the cycling community and helping others

[young Ed]

so do you help other stuck cyclists?
a couple of chaps i had never seen in my life turned up today at my house (i guess they came up the drive as we are a business so thought there must be someone about) and luckily for them they hit the right house as i was in. it turns out they were doing a charity ride on bikes donated to them by the charity (one a proper shoot BSO and the other looked like either a BSO (the damaged one) or a cheap entry level MTB) and one of them had stripped his left pedal thread and crank! and the other had almost flat tyres (presta valves on a MTB running MTB tyres, anyone else seen this or is it normal?)

so first i tried wrapping a load of electrical tape round the pedal thread and wedging it into the crank and taping it in, of course this didn't last long (his idea). then we came up with a spark of genius! a coach bolt with a few nuts and a few washers trough the pedal hole in the crank and with the nuts done up buggerdy tight against the crank to at least just rest his foot on and so he could continue riding (flat non-clipless pedals)
god knows how well it worked and for how long and if they ever do get to the LBS! but i tried my best in very bad circumstances and gave them my number so hopefully they will do as i said and text me when they have it fixed properly

so that's y good dead done for the day, knowledge and spanners lent and a coach bolt that has kicking about in a box of gate hanging stuff donated

so what situations have you helped fellow members of the cycling family in?
Cheers Ed

 

[ColinJ]

I've helped lots of riders ...

Here's one example:

I acted the Good Samaritan yesterday at the top of the Nick o'Pendle. I'd winched my way up there and decided to stop at the summit to stretch my back and enjoy the view. After a couple of minutes, a chap (later found to be named Jim) came over the brow of the hill pushing his bike and holding what looked like a dead black snake coiled round a stick. In a slightly forlorn voice, he asked "Can you do anything with this?" Why did he think I needed a dead snake? As he got closer, I saw that it was in fact a dead oily chain. This was a job for Bicycle Repair Man! Since BRM wasn't available, I decided to volunteer my services instead...

I'd practiced using my chain splitter recently when shortening a new chain for my Basso. I put my newfound skills to good use and had soon taken out the broken link.

It wasn't long before Jim's bike was ready to ride again and we set off on the descent together. Even though the sun was shining, it was really nippy on that side of the hill, dropping down into a cold wind.

We stayed together for the rest of the ride and it was nice to have some company for a change. I usually tend to ride alone on audaxes because I'm slower than most, but slightly quicker than the slowest.

Jim insisted on paying for my cake, Coke and water at the control cafe in Waddington. Later on we encountered a couple of his mates and joined up with them for the ride round to Coldwell.

Jim spotted me on the first climb of the following year's event and rode around with me again!

 

[screenman]

Just putting the kettle on now, for the loads of cyclist just going past doing the Yellow Belly Tour 200km. A lot of locals riding and they know where to stop for a cuppa.

I also carry spare tubes and a pump in my car, and have used them quite a few times to help people out. Also living right on the edge of the Sustrans route we have fixed a few punctures for people on there. I have got a really nice letter here from a couple we helped out once, and that is worth far more to me than the tubes I have given away over the years.

 

[young Ed]

ah and may i add, this was the biggest bodge i have ever done and i don't expect to do such a bodge again! think i might have to ask the cycling gods for forgiveness using a coach belt to make a pedal! at least it was on a BSO!
a story to tell for years to come i reckon. ingenuity at it's best/worst!
Cheers Ed

 

[Pale Rider]

My mate Vince the bike mechanic told me he is cautious about helping others after a bad experience.

The distressed cyclist turned on him when he broke something on the bike, even though Vince told him in advance it was the only way to attempt a roadside repair and the break was a possible result.

With that in mind, I tend only to offer tools or spares if I have them, rather than lay a hand on someone else's bike.

I did once make an exception for a roadie with a puncture, but she was drop dead gorgeous.

 

[young Ed]

My mate Vince the bike mechanic told me he is cautious about helping others after a bad experience.

The distressed cyclist turned on him when he broke something on the bike, even though Vince told him in advance it was the only way to attempt a roadside repair and the break was a possible result.

With that in mind, I tend only to offer tools or spares if I have them, rather than lay a hand on someone else's bike.

