All it takes is one comment about "he made me feel unsafe" and everything I've built for the last decades could potentially be destroyed in a few hours.

I haven't stopped to help someone since I did, proudly got out my pump and found the damn thing didn't work so had to ride off leaving the person probably a bit more grumpy than they already are.

On a serious note I have stopped when flagged down, last time was a young lad with a flat but no puncture - think one of his mates has let it down as ajape rather than a puncture.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Not having a kickstand is a bit strange to me. We see a lot of very expensive and heavy Ebikes without a stand, which may gain style points but means you are at the mercy of whatever you can find to chain the bike to. We have portable stands for this eventuality, but they all rely on the bike resting a lot of weight on one small area, which doesn't aways work.

Mine broke a while back as it wasn't engineered strongly enough to hold the bike and panniers, it's a bit of an awkward fastening on the rear and I never got around to finishing searching for one that would fit.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

As we're talking about risk assessment, I will not stop to help a female cyclist on her own, and I'd hesitate to offer help to a group. My male colleagues in social care operate in the same way. All it takes is one comment about "he made me feel unsafe" and everything I've built for the last decades could potentially be destroyed in a few hours.

I always try to stop for anyone who looks like they might need help

But I do it differently for women and kids

Personally I reckon that is a woman is stuck then it is better that I stop and help
than maybe the next bloke who maybe more dodgy

I used to be a teacher - but still did it then
and the same thought did occur to me - one complaint and all that

I just reckon that is someone is like that then I will just have to deal with it

But every woman I have stooped to help has either said she is OK
or been fine when I help

If I help a woman I try to work out where I can stop to ask which is a larger distance away than I would with a man
but other than that I do the same

The fact that some blokes would NOT stop to help a woman for those type of reason is crazy
but it makes a lot of sense - you can;t risk your future and that of your family

and in reality what it does is make it more likely that someone who stops to help a woman is MORE likely to be a dodgy one!

 

[All uphill]

I always try to stop for anyone who looks like they might need help

But I do it differently for women and kids

Personally I reckon that is a woman is stuck then it is better that I stop and help
than maybe the next bloke who maybe more dodgy

I used to be a teacher - but still did it then
and the same thought did occur to me - one complaint and all that

I just reckon that is someone is like that then I will just have to deal with it

But every woman I have stooped to help has either said she is OK
or been fine when I help

If I help a woman I try to work out where I can stop to ask which is a larger distance away than I would with a man
but other than that I do the same

The fact that some blokes would NOT stop to help a woman for those type of reason is crazy
but it makes a lot of sense - you can;t risk your future and that of your family

and in reality what it does is make it more likely that someone who stops to help a woman is MORE likely to be a dodgy one!

That's what I do too, but I also keep my distance with men.

Ideally I keep moving on my bike and just ask "You OK?". That leaves the other person with the initiative to stop me, or let me go on my way.

I nearly died of embarrassment when I cycled with an acquaintance who saw a woman dealing with a flat tyre. He stopped, stepped in and took over without asking, fixed the puncture and then waited for praise. I've since learnt that he prides himself on being a gentleman.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

That's what I do too, but I also keep my distance with men.

Ideally I keep moving on my bike and just ask "You OK?". That leaves the other person with the initiative to stop me, or let me go on my way.

I nearly died of embarrassment when I cycled with an acquaintance who saw a woman dealing with a flat tyre. He stopped, stepped in and took over without asking, fixed the puncture and then waited for praise. I've since learnt that he prides himself on being a gentleman.

I bet she told a lot of people about that one!!

I remember stopping to help someone a while ago
It was one bloke and 2 women and one of the women had a puncture

They had the basics but could get the tyre off
I lent them some tyre levers but the bloke was just doing everything and ignoring the women in spite of being out riding with them

I remember seeing them looking at each other "meaningfully" a few times

He got it fixed - wouldn;t allow me to help either

even when it was obvious that he needed 3 hands, he refused help!


and I left him with a couple of extra patches as he had run out

but I did wonder about his attitude!

 

[mikeIow]

As we're talking about risk assessment, I will not stop to help a female cyclist on her own, and I'd hesitate to offer help to a group. My male colleagues in social care operate in the same way. All it takes is one comment about "he made me feel unsafe" and everything I've built for the last decades could potentially be destroyed in a few hours.

That’s a shame.
If I see cyclists by the road I always slow and ask if they are okay. Luckily they have been, since my mech skills are not brilliant 🤣

I wouldn’t even think about them complaining, but I would also be aware of not making them feel concerned (have been DBSd as Scout Leader until recently): if they said they were fine, I”d pedal on, if they needed help or a working phone, well, I would help.

 

[esoxlucius]

Years ago I used to take loads of stuff with me on a ride. There was a huge checklist I used to go through beforehand. That was back in the day when I used to just get on my bike with no real plan and just ride for hours. Even back then it was very rare I'd need any of the gear I took, just lucky I suppose.

Nowadays I take next to nothing with me, just keys and my phone sometimes. But nowadays rather than just ride for hours and find myself in the middle of nowhere, I tend to do loops. Sometimes I'll get a 30-40 mile ride in without even being more than 5 miles from home.

Rides like these I can travel very lightly and if anything happens I've got my phone to call the wife. And because of my close to home loops, she won't have that far to travel to get me. Up to now I've never needed her.

 

[Paulus]

That’s a shame.
If I see cyclists by the road I always slow and ask if they are okay. Luckily they have been, since my mech skills are not brilliant 🤣

I wouldn’t even think about them complaining, but I would also be aware of not making them feel concerned (have been DBSd as Scout Leader until recently): if they said they were fine, I”d pedal on, if they needed help or a working phone, well, I would help.

Same here, i slow down and ask if they need any help, if they say they are fine, no matter who they are, then i give a cheery wave and carry on.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Mine broke a while back as it wasn't engineered strongly enough to hold the bike and panniers, it's a bit of an awkward fastening on the rear and I never got around to finishing searching for one that would fit.

I can recommend Hebie kickstands: not cheap, but they take a lot of weight, and the variety means there's likely one that will fit your bike.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I can recommend Hebie kickstands: not cheap, but the variety means there's likely one that will fit your bike.

I'll have a look thanks, SJS are a stockist in the UK. £40-50 seems reasonable.