hogger453

Iv'e been riding for close to 35 years which doesn't make me any better or worse than anyone else.

I'm on the side of the road fixing a flat. 10 or so cyclist pass me, not a one offering assistance. I don't know but it's just a cycling thing. If I have even an inclination that a cyclist might need help, I at the least offer.

People can communicate by texting 1000 words a minute, social stupid Facebook. These crotch phones are killing real human interaction.

You can put on all get up and look and act the part but until you offer assistance to a fellow cyclist you will never be a cyclist.

Thank you.

OK. Rant over.

bikemig 

I had that happen not that long ago. I messed up my spare, my pump wasn't working right, and my patch wasn't holding. So it took me a while to get it fixed. I can't tell how many cyclists passed me and didn't say a word. One person finally did and we rode back together.

Beats me, but I always ask people if they need help when they are stopped and working on their bikes.

silversx80

Hmmm, not offering help vs expecting charity.

I I think the opposite is the best etiquette. Offer help and don't expect it.

WhyFi

Maybe you looked too competent. If someone clearly has a handle on the situation, I'm less likely to ask if they need assistance. If someone looks a little at a loss, though, I'll make sure that they have everything that they need, know-how included.

softreset

On three separate occasions while commuting home this year, I've asked someone fixing a flat (and/or something on the bike) if they needed any assistance. Two of them, kitted out fellas. They responded with something along the lines of: I'm fine/stop asking or I'm good/does it look like I need help?

The third, I remember clearly because it was yesterday. Said: "Jesus, everyone needs to stop asking. I'll wave if I need something."

I'm done asking for a little while.

RideIt

Same thing, two weeks ago. Fixing a flat on the side of the road, and at least 5 separate cyclists passed me and did not say a word! I had everything I needed, but was surprised. I could never pass someone who looked like they were having some sort of issue.

Paul Barnard

I agree. Nobody should ever expect human decency. It's so 19th century.

hogger453

I don't what the hell you're talkin about charity? But if that's the way you see humanity. That's the way you see it.
Expect what? Human kindness. Oh sorry, what was I thinking?

Paul Barnard

I always ask if they need anything. It's just too easy to do.

RideIt

i was hoping to find the people who passed me and said nothing when I got home on Strava Flybys, but they didn't pop up. I probably wouldn't of called them out on Strava, but would of been tempted.

FLvector

You can usually tell by observing if someone needs help or not, but still doesn't hurt to ask.

hogger453

My only CO cartridge flew out of my hand and I needed a cartridge. I wouldn't expect a cyclist to give his last cartridge and I was too proud to ask.
I rode about 10 miles back on a flat front tire.

exmechanic89

What is a 'crotch phone'?

hogger453

It's what you would call a smartphone.

WhyFi

So you're an experienced cyclist, but your contingency plan consists solely of a method that gives you one shot at a fix (and that one shot didn't go your way) and your take-away is that other people are rude and out of touch? Yes, if you're standing there looking forlorn, someone should have offered assistance, and it sucks that no one did, but that's not the only learning experience to be had, here.

aubiecat

This is funny. About this time last year someone started a thread about having a flat and he was pissed because too many people stopped to ask is he was good. He was actually offput by the number of people who were bothering him while he was fixing his bike.
Maybe he needs to start cycling where you are ride.

Paul Barnard

I will never let a few jackwipes steer me away from doing the decent thing. Unfortunately there seems to be quite a bit of that jackwipe attitude in our ranks.

BenPS

where was your team car?

rousseau

Wow. I find the gall in this anecdote hard to believe. I simply cannot imagine ever feeling peeved at someone stopping to ask if I need help.

I express profuse gratitude to anyone stopping to ask me if I'm okay when I'm on the side of the road fixing a flat or making some kind of adjustment on the bike. Normally they're in cars, as I do a lot of solo riding in the middle of the empty countryside. "Thanks very much for stopping! I'm fine, just fixing this flat/making an adjustment."

Is it really possible that a busy bike path in a large city would feature too many people stopping to offer help to people working on their bike, that it would turn into an annoyance? Or is this yet more anecdotal evidence of the death of courtesy in modern life? That "I'll wave" guy really takes the cake. Unbelievable.

GeoKrpan

Add to that power meters, HRMs, iPods, GPS, and riding alone doing Strava instead of a group ride. BikeSnobNYC calls them NuFreds.

Wingsprint

Sad but so true.

softreset

100% true. I commute on a very busy MUP (one of the longest, if not the longest in the US) and during "rush hour" during the week it's not uncommon to have hundreds of cyclists pass me on the trail at any given spot. I'd imagine it's even more if you stopped near the college that's right off the trail when class was in session.

No idea why someone would voice concern and frustration over courtesy, but as it's happened multiple times it's certain not a fluke. I've stopped multiple times and assisted people with flats, offered a frame pump or something else and I've been showered with kindness and thanks. Perhaps it's an "ego" thing. Nonetheless, it's strange. Honestly, I'll probably not stop asking (it's not in my nature) but it's pretty perplexing that people would do that.

Sojodave

There was a woman cyclist that had a flat. I pulled over and asked her if she was OK and if she needed any help. She yelled "Get Back, I have mace". I told her I was just trying to help. I guess my help wasn't appreciated...

FBinNY 

I sort of agree with the OP.

I never expect (or need) help, but it's nice to be asked. Likewise whenever I pass a cyclist working on his bike, I'll call out "are you OK?" as I go by, and if they say no before I'm out of earshot, I'll actually stop.

rpenmanparker 

The question is why wouldn't YOU call it a smartphone?