Interesting observation

I had a pretty disastrous journey home today. Went to remove my bike from the racks at work to find I had completely flat front tyre. It was tipping it down, so I quickly changed tube and set on my way. About 5 miles up the road, I got another puncture and had no spare tube.
So, I summoned her indoors to rescue me.
Anyway, I walked my bike around 1 mile up the road to our meeting point and stood around for around 20 minutes in the rain waiting for her and I must have been passed by 20 or more cyclists and not one stopped to offer help.
So, either I am alone in offering assistance when I see someone working on their bike at the side of the road or other riders were having an off night due to the weather or I happen to have chosen a poor route home in terms of cyclists with a sense of camaraderie.
So, I summoned her indoors to rescue me.
Anyway, I walked my bike around 1 mile up the road to our meeting point and stood around for around 20 minutes in the rain waiting for her and I must have been passed by 20 or more cyclists and not one stopped to offer help.
So, either I am alone in offering assistance when I see someone working on their bike at the side of the road or other riders were having an off night due to the weather or I happen to have chosen a poor route home in terms of cyclists with a sense of camaraderie.
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She was in a car (one with a roof I would guess) and made you walk for a mile to your meeting point?
Please tell me you weren't in SPD-SLs too.
You're not alone in offering assistance, I do it as do loads of others, but I think its easier to stop and offer aid if Noah is thinking about relaunching the Ark.
FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees
I'm hungry. I'm always hungry!
My question is - why don't you ask for help?
I punctured in the middle of a very wet Richmond Park last night; only one of the ~20 cyclists who came past asked whether I needed help...
Maybe this is a stupid question, but why don't you carry a puncture repair kit? It's obviously easier to replace a tube than to fix it, but with a repair kit and mini pump you can fix quite a lot of punctures in one trip. The Park Tools self-adhesive patches take up almost no space, and are very nearly as quick as replacing the tube...
Or, here's a thought, why not ask for help? I'd done it a few times and it always results in immediate assistance (spare patch, blow on a pump, spanner I don't normally carry).
i always ask if someone stopped with their bike needs help, last night it was to a guy on a folder stopped at lights on jamaica road. Do unto others....
www.redlightjump.co.uk
FCN 3 (FCN 4 if I'm carrying clean pants)
Edit to add that what you've described is why I carry a repair kit with many patches, not just a spare tube.
Now if you had your bike upside down, were struggling with tyre/tube/chain, maybe a few would have stopped.
I stop when peopel are obviously in trouble, but if someone looks like they have all under control, then it is not required, but more often than not I do ask.
If someone is standing waiting with a bike I would probably not think they were in difficulty.
If they look as though they need help then I stop.
Everyday Commuter
Yep, that'll be the issue.
I wouldn't stop for someone who was just standing around, they are most likely just waiting for someone/something. As, indeed, you were!
If they look like it's all under control I wouldn't stop either, but if they look like they might be struggling I definitely would.
Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
I try to run my life on the basis that if doing something that only costs me a little helps someone else a lot then always do it - sounds holier than thou I know, but surprisingly it seems to work out that when I need help with something people come crawling out of the woodwork.
Robert Heinlein called it 'enlightened self interest'
CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
Litespeed L3 for Strava bits
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
Bike 1
Bike 2-A
Put it this way: When you run out of spare tubes, would you rather have:
1. A repair kit which may be a bit of a faff to use, and has a very small possibility of not working at all
2. Nothing
But then I have Vaude waterproof panniers and ride a tourer.
I do ask if I see anyone who looks as if they are in trouble. Pushing a bike with a flat tyre for example.
FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees
I'm hungry. I'm always hungry!
Rain lubricates the sharp object to more easily penetrate and puncture your tyre, then you're wet, have a flat tyre and are late for whatever it was you were doing.
FCN4 - Fixie Inc
I'm thinking concrete framed tall bike with square wheels. You wearing mountaineering gear (including cramp-ons), towing a parachute and sporting a snorkeling mask instead of wraparound shades.
FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees
I'm hungry. I'm always hungry!