xiaoman1 

that's a "great" day!!!

Italuminium

Yes, and it's charity ride season too, so a lot of people riding cheap specializondaleks with Sora, perpetually locked in the small ring/small cog combo with the drop bars pointed skywards.

Prowler 

The guys in lycra are fools to under-estimate Rudi. If you've going to break down you had better hope Rudi is the next one coming down the lane. You would not believe what he's got in that seat bag. He could fix a commercial mower or a transit bus. And if the spandexinistas think that oddly dressed old man is just a codger then "Behave boys, cuz if he kicks into pursuit mode, even with two full socket sets in his seat bag, he is going to get real big in your mirror, real fast".

People have been pre-judging people for several thousand years.

Sixty Fiver

You mixed lycra and wool ?

CliffordK

I stopped and pumped up a guy's trailer tires a month ago. And I may have missed out on purchasing a classic Univega because of it

I had a flat myself a couple of weeks ago, and somebody did offer assistance, but I had a spare tube and pump.

RobbieTunes

This.

iab

What people wear is irrelevant.

RobbieTunes

Such a limited reservoir, perhaps....

We did have a guy on carbon, in Lycra, stop to ask if we needed help on a flat at L'Ombra, on Rudi's flat, and 3-4 others asked earlier if we needed help, on Doc's stapled tire. Now, at Rudi's, it was purely genuine, but for Doc's, one does wonder what they thought when they saw 7 cyclists milling about one flat. I know I'd have been curious. I'm afraid BG may be pretty accurate; assisting other cyclists tends to get in the way of many cyclists priorities, and then when they see a steel bike, if they are of the newer persuasion, they also may not feel like there's much they can do for the poor old guy on the old bike....

RobbieTunes

Maybe they thought it was beyond help...... you know, old bikes and all that....

iab

I'm sure this is not helpful.

rhm

One time my wife and I were out for a ride (a rare enough thing right there), she I the lead. We passed a guy who was futzing with his bike. I stopped to see if he needed help. And he did; really did. He had a flat and no pump/patch kit. My wife still hadn't stopped and was already a quarter mile away. I realized this guy was going to use up fifteen minutes of my time and ruin my wife's ride. This was before the days of cell phones, fwiw. If I didn't catch up with my wife soon, she'd pass a intersection and I wouldn't know which way she went. "Sorry, man!" sez I, and left him in the lurch.

Sometimes you just can't.

Blue Belly

Might be relatively geographical. The 13 years i spent in Los Angeles did't offer up a lot of helpful, friendly people. Here in Vermont, people will stop. People will offer you a ride. Different culture.

iab

I don't get this.

How hard is it to stop (if it is safe) and ask, You OK?

I have even stopped to push a dead car out of an intersection. The driver did seem pretty amazed some guy on a bike offered to push.

Blue Belly

I agree. don't get it either. A big reason we wanted out of that culture of people

Stucky

What's really disturbing there, is that your wife didn't stop when she saw you stopped.....



DING!DING!DING! Same here. In my 39 years in the NYC metro area, if you were stuck- be it in a car or on a bike, whatever, your primary concern was that if somebody stopped, it was likely to rob you. Here in Bumpkinsville, if you see a car break down, the first three cars to come by will stop and offer help. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised, after living here for 14 years now, if I were stranded on the side of the road with my bike, if passing motorists would stop and offer a ride. The contrast between the two cultures is so extreme, that since moving here, I have had no desire to ever set foot back in the Northeast, or any big metropolitan area/city.

Chrome Molly

Pushing stuck cars probably a geographical thing. Northerners that don't live in the big city look forward to pushing a stuck car from a snow drifts as one of the few ways to reconnect with neighbors during the long winter. BITD, I especially liked pushing yugos and rabbits out of intersections. It didn't take much to move them, and the rear window defroster would keep your hands nice and warm

KonAaron Snake 

I usually offer assistance, but rarely receive the offer. I think this is a keep your head down and mind your own business city. Cell phones probably also play a role...people assume the stranded party can reach help.

I will say that I got a date or two from helping ladies in distress.

Blue Belly

a few days ago, on the way to work, there was a guy in the ditch. Dilemma...stop & help/be late to work, or not. In a place like Vermont, neighbors are more important than a factory job. They would do the same for me. I was late to work by a few minutes & he was back in his car & Down the road because of it. Just the way it should be.

Italuminium

In my experience, the number of friendly people along the way is correlated to the number of cows and tractors in visual range.

crank_addict

randyjawa ^ nice 2 wheelers!

Spotting the yellow scoot, reminds me of the MANY times riding with horsepower under me. In the days, my liter sized 6 cyl. 24 valve + measily aftermarket turbo was Japan showing techno to nearly every motorcyclist. Won't talk of my zig zag the country with assuring reliabilty but often pulled off the road to help broken down Harley riders. You want to hear about losers! Ha. Stranded and left to the buzzards, dry on water, I was their only hope and rarely did I ever get a thank you. Crazier yet, I was the one carrying tools, Band-Aid approach with misc. hose clamps, machine wire, duct tape and the one working on THEIR oily, vibrating crappy bike.

crank_addict

Same goes for the folks of the State of Maine. Incredibly generous and most friendly to touring cyclist. Its been some years but it was such a nice thing to see drivers pass by and give a little wave or smile. I forget how many times but often would be in remote areas and meet a homeowner doing some gardening, outdoor stuff whatever. For no reason to work on a bike but just to rest and say hello, greet. The first thing they would do is offer a drink, iced tea or the like.

I realize the area riding was more remote but found other cyclist most friendly and the few times flatted, some stranger cyclist if happening by would stop. The same for car drivers. Really cool folks.

ThermionicScott 

I'd render it "Thush endeth the leshon."

jiangshi

and yet you post Rapha and Road Holland apparel

iab

I'll wear what I wear, lycra and wool. You wear what you wear.

I don't give two craps to what you wear, I have absolutely know idea you would care. Its sad.

jiangshi

Suspicions confirmed. Thanks.