Eddie Loves You

I was about 35 miles into my 50 mile ride the other day, and I get a flat. As I'm sitting on the side of the trail patching my tube, a group of 3 overweight OCP's pass me by. The one in front (the fattest one; possibly the other two's boss or something) yells at me "nice place to park!" while the other two laugh in response.

I'm sitting there in the 105 degree F heat, my shirt off, dripping wet, with a patch and pump in hand, obviously not just "parked". Now I don't expect strangers to stop and help (though I would and have, every time I've seen a fellow cyclist with a problem), but what's up with the dickheadedness? Was it because I was in gym shorts and they were in full matching team kits?

Needless to say I finished patching my tube and dropped their asses like 2 miles later. The whole thing just pissed me off because we're supposed to help each other out; not just as cyclists but as humans.

55/Rad

Ironically, you are from Bakersfield - where the OCP movement got it's start.

There's a few knuckleheads in every walk of life unfortunately. Good that you up and dropped their butts.

55/Rad

SDRider

I would have slowed and asked if you needed a hand.

Eddie Loves You

hahahaha, really? It seems like it...

Eddie Loves You

Ah, the camaraderie!

adam

Had a guy and his girlfriend/wife stop in their pickup truck a month ago when I was just standing on the side of the road. I was a few miles from home, all tubes are gone and called my wife to come and get me. She was on her way when these great guys stopped and asked if they could do anything to help.

I then noticed that he had a pretty nice Specialized mtn. bike in the back. It was the long weekend, everyone was heading up to the cottage as I suspected he would be as well.

I declined the nice offer, but it was great that he stopped. There are some good ones out there.

I've heard of some cyclists keeping a few spare tubes, patch kit, a air compress or pump, an energy bar, etc. in the car while driving so if they were to come a cyclist that needs a hand while they are out in their car they could help.

I've never come across a cyclist in need in my car travels... but you never know...

FrankBattle 

Roadies are idiots.

Yes, that includes me too. Though I detest showing off, good on you for dropping them .. in your shorts.

55/Rad

The legend of the OCP was born in Bakersfield. Seriously. On a Saturday night almost 3 years ago in the parking lot of the Circle K right there off Highway 99. 3 forum members, (myself, Patriot and Spongedad) had just finished a 60 mile ride and were popping PBR's in the lot in full attire with our rigs on the rack of the car...all the while checking out the local hotties.

We talked a lot about gear, beer, coffee and ladies. We shared PBR's with some of the nice folks of Bakersfield, one of whom eventually asked - "do you guys actually ride those things or do you just spend money to talk and show them off?"

Patriot announced: "we're obsessed!"
Spongedad bellowed: "we're compulsive!"
I staggered to my feet, held up my PBR and struck a tipsy Captain Morgan pose - "and we're posers!"

And thus, OCP was born.

Or something like that.

55/Rad

Dr_Robert

Ditto. I'll never ride/drive past a cyclist who's obviously in trouble.

Hardheadmandca

I keep it all in my van, tubes, floor pump, tires, liquids, and food, just in case someone needs assistance.

Eddie Loves You

They say that during a full moon, if you believe hard enough, 3 roadies can be seen at the Circle K shaving their legs and eating gels. If you try to ask them why their cranks match the color of the cleats on their funny shoes, they just disappear. They say...

Siu Blue Wind

Well put it this way. At least you know how NOT to be. Fortunately, I've been lucky. People have offered me help. But the last time I offered to help someone, he just looked at me funny and pulled his bike off to the side without a word as he stared at me. Kind of that "how dare you as ME" look.

neurocycler

Out of morbid curiosity what team kits were they wearing?

powerglide

That blows...karma will catch up with them.
I had a flat this Sunday in Palos Verdes. Within the 10 minutes or so I was changing the tire, I had about 8 riders ask me if I needed anything. Felt great. (almost annoying having to say "thank you, I'm all set!" every 70 seconds...but ofcourse I was grateful)

sparrowlegs

I keep a spade, a bag of lime and a bottle of ether in my van. All in a large sack.

Dr_Robert

Add a box of large trash bags, a roll of Duct Tape, and a hatchet. Just in case.

sparrowlegs

That goes without saying.

Along with the "false arm in a sling" and a curly wig.

moscafj

As you were about to pass and drop them, you could have slowed and asked if THEY needed a hand.

EGreen

This principle, expectation, is where you might find yourself in repeated conflict with reality. As you've seen the dickheaded, especially of the OCP roadie variety, consider nothing beyond vanity and selfish concerns.

unbelievably

I notice that he didn't say, "Nice place to park as*hole."
Seems that they saw you were under control with your own situation...
AND that you are overreacting,IMO.

Take some advise and lighten up.

pdxtex

another reason why portland rocks.....on more then one occasion ive had people offer me a tube and have done vice versa.....glad you made it on your way and dropped those guys.....

nycphotography

Is it possible, just possible, that he was trying to make a joke to cheer you up? If you were in a better mood, might you have laughed with the joke, and asked for a quarter for the meter?

EventServices

Clever, but they would have totally missed it.

damage24

Last summer we had just finished a group ride and another group pulled in to the parking lot shortly afterward. We stood around and talked for a few minutes and everyone loaded up and took off in their cars There's really only one way out so everyone headed down the same road. Off in the distance I see a guy pushing his bike down the road. Four people (three from the other group, one from mine) ahead of me blew by him without even slowing.

I stopped and found the guy had a broken derailer, loaded up his bike and drove him back to the parking lot which was probably another 2-3 miles after he'd pushed the bike for over a mile. It was very much a WTF? moment and one of the few incidents of bike snobbery I've seen.

Gromit

I hope when you blew past them you said "nice place to park "