coasting 

I just read a thread that was so full of ill feeling, I thought I would post something warm and fuzzy to compensate.

I notice that whenever cyclists pass each other in either direction they always say hello, wave, nod or greet each other in some way. Cyclists seem to be extra considerate and go out of their way to help each other. Was the good Samaritan riding a carbon or steel frame? Some examples from last weekend's ride:

1) A cyclist overtook me and said hello and I said hello back and we exchanged some pleasantries. Then I realised he was part of a big group of 20 cyclists and every one of them greeted me and made some kind of convivial remark. It was hard work greeting everyone whilst out of breath!

2) I got lost (what's new) and was looking around deciding which road to take when another cyclist stopped and asked if I was lost. She started giving directions then gave up and said "just follow me". I'm sure I slowed her ride down.

3) I got to the turning point and was propping up my bike against a road sign to take pics and 4 seperate cyclists stopped to ask if I needed help thinking I broke down.

Last year I got a flat and had problems with my spare tube. As I walked along the road a cyclist stopped to help. He used 2 of his CO2 cartriges before we accepted the tube must be damaged at the valve then he gave me his spare tube and we pumped it up with a mini pump. He refused to accept my offer to pay for his spares and rode off with no spares or CO2 for the rest of his ride (he was only 10 miles into his 50 mile ride). Several others stopped to offer help.

All of these people at first glance could fit the stereotypical elitist racer out training rather than just enjoying a leisurely ride.

Anyone else encountered such kindness on the road? By the way, how do I post pics (mine are too large to attach).

markhr

yes - chats with fellow bike commuters at red lights are great

try [img]location of file on the internet , e.g., photobucket, flickr, etc.[/img]

jyossarian

I haven't encountered that kind of kindness, but out of the goodness of my heart, I've lent one guy my pump so he could fill up his tire, and gave away two tubes to two different cyclists that had flats. I refused payment and in one case, an offer of a free beverage from the attractive female I helped. I am awesome for being so humble.

bigtruck

I always ask if I can help when I see someone having problems as I hope the Karma will be returned to me if I need it

unixpro

I've both offered and been offered help on the road. Not always by the first rider that passes, but usually within the first few. Most people say something when they pass me and I always try to say something when I pass.

Yeah, I guess that generally we're nicer to each other than the cagers are.

v1k1ng1001

After several terrible run ins with motorists in Texas last month, an older gentleman stopped to give me ride when he saw me fixing a flat. I told him that I would be back on the road in a minute or two and I chatted with him and his wife for several minutes.

Bionicycle

I would say the vast majority of cyclist my wife and I encounter are very friendly over all. We have crossed paths with a few who snub a hello, but they are generally few and far between.

Actually, the most criticism I have ever got, was by a computer rider in the Roadie forum of BF, who called me a Fred, so I don’t lose much sleep over that one…

Indyv8a

Once, early last spring, on my first attempt to ride a long, killer grade I ran out of gas, so I stopped under a tree to catch my breath and get some water. Another cyclist slowed and asked my if I need assistance. I said no, I need more endurance.

Another time I was out on a LSD ride with my son. I was very startled when a guy rode up behind me and started chatting about my riding with my son. He was in the kit of a local Semi-pro team/club. (And man did he leave us in the dust when he was done chatting. )

PATH

We really do have a nice tribe don't we? Most Cyclists are pretty cool about things!!

MetalClydesdale

I too have had a lot of positive experiences on the road, from help with road repairs to shared food to polite greetings. In the spirit of good fellowship and karma I try to return these as often as possible, especially the repairs as I have often been referred to by other riders as a "rolling toolbox."

gmule

One day on my way to work I came across a guy with a flat. I was pressed for time so I lent him my second wind pump a couple of co2 cartridges and my extra tube with my business card. The next day he brought me all brand new stuff in boxes. I thought that was cool that he bought me new stuff when he could have kept it.

Scummer

I wouldn't give too much weight to the whole Fred thing. But it's entertaining nonetheless when Pcad posts in 3rd person. I love browsing the road forums, gives me a good laugh.

ilmooz

I've been saved from being stranded with a flat tire before, and I got the chance to return the favor to someone I passed last year who I gave my spare tube to. It felt nice to spin the karma around.

DieselDan

Cyclists tend toward the "pay it forward" mantra of giving. He gave you his spare, and someone probably did the same for him.

Why? We always just have done so this way.

Neil_B

On the whole, yes. I've unfortunately run into exceptions. Or I wished I ran into them.

Swimjim

I have ridden for a bunch of years now. Club rides, rides with friends and a lot of solo riding. Cycling is a sport thats got an over abundance of not so nice people. Don't know why, it just is. That being said however, I have yet to see a cyclist not stop and offer help to someone stopped on the side of the road regardless of who they are. It's sort of like an unwritten rule. As said before, bad karma to pass someone by in need of help.
Although I'm not exactly a greyhound, the ones with the mouths don't generally mess with me as they know I can bury them. The ones who are really good I've found tend to also be pretty easy to get along with. I guess it's because they have nothing to prove.

Jim

bigboots

Wow! I want to live where some of you live!! In Austin, I could go several days or even over a week without seeing another cyclist unless I'm downtown. When I ever come up to a fellow cyclist in need, I would help since I always have tools, pump, and tubes with me. The one time I broke down here I just walked the bike for the rest of the trip because waiting for another cyclist could take HOURS and bus bike racks are usually full, which explains in part why I don't see many people RIDING their bikes!

