Crazy Cyclist

Here's what happened. My friend called me last night and wanted me to come over for a beeer, so I hopped on my bike, I was going to walk but it is a 15 minute walk and a 6 minute ride, so I rode, it was also about 100 above with the humidity and I was sweating my balls off, so on my way to his house, my kickstand came loose as welll as the QR skewer that holds it on to the wheel, and as a result the wheel also was loose and ended up rubbing against the frame, I was about 3 minutes away from his house and I had too stop and try to fix it it was hard because I had to try and position the whel exactly in the middle of the frame and at the same time, tighten everything up, I thought I had it but it started again, so I tried again, that is when a cyclist stopped and offered me a hand and thanks to him I was able to get to where I was going, but on the way back, the same thing happened again and at the exact same spot as the first time, this time it was after dark and it was still hot and humid out and I had my bike turned upside down trying to fix it with no luck when another cyclist, who rode across the street came over to help me, he got the bike going so that I could get home, about 40-50 cars drove past and not one of them stopped but yet 2 cyclists stopped for me when I neeed help. I want to say Thanks to those cyclists who stopped and helped, because just after I got home, it started to rain and lightning and thunder, and I would have been caught in the rain. Has anyone stopped to help or gotten help from other cyclists?

recursive

I have been offered help, but have never required it. Similarly, I have offered help to cyclists on the roadside, but never been taken up on the offer.

It sounds like you might want to take a closer look at your bike though. A QR coming loose is not normal. Also, if your brakes are aligned correctly, you shouldn't have to line the wheel up, just push it all the way in, and tighten.

Crazy Cyclist

Hi recursive, I think I should lose the kickstand, that is what is causing the problems and it is also why I couldn't tighten up the QR, I couldn't get around the spring on the kickstand to tighten it up, I will get my LBS to check out the brake pads to see if I need new ones and to see if my present ones are correctly aligned.

slvoid

I always try and stop someone in need. Whenever I pass by someone walking their bike who looks like they shouldn't be, I always slow down, make sure I'm not gonna run into anything, and give their bike a quick glance to check for any sign of mechanical problems.

Crazy Cyclist

slvoid, I always try and stop as well, about a month ago, I helped out a 10 year old girl who had fallen off her bike and cut her hand and knee, I bandaged her up and stayed with her until her father arrived, ironically it was almost at the same spot where I needed help yesterday.

twahl

I never leave a cyclist stranded. I'm going to have to start charging people for the new tubes I've put in their bikes though.

AndrewP

I always ask stopped cyclists, who dont look like they are just resting, if they are OK. I never bother with stalled cars. I do it because thats what I would like to happen to me. When I have a flat or mechanical problem some friendly company prevents me from getting depressed.

ovoleg

thats pretty nice. Last time I was stranded a nice cyclist helped me. I puctured my second tube and I had no other way to get back and I was in my clipless shoes about 10 miles from my house(walking is out of the question lol) I had a fun time asking people at the bank for 50c or a cell phone. Some people are just plain rude..

One guy asked me if it was "local" and I just told him to forget it because it just seemed rude that he would ask something like that. Many times kids ask me to use my phone at the theatre and I never ask them if it is "local" because I know they need help.

A cyclist came by and he gave me his tube and offered a cell phone incase I wasn't fit to ride home. I mean you can tell that the cyclist are much friendlier. I will remember that guy I owe him a tube hehe

-titanium-

i have been asked if im ok once, thing is it was me with the problem and not the bike, after not cycling for a month a went to hard with no food and i bonked out!

I also asked and recived help from a cyclist, when 1 of the screws on my cletas came off meaning my shoe was stuck in the pedal. He tried to help then eventualy i thought...wait a seocnd why dont i just take my foot out the shoe, for osme reason it took me 10 minutes to think of doing that, at which point i turned the show around till the 2nd screw came out leaving the cleat inside the pedal, and just cycled home with 1 foot un-clipped.

Toyman991

As the result of a suggestion in Bicycling Magazine recently, I began carrying a patch kit, spare tube and a CO2 inflator in the trunk of my car so that I could assist cyclists when the opportunity arrose. No takers...yet.

John

eubi

I've given away more tubes than I used myself.

