I'm not making an excuse for his rudeness but perhaps trying to provide an explanation for his behavior. I recently finished a long day of work and found that someone had tried to rip off my front wheel and left me with half a quick release skewer jammed into my axle. I had to walk/carry the bike quickly to a bike shop before closing and was admittedly in a foul temper the whole walk. I hope I would have responded more generously to an offer of assistance but I'm sure my response would have been colored by how ticked off I was. Knowing it would be rare event that someone would actually be travelling with a spare quick release I might have responded with a curt "Nope." Anyone hearing my response might easily have labeled me a jackass- and maybe they'd be right- I mean I'm lucky it wasn't the whole wheel or the whole bike and my dilemma certainly wouldn't have been the fault of the person asking if I needed help.

and then again, maybe a house fell on his sister.