Ranger63

On the flip side...You need to have competitivly cycled to appreciate 'the dark side'.
There's at least one regular club and one shop club who'll come by with a sharp "On Your Left" and never utter another word of greeting.
That said: I belong to a club who's motto is "No Rider Left Behind". One rider volunteers to be the sweep on every ride.
Last season,I volunteered to lead the B group on the morning rides. Splitting the group into A(those over 15mph/40 miles average)and B (25miles at 12/13 mph)has made a tremendous difference in the turnout for morning rides.It's great to see the sense of accomplishment of the faces of folks who never rode beyond 10 miles when they realize they just completed a 25 miler and it was fun.

Bionicycle

Meh… I don’t worry a bit about being called a Fred; I know I’m a Fred, and actually enjoy my Fredleyness to it’s fullest extent. My tire pump I carry probably weighs more than most of the Roadies bikes. Most of them wouldn’t be caught dead on the bikes I love to ride. Somebody sitting behind a keyboard on a forum calling me a Fred, doesn’t mean a thing to me.

Yes, Pcad is somewhat of an enigma on the Roadie Forum; he seems to have a very self deprecating sense of humor, and many of his post seem somewhat tongue-n-cheek. But, his enjoyment of cycling does show through.

CliftonGK1

There's a local shop team up here who doesn't even give a vocal warning. They just blast past people in an 8 man paceline, about 6" off your elbow.

Most of the people up here are pretty cool about things, though. If I'm on a ride and I see somebody stopped, I'll check and find out if they need help unless they've obviously got things under control. (i.e. 4 person group stopped and already have the wheel off and tire stripped from the rim.)
It comes back, eventually. I'll run out of tubes, or food, or something one of these days and somebody will cruise by and offer me what I need.

Dr_Robert

If I'm on my bike, I'll offer whatever assistance I can, be it the use of tools, cel phone, or a bottle of water. If I'm in the truck, I'll offer whatever assistance is needed, up to and including a free ride home. Plenty of people (complete strangers, usually) have done the same for me.

-DR

stevesurf

I think it may be regional.

Some folks from the Northeast have quite an "edge" to them. One of our group stopped to help give a tube on the MS bike tour and the guy was arguing about how he wanted a long presta. I then decided to take a pee, not realizing we were on a bridge and the pee flowed down and nearly touched his bike. He was upset, the BFers I ride with from NY and I had a good laugh.

The folks on the Times Up! rides in NYC are sensational people, just out to have a great time.

I was riding in Tucson, and one gent just decided to ride with me - he was in better shape. He showed me the most awesome loop, was patient w/me up hills and we had a great time.

I was in Phoenix, on a MTB trail and one of the guys we were riding with started having heat stroke because the pace was too fast. I hung back with him and walked him back to the bus. I had told the ride leader to take it slow, but she didn't and took most of the group almost a half mile away when this gent was in trouble. She's from the Northeast, a very driven person, but helped put this person in danger 'cause he was trying to keep up with the single group.

I met Vega last year and she is one of the nicest people ever, from the south.

I rode with some folks in Wash DC and look forward to getting together sometime with KingTermite in Seattle - they all are very cool.

In all, the few folks I've met from BF are really great and I'm honored to know them, regardless of their location.

dirtbikedude

Alright I guess I have a "helping hands" kinda story.

18:00hrs I lock up the clinic, hop on the bike and start my 45mi ride home. As I am riding down a descent that I regularly get up to 61mph I hear "FOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSH!!!!!" and right away I realize what happened so I put all my weight over the rear wheel and SLOWLY slow down using the rear brake. As I get to the bottom of the hill I am moving at about 15mph when again I hear "FOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSHH!!" and the back of the bike starts wandering. I coast to the bottom (bet you were waiting for the crash part hehe), stop and pull out 3 3" thorns from the front tire and two from the rear. Mind you this in on a set os 700x23 tires AND the one time I left the spare tubes at home .

Armed with only my carbon soled roadie shoes I take them off and start the looooong walk back home, 41miles left and the sun was setting. I see cars with racks going by, riders not stopping to say a word when I notice a small red car with a mtb on the back, it passes as well going the opposite direction. I think "Oh well, just hope my feet hold out" when that little red car pulls up in front of me and this lady gets out and says, "Can I offer you a ride some where?" I told her I was heading home and how far it was and she offered to drive me all the way back even though it was in the complete opposite direction of where she lived.

Anyways, at the same time I got a hold of the Dr I worked for who happened to be heading towards my home and said she would gladly give me a ride so I had the lady, Kris, drive me back to the clinic where the Dr (who was a cyclist as well) drove me home.


DBD

coasting 

OK..now I've seen the not so nice cyclist too.

I was on a totally empty flat road peddling gently at 19 mph enjoying the scenery when I noticed a "serious" rider ahead. I didn't increase speed and didn't try to catch him but I was gaining on him as he seemed to be relaxing taking a breather or something.

As I got to about 10 meters behind him I hit a rough patch and let out a cry of "ouch" as I nearly crashed but recovered. He must have thought he was totally alone until he heard me and when he looked round and saw me he immediately put the hammer down as if to say "I'm not this slow, honest...look how fast I really can ride". He had some kind of club jersey on and looked sooooo cool.

WonderMonkey

I haven't ridden long enough to have encountered other cyclists but in my "other life" I stop frequently. I keep a 2 gallon can of fuel in the back of my truck and have handed it over three times. My only requirement is that they pass on a good favor to someone in need. I don't ALWAYS stop for someone as sometimes I have my young daughter with me and certain areas of town are cause for concern. However if my son (15 yrs old) is with me I'll stop and tell him that if all hell breaks loose he is to drive off. When I am alone I've stopped in some situations that I have approached cautiously.

When biking or walking I usually don't say anything to anybody. It think this goes back to the days where I would workout in a gym and the ladies on the treadmill would get hit on by every jackass in the place. So when I would exercise I wouldn't even acknowledge a person's existence unless they started the conversation. So now when I am out I just have the habit of keeping to myself.