Erzulis Boat 

I always ask "Got everything?"

I have been helped numerous times, and have helped others.

In fact..............I learned this by getting a flat at sunset coming home from work dead tired.

I flat, my patch box had been depleted, and not re-stocked. I start hoofing it.

Guy comes along "Got everything?"

Saved my ass from a 12 mile walk.

Be nice, don't turn into an assh@le because it seems like everyone else is.

dogbreathpnw

A few years ago I was riding with a friend on an event ride (the Reach the Beach century here in northwestern Oregon). As we started up a hill, she flew off, and I felt lik I was pedalling in mud. Yup, I had a flat.

I sat down to change the flat and ended up killing both tubes--don't ask why, I'll keep my stupidity to myself.

By this point most of the crowd and support vehicles had gone by, and I was feeling really and totally pooched.

A guy rode by and asked, "Got everything?" "Well, no!" I replied. He gave me his spare tube and quite literally Saved My Day.

Ever since then I've been diligent about asking people as I pass them. It's a global karma thing, I have to pay the Universe back, and I do it gladly.

soni_guin

I always ask, and have usually been asked when i've had flats- i even had people ask if I was ok while I was stopped, trying to read a map to get my bearings

ncherry

If someone is stranded I offer them help, even auto drivers. If there are several people already help I might not offer (too many cooks ... ). So far I've help 4 out of 5 cyclists and one driver. One guy's bike was too much of a mess to fix (too many broken spokes). I've given away 3 tubes and a hacked together a repair for one poor guy. Another person just needed a pump (which I had). This does not include my group rides where I helped many. Only once or twice did we need a spare tube, so far we've used my spare tire four times, I've made two chain repairs, and several hack togethers.

BarracksSi

I stopped to help find somebody's keys to their car after their volleyball game.

Hey, it was dark, and I had a fully charged Dinotte on my MTB -- I was better equipped than they were. Too bad I wasn't the one who actually found them, but I helped eliminate several guesses as to where they were.

djnzlab1

hi,
I try and help people I even helped a Crate call for a tow truck,Please don't stone me.
I had a slow leak no patch I was a mile or two from the house, those cleats suck on pavement, and that thingamjig bike pad stuck up your ars will chafe a moose on a long walk..
Soooooo it took me three days to heal after a 2 mile walk..
Doug

king-tony

Always. I had this happen today, the guy had all he needed and knew what he was doing, but someday I will need help.

Richard_Rides

This is why I never offer help to women, I know that if the roles were reversed, they would under no circumstances offer me any help.

BarracksSi

Either that, or they'd be afraid that, at the very least, you (or I..) would try asking them on a date.

Richard_Rides

LOL, well, it's true that every woman considers herself the epitome of desirability.

BarracksSi

But then, what if I don't ask them on a date? Are they relieved that I'm not behaving like a typical male pig, or are they disappointed that I don't appear to find them desirable??

CbadRider

I am a woman, and had no trouble saying "yes" when a guy asked if I needed help fixing my flat. But I was on a busy road in the morning.

I stopped for a guy once when he had a flat. I just gave him my spare tube and then rode off.

RoadToNowhere

Are you trying to be a ****er?

We don't all want to date you, and most of us don't care if you find us "desirable" or not.

And I'd help you anyway if I saw you stuck along the side of the road.

Beth

chipcom 

I like to think I am a Raisinette! I feel pretty too!

RoadToNowhere

You are the prettiest, Chip.

chipcom 

It's a no-win deal. If you are a single guy you most likely are trying to get a date out of the deal and can't hide it no matter how hard you try...so she sees right off that you are a typical pig and you go home alone again, naturally. But even if you can mask your wolfish intentions, then you send the signal that you are not interested, which of course drives women to therapy (why didn't he like me?) and into potential stalkers (got rabbits?).

On the other hand, if you are married or otherwise involved, your ego is so bruised and battered that you really need to think this strange gal wants you, yet you have to act uninterested, lest ye be the Pig of all Pigs, which even though you are, you can't let it become obvious. So you act uninterested, she goes to therapy, boils your rabbit and everyone loses. If you really are the Pig of Pigs and can sweep her off her feet, your wife/SO will catch on sooner or later and turn you into a Soprano or high Alto.

So you see my friend, it's not worth it...just go out and cut that little bother off and life will get MUCH easier....or do what I did, get your DD214, grow your hair, chop down trees, wear high-heels, suspenders and a bra, and pretend you are a dead sex goddess with lesbian tendancies.

Garfield Cat

The slow down and ask method sometimes doesn't work. The coming to a complete stop, unclipping, followed by a greeting may work.

Slowing down is a half half gesture.

Topeak Road Morph works for others. That's what's neat about it.

RoadToNowhere

Photos?

wf_mike

i always stop...just today there was a lady with a flat...i stopped and asked if i could help...she had already called for a ride...

drummermike58

This is great I read this thread a few days ago and have been a lot more considerate about asking stranded riders if they needed a hand. I passed a guy on the way into work today riding with his son and asked them if they had everything they needed. They did and i went on my way.... Couple miles down the raod, what'ya know i caught a flat. I just put some new vredestiens on 2 days ago and they were really tight. Well, I had everything I needed.... save tire levers. Man what a pain. I managed to get the tire off, but i got a bit stuck on the last 6 inches of tire lip to get it back on. Sure enough the guy and his son passed by and loaned me their tire lever and I was good to go. Made i to work JUST on time.

SO B_C, Thanks for starting this thread. I made it to work on time because if it ...

Oldpeddaller

I always stop for cyclists on the roadside and ask if they need any help - especially when I'm in my car and it's raining. I don't get out but call through the open window, just in case they are female and see me as a threat - unlikely, but you never know. Mostly no help needed, sometimes a mobile phone call or loan of my small bike tool kit & spares I carry in the car tool box and sometimes we load the bike in the back of my estate, turn the heater up and drive to a bike shop, railway station , office or take them home. I'd be grateful for the same help if myself or one of my sons got into a fix. Also, you are all right - cleats and cycling shorts are NOT suitable for hiking!

BigBlueToe

I always ask if a stopped rider is okay, and I would stop to help them if they ever said no. I wouldn't give up my spare tube unless I was pretty close to home, but I'd gladly patch theirs.

I always feel pretty good when I'm able to help people.

ncherry

So far I've helped one rider when he flatted. I had a dual head pump and I was able to get his tire pumped up enough for him to get home. There was a nasty thunderstorm on the way. I was happy to help. It felt good to help someone else and he was happy to get home on the bike instead of walking. :-)

Red Rider

Yes.

People have stopped when I've flatted and helped me out. I like the karma of, at the very least, being willing to help someone in a bind.

ncherry

Today my friend and I did the Staten Island Bike Club Pumpkin Patch Pedal. My friend flatted a short distance into the ride. Almost everyone who passed us asked if needed help. Later when we past people who needed help we asked.

The good news, on my friend's flat we noticed that the flat was located by this large worn spot (doh!) exactly where his flat was. I had a spare tire so we were set.