I did once make an exception for a roadie with a puncture, but she was drop dead gorgeous.

indeed i prefer not to fiddle with others bikes, similar situation a last year. we had someone stuck in our car park as their car wouldn't start, we didn't know the person in any case. had it been our own vehicle bonnet would have been up and fiddling about with all sorts no doubt but as it wasn't our we tried jump starting it but after that didn't work they called the AA. in the end it turned out to be a very simple corroded earth on the starter motor and we could have fixed it easy but felt safer leaving their vehicle alone to the professionals even though this was one we could have fixed
don't want the risk of damaging it and being responsible
Cheers Ed

 

[Pale Rider]

indeed i prefer not to fiddle with others bikes, similar situation a last year. we had someone stuck in our car park as their car wouldn't start, we didn't know the person in any case. had it been our own vehicle bonnet would have been up and fiddling about with all sorts no doubt but as it wasn't our we tried jump starting it but after that didn't work they called the AA. in the end it turned out to be a very simple corroded earth on the starter motor and we could have fixed it easy but felt safer leaving their vehicle alone to the professionals even though this was one we could have fixed
don't want the risk of damaging it and being responsible
Cheers Ed

Very wise.

Jump starting a modern car carries its own risks, it's easy to fry the ECU engine management computer - new ones are usually hundreds.

The handbooks of my last two cars, a Ford and a Vauxhall, had instructions on how to do it.

Of course, that only protects the Ford and the Vauxhall, not the other vehicle.

 

[summerdays]

Half the time I stop and ask if a cyclist is ok, but it depends on the circumstances, how late I am, what they look like/and how busy the area is. Stopped last week as a bloke was examining his chain, I wasn't sure what the problem was possibly a stiff link so just suggested lubricating the chain and if that didn't work to try a bike shop. Most times when I ask they are ok.

The one my family remembers is when (according to one of the children), I invited an axe murderer to sleep in our garden, or my version I spotted a tired looking cyclist so looked after his bike whilst he went into the shops and then found out he didn't know where to camp that night, so I offered our garden and shower.

 

[classic33]

Half the time I stop and ask if a cyclist is ok, but it depends on the circumstances, how late I am, what they look like/and how busy the area is. Stopped last week as a bloke was examining his chain, I wasn't sure what the problem was possibly a stiff link so just suggested lubricating the chain and if that didn't work to try a bike shop. Most times when I ask they are ok.

The one my family remembers is when (according to one of the children), I invited an axe murderer to sleep in our garden, or my version I spotted a tired looking cyclist so looked after his bike whilst he went into the shops and then found out he didn't know where to camp that night, so I offered our garden and shower.

Where'd they the axe attached to?

 

[summerdays]

Where'd they the axe attached to?

I don't know, she just kept going on that it would be my fault if he murdered us all in the night, I figured by that stage it would be too late anyway and he looked too tired and nice to do that. I even offered him tea but he said he had food already. I'd do it again too but maybe after she leaves home

 

[surfdude]

i did stay behind a couple of very fit young ladies just to make sure they where safe once .

while out walking i meet a young mtb lady whose chain had got stuck in her back wheel . a bit off brut strength and i cleared it for her . she was very pleased as she was a few miles from her car .

 

[Pale Rider]

a bit off brut strength and i cleared it for her.

Did you splash it all over?

 

[surfdude]

Did you splash it all over?

would have liked to but i was with the wife

 

[slowmotion]

I've given spare tubes to people and changed the wheels for a couple of others. Some of the blinged-up serious types in Richmond Park really don't like it if a lycra-free rider offers to help.

 

[Moodyman]

A few winters ago I was on a pavement half way up* on a long steep country road adjusting my Ergon grips. A bloke came out a farm track in a 4x 4 pick up truck and offered to throw the bike in the back and take me home.

I declined the kind offer. But the fact that an average sized man offered a lift to a 6ft 2in stranger with a balaclava on a quiet rural road on a cold winters evening was humbling.

* tip - If you ever need to adjust your bike on a winter's ride do it half up a long hill. You're warm from the section you've climbed and will get warm again quicker from the section remaining.