As payment, I just tell them to do something nice for the next guy.

'nother

I always ask, "you OK?" when I see a cyclist stopped on the side of the road. No one has ever said "no".

Reminds me though, I was talking with a couple of other cyclists on a remote ride, one had a flat and they were trying to fix it but couldn't figure out their CO2 pump. After about 1/2 hour, a cyclist on their way by asked if they were OK but out of habit or possibly pride, they both said "yeah, we're fine" and the cyclist just kept going, leaving them slapping their heads saying "D'Oh!", and eventually walking several miles before getting help.

Moral is: if someone asks you if you're OK and you're actually not OK, don't forget to say NO!

MattP.

Thats a pretty good idea. What month was that in?

I haven't helped anyone yet Not a lot of cyclists around here. But I sure would help someone if I came across it

2manybikes

That is a great idea, except that the cartridges can explode if it gets too hot. Someone on the forums had one explode in his car and I think blow out a window, I think the windshield. The cartridges have that warning right on them too. I think I will put one of my pumps and a patch kit in the car too, a tube also. Great idea.

va_cyclist

On my century last weekend I passed a guy who was stopped and appeared to be having some wheel trouble. I slowed and asked if he was OK. He said he was fine, just finished fixing a flat, so I kept going. He caught up with me later on the ride, and we rode together on and off for about 50 miles, so I think he must have appreciated the inquiry at least.

saturnsc2

i had several cyclists just ride by me slowly seeing me walk my bike with a flat & nobody offered to help. i sure could have used one of their air pumps. i'm going to buy one for my bike. i had to walk about 15 miles to get home.

recursive

Holy crap. I usually don't ask people who are walking their bikes, since I figure they are doing it on purpose, but maybe I will start. If I were you though, I would have flagged some of them down. They probably would have stopped.

Orikal

I guess I better take mine out of the center console then.

I helped a guy a couple weeks ago who had a flat. It was my first opportunity to assist someone, and it felt great. We had a good conversation while I was changing the tube, and now I've got another riding buddy!

twahl

That's generally what I tell them as well...help the next guy out. Sooner or later if enough of us take that approach none of us will ever be stranded with a flat.

JohnBrooking

That's a good idea, to carry a patch kit in your car in case others need help. (I guess that's better than a spare because who knows what size the person will need.) Knock on wood, I haven't needed roadside help yet (3 years now). I've had the opportunity to offer it twice, once on my bike and once in my car, but in both cases it was not necessary.

RocketsRedglare

I always stop (whether on bike, car or boat) if I think I can be of assistance. Most refuse, many accept. Been asked If I need assistance, and I have always refused. No big deal.

Changed many a tire for damsels in distress (car and bike). Gave up many patch kits. Towed a few boats back to the harbor and rendered first aid more than I can think of (I have basic first aid/cpr training, my wife is a nurse. Fortunately, I never had to use CPR).

Most gracious thank you came from a homeless guy, with a flat tire on a junker bike. Repaired his tube, gave hime a patch kit, and bought him a few tacos from a nearby taqueria.

Noif666

Not too long ago I had the rare opportunity to offer two people assistance in as many days. Neither needed a hand but were grateful for the offer.
I have been asked if I need help once or twice when doing road-side repairs but have never required it. [edit: Yet!!!]

Puppypaws

Kudo's to those who help other's in need.

This year I have been helped twice by boaters. Once when my husband capsized and his kayak was carried downstream. A boater towed his boat back to our launch area. Once when i capsized my kayak in a sudden dense fog. A bpater let me use their ski ladder to get back in my kayak. Don't know what I would have done without those friendly boaters. I was so grateful.

I hope you get good karma points.

FlatTop

The battery booster I keep in the station wagon has an air compressor on it. I saw a guy riding a bike and his back tire was nearly flat. I asked him if he wanted it fixed. He was a little surprised I think, but appreciative.
At any given time my car has a few bicycle parts in it, a patch kit and a passable toolkit. If I can't get you going, there's a two-bike hitch rack in back that's never failed yet. Need a lift?
If I'm on my bike, I can help out with a patch kit, but that's about it.

kwv

What happened to Crazy Cyclist might be an idea for an mobile bicycle/motor bike repair patrol?