Fifty Plus (50+) - Interesting ride on the MUP

Got in a ride on the local MUP last night(wearing my 50+ jersey, of course). It's been a while and I wanted to see what was 'new', plug it's traffic free(except for the cross streets) I went a few miles, and at the first cross street I see a 50+ couple, dressed in bike kit, standing by the gate. I carry tools, and I'm a good field mechanic, and a nice guy, so I say Hi, do you need any help? No, have a nice night. I ride a little further, and start to hear a woosh-woosh noise, then feel the back end getting a bit wobble. Didn't want to belive it, but yup, a flat. Good thing I got the stubby wrench for the seat bag. So, I set about fixing the flat. Get all the stuff out of the seatbag, and get start to get the thing fixed. A minute or two goes by, I'm standing there with the wheel off the bike, the tire half off the rim, and the two people I said hello to not 10 minutes before roll right past me, and didn't say a word! Thanks a lot folks! Not more than a minute later, two other people roll past. Again not a word! A minute later, two more guys, roll right by without a sound. WTF?!? You see somebody that could be in trouble, amd you don't say anything? Or am I just a sap for caring about people? I still have a hard time with six people passing somebody with a problem with the bike, and nobody said anything. Good thing it wasn't a serious issue, I'd still be laying there.
BTW, his is the offending nail;
243937
But as always, there is no such thing as a bad ride.

good lesson in etiquette. I've had people offer help and I've offerred help. I've never needed any nor have the people I offerred it to needed it. but you know what? we asked ... :-) thanks for sharing

It probably looked like you had everything under control and they didn't want to appear to be butting in.

Or they had no skills.

Or you had a crazy look in your eyes.

But, I agree, they could have said hi and are you OK.

Sure seems like they all could have asked if you needed anything. Unfortunately people are becoming less caring and more self-centered. I always try to stop and ask if a stopped rider needs any help or to use my cell phone. I also wave at riders and pedestrians as I ride, this had gotten me more funny looks and snide remarks than if I was rude to them. No accounting for taste or manners.

Bill

If you read the newspaper, surf the WWW, watch the TV news, CSI and Criminal Minds you have been conditioned to trust no one. That is probably why the first couple turned your help down and flew right past you. When your ploy to help them didn't work, you decided to fake a problem in hopes of them stopping. Then you drag them into the woods and hack away. We are on to you crazy son of a guns.

I always stop and ask and most times get a no thanks. I have fixed a few tubes for people without a pump and patch kit, and they are amazed I carry such things. When they offer money I tell them no pay it forward by buying a pump and patches and learn how to fix a flat. I was doing a 40 mile wine tasting tour last fall and was riding with a friend and came on a club of riders on high end road bikes with one rider trying to fix a chain that was coming apart. I had my tour bike that looked like a dump truck next to the race bikes and asked if they needed help and the guy said not unless you have a chain tool and a master link. I said sure I have them is that all you need. He was really amazed and even more amazed I had modified my chain tool to also tighten up links that were spreading. Late last fall I rode up on a young guy on a loaded tour bike upside down heading across the country and needing to get south before the snow came in. I stopped and his tires were wore thru to the tube in places. He was in a hurry but I told him my place is a mile away and I have a dozen old 700’s with better tread than that he could have. He said thanks but no thanks and asked me if there were bike shops close by and I said two about five miles ahead but they wouldn’t be open till Monday morning. He said ok thanks righted his bike and flew off.

My strangest encounter was when I was on a jet ski in SC 20 miles from nowhere and I see a speed boat tied to a one tree island and the guy is beating on the prop with a rock and the wife is standing on the island. I stop and ask if they need a lift want to use my cell etc. Nope just lost the prop nut is all we will be fine. Wife’s expression was I’m not so sure. I went down the lake and returned about an hour later to them flagging me in. Guy said is that cell phone offer still good. He calls his buddy and has no idea where on the lake he is even at to tell the guy. So I tell him the location and the guy on the other end says where the heck is that at? I’m on vacation from Pa and these guys live there. Finally the guy said he would come get them if he can get his boat running. They thanked me and I left them. I rode back out the next morning and they were gone with the boat so I guess he found them. I know that’s not bike related but a jet ski has handlebars.

