Whoops!

[Arch]

Riding home, I was behind a chap on a BSO. He had a rucksack with hi-vis cover, and a single LED light front and rear, so I didn't pay him much attention until we arrived at some lights which are at the bottom of a slight slope, and he filtered down the left, braking by dragging one feet along the kerb while standing on the offside pedal, looking slightly out of control - no rear brake at all that I could see (and definitely not a fixie).

Just as I was thinking "you wanna get some brakes mate", his saddle fell off!

I didn't laugh, honest. And I regret to say I didn't pull over and offer to help - I don't think any of my tools would have solved the problem, which appeared to be that the saddle body and cover had parted company from each other, and the seat post.

What I should have done was point him round the next corner to Bike Rescue. I'm sorry I didn't stop now. But really, he wasn't a yoof, he looked middle aged, he clearly understood the highway code with regard to red lights, and his own visibility in the dusk. Why didn't he at least have some brakes!?

 

[Night Train]

Remind me not to ride with you.

 

[potsy]

Why don't I believe you didn't laugh?

I had to help out a fellow cyclist today who was trying to completely remove an innertube without taking the back wheel off first, 10 mins and he was all set to go.

 

[Arch]

Remind me not to ride with you.

I can't believe you'd ride a bike in that state to start with...

I did stop to try and help a lady on a BSO a couple of weeks back, her rear mech had seized up with the chain jammed across a couple of sprockets . The best I could do in the dark on the cyclepath was manually get it in line with the sprocket the chain was round, giving her one useable lowish gear, and advise her to try cleaning and lubing it and the cables. She did say that the bike was 'quite old' and she was thinking of replacing it. I told her to get to Bike Rescue.

The next night, I saw her again from the other side of the road, bike upended, fiddling with the mech. I didn't stop, I thought she might think I was stalking her....

 

[TheDoctor]

Remind me not to ride with you.

I can recommend not riding with Arch.
She'll find lots of hills (which is tricky near York) which will be irksome if you're on a singlespeeder.
*avoids slap*

 

[Arch]

I can recommend not riding with Arch.
She'll find lots of hills (which is tricky near York) which will be irksome if you're on a singlespeeder.
*avoids slap*

<mock outrage>

How very dare you!

If I find a hill, I go in the other direction!

 

[mcshroom]

Hills? I was reliably informed that there were no hills near York; just a few figments of my imagination

 

[Beardie]

TBH, if I see someone with a bike that's failed through sheer neglect, I'm far less likely to offer assistance. Call me judgemental and all that, but people who lack the nous to keep their bike maintained often lack certain personal skills as well. Specifically, they are far more likely to want me to stay and fix all the other faults their bike has. They then express surprise at how long the work is taking.

Besides, tatty bikes are harder to work on than one that's basically well-maintained and suffered a mishap.

 

[MarkF]

TBH, if I see someone with a bike that's failed through sheer neglect, I'm far less likely to offer assistance. Call me judgemental and all that, but people who lack the nous to keep their bike maintained often lack certain personal skills as well.

I like to see anybody cycling, some starters know zippo apart from the fact that pedalling makes it go, it wouldn't stop me helping them though, good luck to them! BTW, for very newbie I've helped, not many, I bet 10 more uber riders's have asked for help or a loan of a tool............

I knew FA when I started, didn't even realise why I was uncomfy (6'1" on 6" frame) and I gratefully received lots of help and advice, might have given up without it.

 

[asterix]

Hills? I was reliably informed that there were no hills near York; just a few figments of my imagination

There's only one in York. It's called Windmill Rise, easily identified by the windmill on top, strangely. Most other slopes are caused by railway bridges.

Mind you, both the Wolds and North York Moors are within quite easy cycling distances so it just depends what you call 'near'!

 

[Arch]

There's only one in York. It's called Windmill Rise, easily identified by the windmill on top, strangely. Most other slopes are caused by railway bridges.

Mind you, both the Wolds and North York Moors are within quite easy cycling distances so it just depends what you call 'near'!

Um! There's Blue Bridge Lane. And Green Dykes Lane.

And when you've got a full Maximus load of glass and paper on board, I can assure you that there's a hill heading out of town on Walmgate. It's just not visible to the naked eye.

As for TheDoctor, I only recall one bike ride with him in these parts, and that was to Selby, so I'm not sure which hill he's thinking of....

 

[biggs682]

green dyke lane is that a place where recycled lesbians go !!!!!

 

[Browser]

Why didn't he at least have some brakes!?

Probably because as a yoof he grew up on bikes without brakes, and doesn't realise that they are actually supposeed to do anything...........................

 

[gambatte]

Hills? I was reliably informed that there were no hills near York; just a few figments of my imagination

Hope there aren't any, I'm doing a half marathon there on Sunday!