Random Acts of Assistance

[Supersonicscientist]

Cycling home on Friday night i had a visit from the PF rear wheel on a single .Ok no problem I'll sort it only to discover no spare ,tools or anything ,oh well i'll just have to walk then so off i set ....A mile or so from home after walking for half an hour or so I'm aware of someone talking to me (had the music on ) guy then proceeds to offer assistance of a repair kit and such "No it's fine i've not got far to go " are you sure he asked yeah it's fine thank you ,off he cycles After a further 5 mins roughly i get approached again offering same service from someone else again i refuse and add my thanks. I'd just like to say a further thanks for the offer of assistance ..I've now made sure i have the repair kit firmly stored in the bag and will of course offer same assistance to other cyclist ..

 

[Fab Foodie]

Good stuff Supersonic. If nothing else it restores a bit of faith in human nature.
I and I suspect most here would stop to assist another cyclist in their moment of need. Having given and recieved assistance I'm a firm believer in the "Great wheel of Karma".
Your turn will come!

 

[theloafer]

back in 2006 while cycling the west coast of scotland at GLENELG heading for the kylerhea ferry was asked to help put a guys chain back on his mtb prob was only came off chainwheel and twisted simple job then i thought i know this man ...it was Nicky Campbell

 

[subaqua]

one of the first days back in the saddle i passed a cyclist on towpath rattling themudguard furiously. i stopped and asked if they were Ok and i had tools if needed. i got a very shocked look and then a no thanks i am OK its just a bit of stone caught.

stems from years on a motorbike and the cameraderie between bikers i think.

 

[david1701]

I was pumping up a tyre at the roadside and someone offered me a repair kit, I thought it was just out here in the sticks people were nice. Nice to hear its everywhere else too

 

[Asprilla]

If I see anyone stopped along my 17 miles commute I'll offer assistance be it mechanical help (i've fixed numberous punctures and chain breaks for fellow commuters) or just offering bits and bobs (including regularly giving away innertubes).

I got a puncture on my first ever commute and didn't have a clue. Fortunately someone (who I now see and chat to regularly when out riding) stopped to help or else I would have been stumped.

Incidentally I also first met the chap who lives two doors down from me when his chain broke in Richmond Park. Turned out he also works for the same company as me. Small world.

 

[nilling]

Also a great believer in the "Great wheel of Karma" - usually I'll just ask if somebody is ok.

I did stop recently to see if I could help somebody fit a Schrader inner tube into a Presta wheel - I just wished him luck!

 

[Hicky]

Offered help to a bloke who cycles up Oldham rd on a blue Orbea(I think) when he kept checking his front tyre/wheel at lights and eventually stopped(turned out his brake pad was loose and rubbing).
Last night just left work and my chain came off twice within 100M, a student(work in a Uni) almost ran over asked if I needed a hand.

Restores human faith.

 

[gaz]

Only once or twice I've not stopped to offer someone assistance. That was due to me being late for a meeting that I had to be at. Apart from that I always stop and offer to help. Even if it is only just to wish them luck

 

[clarion]

I almost always stop to offer help, but most commuters seem to be well equipped these days. I couldn't stop for one poor singlespeeder this morning, as I was in the middle of a pack of cyclists heading through a busy junction when I saw him with his chain off.

The only other one I can think of was when I saw Origamist shooting past me then, a few minutes later, pushing his bike in an unusual place. I thought he must have been working on a different site or something, but apparently he had a puncture, and I didn't stop. *embarrassed*

 

[gbb]

I almost always stop to offer help, but most commuters seem to be well equipped these days. I couldn't stop for one poor singlespeeder this morning, as I was in the middle of a pack of cyclists heading through a busy junction when I saw him with his chain off.

The only other one I can think of was when I saw Origamist shooting past me then, a few minutes later, pushing his bike in an unusual place. I thought he must have been working on a different site or something, but apparently he had a puncture, and I didn't stop. *embarrassed*

I feel bad sometimes when circumstances dictate i can't stop...but generally i'll always offer help.
Never needed assistance from another cyclist, but surprisingly (don't know why really) i have been offered help twice from MOTORISTS.
Once i had a puncture, about 4 miles from home. A driver pulled up as i was walking and asked if i wanted to put the bike in the estate. I hope the offer was extended to ME and not just the bike . I was happy walking and politely declined.

Another time, about 5 miles away i was just walking with a puncture, tyring to find a suitable piece of verge and a van driver offered a ride back into town. Offer politely declined...it was only going to take about 5 mins to change the tube.

Nice though...

 

[Origamist]

The only other one I can think of was when I saw Origamist shooting past me then, a few minutes later, pushing his bike in an unusual place. I thought he must have been working on a different site or something, but apparently he had a puncture, and I didn't stop. *embarrassed*

Don't worry - I was only 500m from work when you saw me nr the E&C and was going to repair the tube in the warmth of my office...

I usually sacrifice about 10 tubes a year to puncture victims and get quite a few back from grateful folk (one guy spotted me 6 months later and gave me a far better tube than I gave him). That said, if cyclist numbers continue to increase on my commute, I might have to start buying tubes by the crate load...

 

[MacB]

Some good deals on bulk buying of tubes, quantities of 20 or more gets it down to about £2 a tube, I've bought the Specialised ones and not had a puncture, or fault, with one yet.

I actually carry powerlinks/connectors for 1/8 chain and 7/8/9 speed, though all of my bikes have 9 speed chains. I also have schraeder valves, as well as presta, for my frame pumps though I only have presta tubes. But I only carry one type of innertube, presta 700x28-38, though I have repair kit and instant patches as well.

I have offered assistance on a few occasions but the people have always been ok, I think I've felt a bit disappointed. I did get a little kid, about 6-7, ask me to pump his tyre up once, as I passed his house, that's about it.

 

[johnr]

What a nice thread. I always make my new year's resolution to try to be nicer to people this year. I've usually given up by now, but I shall renew my efforts.

Cheers

 

[mgarl10024]

On about my 10th commute I had a puncture. I'd only just changed tyres and tubes and didn't have the right tubes with me. A lady stopped and asked if I was ok, and I showed her the flat tyre. She asked if I had far to walk, which I didn't. She cycled on, and I remember feeling really pleased, and thinking how I have never had an offer from a motorist in my years of driving.

Recently, I had a puncture and was stopped on a grass verge fixing it. An older chappy stopped and made sure I had everything I needed. Makes the whole process much nicer.

I often ask people if they're ok. Many say thanks and that they're fine. I did have one chap look at me oddly, like I was about to mug him or something. I don't think he could comprehend that someone could ask if he was ok as he was walking his bike along.
I've often wondered what I'd do though if I stopped. Mechanically I'm not brilliant, but I carry everything I need to sort a puncture (including spare tubes). However, (and this'll make me sound tight) I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with giving out 10 tubes a year!
BetterByBike were giving out free puncture repair kits, so I was tempted to write to them and ask that they send me a few which I could hand out to stranded cyclists. This seemed a better idea as the chances of me having the right tube are slim and if the cyclist said they could repair the puncture on their own now they had the kit, I could continue my commute without hovering over them like a hawk waiting for my kit back!