I always stop and ask if it's a solo rider.

A couple of years ago, my wife and I had a flat on our tandem in the rain. We were on the side of the road and most everyone that went by offered help. And a fast group ride, slow rolled by and asked if we needed any help. MUPs...... I avoid them if possible. I will take hardcore road cyclists any day of the week since they are there when you need them.

I usually inquire, but have had mixed responses. If they say they want help, I offer advice and sometimes use of tools with the objective of improving their knowledge and ability; however some just seem to expect that I will do everything for them. It's not so much that they describe themselves as being helpless, but are willing to learn, it's that their manner is like they are entitled to roadside assistance. When they pull out their smart phone to chat or text while I am there, that's when I leave. A bit curmudgeonly, but I figure that some folks learn better by being on their own.

-G

Do you turn invisible very often or just when riding MUP's?

I will take hardcore road cyclists any day of the week since they are there when you need them.There it is. And I'm probably one of them.

Even when in a pace line our whole group will slow and ask if someone needs help.

leob1, you are not responsible for the behavior or misbehavior of others. I always offer help and I'm glad there are others of similar mind.

I find most cyclists are guys who are shy/introverted/loners. That's why they ride bikes instead of play basketball or join running clubs; they prefer being alone, and they quite often resent the intrusion of others. This is very difficult for the more outgoing people who ride bikes to understand.

And I know because I'm very typical of the loner. I rarely wave to anybody on a bike (unless I'm in a REALLY good mood); I'm more likely to tell them to f- off under my breath. I don't like getting passed by other introverted loners (they all think they're better than everybody else because deep down they KNOW they're not), so I will just sit on their wheels, but I will not engage them in conversation, because all of life is one big competition, and unless you know the other guy, everybody else is a competitor.

Anyway, I exaggerate, but I just wanted y'all to get a better understanding of this personality disorder. Even when I'm on a tandem, it's my stoker who does all the waving and socializing. I just shut up and ride.

We communicate much better on these sorts of forums than face-to-face. And I'm sure there are lots of us out there; cycling just draws this kind of personality.

Luis

It was the 50+ jersey.

I usually offer, but fortunately rarely has anyone actually wanted my help - fortunate because I only carry 26" tubes (though I do have a patch kit) and am not the world's greatest wrench.

You avoid MUPs because if you break down you don't get as much help? That's weak.

I find that when I ride rural bike trails, where there isn't a lot of bike traffic, that everyone greets you and will stop to see if you need assistance. But on a city MUP, there isn't nearly as much of this. They pass so many riders that it's more like a bike freeway. If you looked like you the situation under control, they will go right past you.

It depends on my mood; I used to ask a lot more, but when there's no response at all..........

I ride MUPs a lot and seldom need help but it seems like the more experienced riders, and there are a lot of them on our MUPs, are likely to show concern if I am stopped for any reason... even just resting. I doubt that there is any universal pattern to this that applies everywhere. OTOH, at the risk of contradicting myself a little, the volume of traffic on our MUPs is much greater than on the streets, so it is more likely that someone will come along to give help on the MUPs. YMMV

I tend to agree with billydonn about the MUPs. I ride one every day, during the week, and right at about the same time of day. There are those that are regulars there and always say "hello" or "good morning" and will always stop to ask if you need help when you are stopped or off your bike. Then there are those, especially the MUP racers, that don't bother to give you the time of day, let alone slow down for anything.

I had a similar experience to Leob1 last weekend on a MUP in Wichita, Ks. While sitting there patching my tube I had several spandex clad cyclists on modern road bikes calmly pedal by without so much as an acknowledgement. The only person to talk to me was a fellow in a motorized wheel chair.

I would have told them that I had the situation under control but was a bit disconcerted that they didn't even ask if I needed any help. Oh Well! :rolleyes:

Last August I was on a casual group ride. As the MUP we were on crossed a road, the two women who were in front of me stopped to lift rather than just ride their bikes up the curb. That's the last thing that I remember before the fall. When I came to I was laying in the street and watched the other riders bicycling away from me, down the trail, and out of sight.

