Good Samaritan?

jamm13dodger
jamm13dodger Posts: 106
edited May 2013 in Commuting general
So on my commute home last night I spotted a fellow cyclist pushing his bike along the cycle path with a puncture.

Now I carry a full puncture repair kit, pump and tools with me at all times. If you were in the same position would you have stopped and helped? Or is it each cyclists responsibility to make sure they are equally prepared?

Comments

  • owenlars
    owenlars Posts: 719
    If you have to ask..............
  • thistle_
    thistle_ Posts: 7,218
    Be prepared but don't assume they're just ill prepared: A guy a Cragg Quarry on Monday fixed his puncture then found his pump wasn't working (he'd only gone out for a quick ride and the in laws were coming to visit). Some rides you can get more punctures than patches/innertubes in your bag.

    Plenty of people have helped me in the past so I usually stop and at least ask if they are OK, but it's frustrating when you stop to help someone and find they're on a 20 mile ride and haven't bothered to bring anything with them.
  • jamm13dodger
    jamm13dodger Posts: 106
    owenlars wrote:
    If you have to ask..............

    I know what I did......

    I didn't say in my original post what I did however....
  • mbthegreat
    mbthegreat Posts: 179
    If I'm out in the countryside I'll ask anyone who is stopped if they're ok, assuming they don't obviously have the situation in hand. Did give a tube to someone once who had punctured three times in short succession.

    In London, never offered help, but never seen people looking like they needed it either. TBH I feel there's less obligation than out of town, seeing as its unlikely they be THAT far from home, and there are plenty of bike shops about.
  • jamm13dodger
    jamm13dodger Posts: 106
    Sounds like most people would choose to at least stop and see if help was needed.

    As it turns out that's what I did too. Showed the bloke how to do a repair, reinflated the tyre as well as I could with the little pump I carry. I also suggested where he could grab a kit. He seemed very interested so I hope he did get the message and will be able to sort himself out in future.
  • owenlars
    owenlars Posts: 719
    Good on you mate.
  • CJ Bill
    CJ Bill Posts: 415
    Ended up dropping a link from someone's broken chain so they get home a few weeks back.
    Taken to packing a pair of latex gloves after that experience...
  • rubertoe
    rubertoe Posts: 3,994
    I stop regularly if i see someone in trouble, more often than not help is not needed and your on your way again.

    Its all good karma.
    "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

    PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
    B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills
  • notnot
    notnot Posts: 284
    thistle (MBNW) wrote:
    Be prepared but don't assume they're just ill prepared: A guy a Cragg Quarry on Monday fixed his puncture then found his pump wasn't working (he'd only gone out for a quick ride and the in laws were coming to visit). Some rides you can get more punctures than patches/innertubes in your bag.

    Yes - I've previously had one tube shredded and managed to break the valve in my spare (so the puncture repair kit I carry was no help either). It's impressively easy to mess up the best-laid plans :D

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