there is a (bicycle) god

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

We have helped out others when needed and also been helped when we have needed it. And we will always ask if the cyclist is OK... if it's a lone female, then we are more careful about how we approach her, but we will always check, even if it is a case of my OH staying out of the way and me going up... (as recently as last month).

A few years ago touring in Denmark on mountain bikes, my OH stopped to help a roadie who had his bike in bits at the side of the road. Turned out we could help him. His pump had failed, so my OH tried his pump, also failed at which point we baled to my pump which I knew worked!

A few days later my OH managed to get 3 slits in his rear tyre without actually getting a flat tyre & my front disc brake seized up, so we limped into a campsite and enquired about bike shops & staying the night. the owner called over 2 cyclists we hadn't noticed in a corner.... they then rang the local bike shop and asked the guy to stay open, we left all our kit in the campsite shop, and were accompanied to the bike shop to get a new tyre whilst the owner dealt with my disc brake for us... (I didn't know what I needed to do with them then).

In Norway when my OH's rear tyre exploded (side wall failure) and we were looking at missing the one and only ferry a day, a shop simply took a suitable tyre off a bike in the shop when they found they didn't have any spares anywhere else and the ferry staff kept an eye on us whilst we replaced the wheel on the ferry side before getting the bikes onto the car deck... it didn't matter to them in the slightest that the ferry was a few minutes late leaving...

 

[Leaway2]

I spotted a cyclist mending a puncture near my house yesterday. We got chatting about cycling stuff(he was 40 miles from home) and i offered him a lend of my track pump which he was grateful for. I also made him a cup of tea and gave him some home made spud pie and mushy peas.

Hmm, think I may ride over to Accrington, deflate the tyre and hang around for my pie,peas and brew.

 

[Globalti]

Not bicycle but motorbike.... many years ago I came out of the house and found a couple sitting disconsolate by the road, staring at their Honda CD175, which they were riding a terribly long way. It had a flat rear tyre, it was dark, late and they were frozen and exhausted, especially the girl pillion. I hauled them into my parents' garage (parents were away) and roused my sister to make them tea and a sandwich then got working on the bike while they ate and warmed up. I also once rescued a roadie who reluctantly put his bike in the car and allowed me to drive him home... his wife was waiting on the doorstep, arms folded and tapping her foot like Mrs Andy Capp and exclaiming loudly: "What's he done THIS time?" Poor bloke.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

@Globalti you have just reminded me of the German lady motorcyclist who seeing us on a cycle lane in Germany with my OH's bike with (yet another) flat tyre, turned around and came back passed us, found access to the cycle lane and rode up it to check we were OK, even offering if needed to go and buy us a spare inner tube in the local town!

There are plenty of kind people around, I just don't think that society always gives them a chance to show that kindness!

 

[Globalti]

I used to love hitch-hiking and would always pick up hitch-hikers if they looked OK. You never see them now though, I guess bus travel is cheap and quick and you spend less time shivering by the roadside. Oh well.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I used to love hitch-hiking and would always pick up hitch-hikers if they looked OK. You never see them now though, I guess bus travel is cheap and quick and you spend less time shivering by the roadside. Oh well.

you can pick them up at hostels etc from the notice boards. We have done in the past without issue many times and as recently as last September requested assistance for transport when I did my ankle in and had to abort our JOGLE attempt. Someone kindly took us down to the local bus stop from the hostel (2 miles away) and the hostel hung onto our kit & bikes whilst we went 75 miles away to collect a hire vehicle (van) to get us home.

 

[Globalti]

I've actually now put a spare inner tube in my car in the compartment where I keep the condoms touch-up paint.