Now that's cold.

It's a rare day indeed when I pass anyone on a local MUP without any friendly verbal exchange.

My last three flats were all on the roads. The first two I had several offers of assistance from drivers, and the third flat I was with Gyro.

So I guess I don't have the same complaint as the OP.

If someone looks occupied, getting tools out and repairing a flat, I don't offer help. If you look confused or stuck, then I offer help. Maybe that's just the way I am.

Also I stay off the MUPs.. too many things to dodge.

Last August I was on a casual group ride. As the MUP we were on crossed a road, the two women who were in front of me stopped to lift rather than just ride their bikes up the curb. That's the last thing that I remember before the fall. When I came to I was laying in the street and watched the other riders bicycling away from me, down the trail, and out of sight.

Now that's cold.

That just plain sucks!!!

For most of us getting a flat is an annoyance, and nobody offering to help is a reason to piss and moan, and my us feel superior. But this is just plain awful. http://www.wbur.org/2012/04/05/boston-bike-commentary

....snip....

Also I stay off the MUPs.. too many things to dodge.

I guess I don't see it that way. You can ride 30 miles here on the MUP and never cross a street. The surfaces are smooth and clean without potholes, cracks, and road debris. Go at the right time of day and there is minimal foot traffic to be concerned with. Get off into the neighborhoods, as I often do to find hills and add distance and variety, and you have to watch where you put your front wheel a lot more carefully. I am not an all or nothing, MUP or no MUP, kind of guy. I see them as providing a useful tool around which you can structure a ride, especially in a city like Omaha where so many of the main streets are very un-bikefriendly and the development of bike lanes on streets has been slow to take off.

I also think MUPs deserve more credit than they get in terms of providing a safe and non-threatening place to begin developing bike skills and fitness. I suspect that MUPs have helped in getting lots of people interested in cycling.
YMMV

For most of us getting a flat is an annoyance, and nobody offering to help is a reason to piss and moan, and my us feel superior. But this is just plain awful. http://www.wbur.org/2012/04/05/boston-bike-commentary

Man that is horrible. Just yelled at a girl last night on the way home because she almost doored me. Our bike lanes here are suckily positioned, but I can't believe no one stopped to help.

For most of us getting a flat is an annoyance, and nobody offering to help is a reason to piss and moan, and my us feel superior. But this is just plain awful. http://www.wbur.org/2012/04/05/boston-bike-commentary

Several observations:

I have never liked bike lanes that are outboard of parked cars. It is just this situation waiting to happen. I consider it a very bad design. Yes the motorists do have the responsibility to check their mirror before they open their door but there are still lots of accidents with other cars where the parked vehicle opens their door and it gets torn off by a passing motorists. If it is common for motorists not to see a bicycle when looking directly at them why would you trust them to see you when looking through a 6" to 8" rear view mirror.

Secondly, in spite of the title of the article there were two cyclists who stayed till the woman was being taken care of by the EMTs. Often more people can cause congestion problem and may get hit by rubberneckers checking out the accident. I lost an uncle to a rubbernecker when he stopped to help direct traffic around a road accident and was struck by a goof who was paying attention to the wreck and not to driving safely. A big crowd of well meaning people does not necessarily help the situation.

The rider whose reaction was “Which one of you guys is going to take care of her?” is more than a bit of a jerk, but in reality his contribution would have probably been little more than filing a witness statement. This guy should have left his contact information if he could not hang around.

I don't know about the laws in Boston, but wherever I have lived the motorist would have been charged with leaving the scene of an accident if had just left her name and contact information and then departed the accident scene. Her insurance would still have been responsible for the costs of the cyclist. Leaving the scene of an injury accident is a good way to loose your licence and may get you some jail time.

In short my take on the story is to know the laws, watch out for cyclists & help out when you can but help intelligently!

I am not an all or nothing, MUP or no MUP, kind of guy.

Just like anything else, MUPs are just a tool available to cyclists in some areas. Other tools are bike routes with sharrows, bike lanes, and vehicular cycling. If you ride a bike to get from one point to another, it's always good to know what tools are available to you and use an appropriate tool for the job.