Out for a ride today on the bike trails. I meet up with a guy walking his $5000 bike, at least that much. He has a flat tire. He has no tools no spare tubes or patch kit. He had already walked 5 miles, and had 5 to go.

Would it have been okay if he had a $1500 bike?

Who is "they"?

People with a more expensive bike than OP.

Barry

At least the person wasn't bothering anybody.

And, seeing as you spoke with they to determine milage walked/home, did you offer to fix they's flat?


Barry

That would be fashionably unwoke.


How much were they's shoes?

If i was in that situation I wouldn't fix their flat. I wouldn't even stop....Let them take responsibility and carry their own spare tube, pump and repair kit.

If I bothered to stop and talk to him I would have offered to fix it. Also suggested he Uber it home if it couldn't be fixed.

If you're a member, Even AAA will bring they home for a mechanical/flat.

Barry

You know, it’s funny. The OP has repeatedly claimed to to carry an extensive repair kit and helped disabled cyclists.

Theme from “Jeopardy!” playing while we wait for the explanation.

OK, now I understand.

How do you know it was a $5000 bike and not $3900????

You badgered some random person long enough to get them to tell you how far they had already walked and how much further they still had to go?

Did you have a patch kit? If so, offer it up next time.

I always ask.
Last year on the GAP/C&O I saw a couple of strong cyclists reduced to walking because they ran out of patches. They ended up Ubering to a bike store to get new tubes.
I met another guy, a rec rider, walking his bike. He had a slow leak, so we pumped him up so he could ride at least part way back to his car. I got two flats on the ride.

Lol … you actually took the time to come here to flex and post your disapproval because someone was having a bad day? Hard to believe you guys are actually adults.

Gee, I am bored today what should I do? Create a fictional situation and see if I can find people who validate my existence.

You say that like it's a bad thing. Nothing wrong with that, We've had fun with it!

Barry

How do you determine the appropriate amount of preparedness for someone who is in need of assistance?

obviously it’s whatever amount is required to make him feel superior to them!

I felt bad that I had no tubes, until I met a man with no pump.

The cyclist in OPs post had a flat....The appropriate amount of preparedness for dealing with flats is to carry a spare tubes, pump, tire levers. and a multitool. If the cyclist in OPs post took responsibility and carried those items he wouldn't have to walk 10 miles.

People don’t learn (myself included), and even the best of us have our bad moments. I used to roll up on motorcycle accidents on a regular basis, most involved sport bikes. It used to amaze me that someone would get on a sport bike wearing nothing but a t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers, and then go out stunting on the highway. Falling off a bike at 100 kph or faster with nothing but a little cotton between you and the asphalt is an effective way to remove tattoos, but skin grafts and silver oxide ointment are much more expensive than proper protective clothing, provided you are lucky enough to survive the fall in the first place.

I’ve known how to patch tubes since I was 8. I became a “serious” cyclist at 12 when I completed my first century. I worked as a mechanic in a bike shop between high school and joining the Army, I raced internationally in my late 20’s. Have I been caught with a flat out on the road without a patch kit or spare tube? Yes I have. Sometimes I have forgotten to put these things in my car, or left my kit on another bike. But I would rather play with the odds than cancel my ride.

I am trying to envision how this interaction would go? You stop and inquire about the nature of the stricken rider. If it is determined to be a flat you question the nature of the flat and preparation readiness of said rider. If say the rider had multiple flats, pump failure, large gash requiring a boot you would then offer to assist otherwise you go full Karen scold the rider for a bit and leave them to their own devices. Your response is as realistic as the OP constructed situation. However I do believe you would ride by someone in obvious need of assistance and not give it a second thought.

Do you really believe this fictional rider was going to walk 10 miles?

$5000 bike, no spares, and no cell phone? That's.... hard to believe.