irideacenturion

So I was on a quick ride this afternoon. I was headed home and got a flat about 4 miles from home. "No big deal," I thought to myself ... I had a spare tube (no patch mind you). I switched out the old tube and put in the new tube. I went to pump up the tube only to discover that the valve was shorter than 48mm and not enough of it stuck out of my semi-aero rims to fit the frame pump on.

So ... bummed about my own short sightedness I began my 4 mile walk home. I quickly learned that cycling clothes and shoes are much more comfortable on a bike than walking. After about 2 miles a Subaru with a roofrack on it passed me. A few seconds later it swung around and the driver offered me a ride. I threw my bike on the rack and hopped in.

Moral of my poorly told story is that there are some mighty nice people out there and a woman with some seriously big karma points in the bank.

banerjek

I have people offering assistance all the time -- particularly if its dark and stormy. If it's bad enough, I've had people offer rides even though I was still riding.

Incidentally, if any of the presta valve sticks out at all, you might be able to put a schrader adapter on the end of the presta valve and attach your pump to that since the adapter doesn't need nearly as much stem as your pump does.

Ryleeryno

My MS-150 Century last week yielded the same results. 75 miles into my ride I got a flat... Stopped and started replacing my tube only to realize that my stem was too short for my 30mm rim. Luckily someone stopped along with me when I flatted and they had the correct length stem. I thanked him immensely.

rollin

People are good.

I was cycling home a many many years ago in the UK when I got a second puncture for the day. A guy with a bike on his roof rack stopped to lend a hand. He had no spare tube and I had used mine earlier. The guy offered me a lift home but it was way out of his way so I declined. He thought about it for a moment and then gave me his front wheel and took my punctured one, wrote down his address and said to get his wheel back to him before the following weekend! Didn't want my address or even telephone number and his wheel was far more expensive then mine! Now that's trust.

I kept his wheel, never did see him again.... (just kidding)

Plow13

i offer to help all cyclists...i just hope others will do the same for me

fogrider

it just takes one! I've gotten help before...it was getting dark with a ways to go. I've also done my share of helping too.

Wino Ryder

somehow I knew you was going to say that.

IAMTB

+100 So far this year I've used 2 tubes and 3 co2 cartridges and haven't had a flat myself yet.

kokomo61

Whenever I see a cyclist stopped by the side, I always ask "Do you need anything?" Most times, I get a "No thanks, I'm OK", but I've handed out a couple tubes in the past month. It's good to build up karma points.

SaddleBags

If I'm on my bike - I'll ask if they need anything. If I'm driving - I'll pull over to offer assitance or a ride since I usually have spare tubes/pump/tools in the truck.

For the OP, spend $10 on cleat covers and throw them in your jersey pocket or saddlebag on every ride. Makes walking a little easier but you won't burn thru the $20-25 cleats to walk a mile.

chevy42083

I feel bad sometimes when I see someone stopped and I can't help (I rarely carry my pump, or patches, and almost never a spare tube). I feel like they think I'm an azz. I simply ride close enough to home that I don't bother with spares. Although, I have recently started riding further, and have a big ride coming up, so that'll change.... already have a seat bag with tube, patches, levers etc, just need to put it on now

Velo Vol 

A couple years ago I had a similar experience, being unable to inflate a spare tube. I was about six miles from the car. I sure felt relieved when a guy living there offered to drive me back.

fa63

Meh, you should have shouldered the bike and start running barefoot (like I did for three miles when I flatted on one of the few rides where I forgot to bring along a spare)

But yeah, I have actually had people offer me rides too when I was out riding late in the evening.

Rex G

I started a great friendship when I stopped to help a guy who had a flat. He was on a group ride, and was quite prepared, but he had four flats, which was one more than he was prepared to deal with. He was barefoot, carrying his shoes and pushing the bike, as his road shoes were not suited for the 4+ miles left to go. It was raining, too. We put his bike on my hitch rack, and drove to his truck. I later found he is the type of guy who regularly helps others less fortunate than him; I feel certain he would have done the same for me. He certainly had banked plenty of good karma before I passed by him that day, and deserved the help.

DieselDan

I was out riding on Hilton Head one warm January afternoon (we have those) when I had my third flat, and I only carry two spare tubes. To make matters worse, I was going up the only hill (bridge) on the whole island (The Cross Island Parkway/Fraser Bridge) Just as I was about to make my way down, an SUV stopped and offered me a ride. He lived in the neighborhood near the resort my car was parked.

A few days later, still warm out, I passed by a cyclist walking on SC 170 on Lemon Island with an obvious broken wheel. I stopped, loaded his bike up, and drove him home. He even lived in the same 'hood as me.

irideacenturion

Glad to know this is a common experience.

I was definitely thinking about cleat covers after every click of a cleat on asphalt. I picked up an extra couple of tubes today. I think i'm going to keep one in my car in case I ever need to pass on the favor.

To my knowledge I've never actually seen a cyclist broken down on the side of the road.