banerjek

Logical, but I don't cut women who depend on guys extra slack. Plus, I'd probably creep out the young hotties, and the older ones are smarter than to get into situations like this.

However, you just made me realize in the years I've been doing this particular ride, I'm not sure if I've ever encountered a woman cyclist.

Mt.Hoodlum

A-hole.

Booger

This bothers me 10x more than fat people riding scooters.

banerjek

I was just trying to figure out where the line is. Years ago, I had to walk more than 10 miles in summer heat back to town after my car was disabled. No one offered to help, and I had to get permission from a few houses along the way to drink from the garden hose. I did get a woman to call my GF to tell her I'd be 3 1/2 hrs late at my pace. It was a long hike, but I was fine.

I never faulted anyone for not stopping. They saw a young guy who could obviously handle the situation.

MadCowMoo

I would have offered the help. Then would have if he wanted it and as he was fixing his tire i would explain to him what a seat wedge was used for.

umd

I would have told his friends at the top that he needed them to come down and help him. If he had been prepared but for whatever reason ran out of supplies I would be more inclined to help.

Not 100% the same, but yesterday about 30 miles into a double century I came across a rider running with his bike. I offered him help but he said he would just continue to the checkpoint, about 4 miles up the (flat) road. I was hesitant to offer because on such a long ride I could end up needing them, but I did anyway. Turns out I got two flats that day, so I'm glad I kept both of my tubes. Note that I also had a patch kit and a pump so I would not have been SOL had I given him one.

johnny99

I'll ask if he needs help. If he says yes, then I'll help him. If he says anything else, then I'll keep going. Keep your question simple and you don't have to think too much about the answer.

plumberroy

Helping is all ways the right choice
only time I ever refuse to help was a Jack***** that shot my beagle that was 25 years , I was younger
Today I would most likely even help some one like that .
Roy

timmhaan

the guy said he had buddies up the road. that, in laymans terms, usually means the equalivant of 'i'm cool, don't need any help'.

if he had specially asked for help, then yeah, the OP should have helped. there's no reason to call the OP an a-hole or try to suggest he's self centered.

Jasper Storm

I never did like the way that saddle bag and frame pump looked on my bike.

So, can you guys let me know when and where you generally ride?

Pugsly

+1, I never realized my fellow cyclists were all so generous. No more need for me to carry tubes, tools, pumps, anything!

ragboy

Because he's a dude and she's a hottie. Duh.

no help.

banerjek

I called out the standard "got what you need?". He says he has a flat, but there are people waiting for him at the top and that his situation wasn't that bad. When people are desperate, you always know.

When I saw him later in the day, he gave a friendly wave despite being on a team so I don't think there were any hard feelings.

BlueBrew

I actually was in this situation (the walking guy) and I'm buddies with the person to this day.

plumberroy

Maybe ____________(insert what ever universal force you believe in I.E. karma ,God , budda etc) foresaw you leaving that guy walking and went a head paid you back before hand

back when I was 18, I was fox hunting calling them in with a hurt rabbit tape got back to my truck around 2 a.m. and it would not start since the locks didn't work on the truck and it was parked way back a farm lane out of sight leaving my gun and lights and tape player was not an option .I was nine mile from the house .My first thought was this is going to be a long walk because no one in their right mind would pick up some one in camo packing a shotgun Light and stuff I had not walked 1/4 mile before a farmer picked me upand dropped me off at my driveway
Roy

sfrider 

I understand the point of letting him walk. However, I always stop and offer help to riders walking their bike. I never offer help to people sitting and fixing a flat or mechanical; that's just annoying. I can see the point of teaching him to be more prepared, but if he's walking he's probably already learnt that. IMO.

sfrider 

Looks all very reasonable to me.

C_Heath

I would have at least dropped him a tube and a CO2.

johnny99

You gave him a chance to ask for help. He didn't. Don't worry about it.

For those of you who walked for miles because no one stopped to ask you if you needed help, did you try to wave someone down or even make eye contact with passing cyclists? If you make half an effort to ask for help, then most people will stop (unless you look like Ted Kaczynski).

do-well

The OP keeps adding additional info as the story develops. I believe all the details he is offering, but I think it changes the nature of the original post.

I always offer assistance. It's up to the person appearing in need to accept/reject the offer. To not offer the assistance is to make that decision for the person.

I recently walked 1.5/2 miles to a shop after experiencing a double flat (short route so only carrying one tube). Not a single person offered any assistance. I don't know if I would have accepted for I was enjoying the walk, but being offered help would have made me feel better about the world.

-The Idealist

MONGO!

That's assuming he knows how to use them, I would have stopped and offered to change his tube, 3 miles pushing a bike uphill in the heat is no fun and a tube can be switched in minutes.

GP

Look up. If there's vultures circling, help him. If not, tell him to HTFU.

roadiejorge 

I would have helped but mentioned the fact he should carry the proper supplies, the fact he had a flat and was already hiking it should be lesson enough.

charmed

I'm no hottie, and probably fall in the "older ones" category. But whenever I'm out on my bike alone I can't stop to take a drink of water without multiple guys stopping to offer help. I thinks it's lovely, as if I ever do have problems I'm thinking I will at least have someone there to keep me company while I change my tire.

StephenH

My reasoning is that if I can spend 10 minutes and save someone else 45 minutes, that's worthwhile. Closer to the top, let him walk.