Do you really need help, but just won't admit it?

[2PedalsTez]

Whilst out on my ride today in quite an isolated area I noticed a cyclist at the side of the road with his front wheel off looking a little frustrated (I guess we all would!), I asked if he was ok and whether he needed any help and got the usual "No thanks" (I won't read into that).
This got me thinking, how many people really could do with a bit of a hand, but don't want to ask? After all, I wouldn't ask if I wasn't prepared to help! (Equally, I suppose there could be some people that offer help just to look like they mean well!)

 

[Moodyman]

I've offered help a few times, but the stranded pedallers pretty much had it covered.

 

[2Loose]

I've offered help a few times, but the stranded pedallers pretty much had it covered.

The times I've offered, I even checked that they had the equipment (chain breaker, puncture kit, pump etc) after getting a 'no, I'm fine thanks' just to make sure.

A fairly self sufficient lot are most cyclists!

 

[Norm]

About half the time I've asked, I've had had "yes please" in reply. Mostly it's just flat tyres (get a pump, people!) or directions but one guy had a broken chain and no tools.

I circled round to one guy who refused aid earlier this year, when I went back past a few hours later, he was still there.'Want a hand yet?" was again met with a "Non" (he was French).

 

[ColinJ]

Once, I saw an old man walking a mountain bike down off 'the tops'. He had a flat tyre and I stopped to ask if he needed help. He said no, it was okay, he'd just walk home with his bike. When I asked how far that was, he said 5 or 6 miles!

I told him that it would be no bother to help him sort the problem out. I fixed it for him in about 10 minutes and soon he was on his way again. He seemed really grateful, so I can only assume that he just hadn't wanted to admit that he needed help.

 

[danger mouse]

Is it not more to do with the British thing of not wanting to inconvenience others? (Apart from the French chap)

 

[Matthew_T]

On a ride with the club on teusday, near the end a cyclist got a puncture. I was behind him (at the back of the pack) and saw it all happen. He went over some stones and pppppssssssshshhshshhhhhh!!!! began. He pulled over and I had to catch up to the group to tell them to wait. I reached them and we all turned around and headed back to the stranded cyclist. When I finally got back to him, he already had his wheel off and was fitting the new innertube. Everyone was crowding around him giving him light (about 8.30). He changed the innertube in no time and we were off straight away.

 

[Matthew_T]

Is it not more to do with the British thing of not wanting to inconvenience others? (Apart from the French chap)

Definately what I did. When I fell off my bike, I had a huge hole in my knee. Plenty of people were asking me if I was okay and i said yes and cycled home (about 1.5 miles). I ended up in hospital for 4 days and had 6 stitches.

 

[Saluki]

I will accept help, if someone is kind enough to stop and ask and I need some help. Most of the time, I am pretty self sufficient, but if I do need some help, I will always accept it. Might be a girl thing though.

 

[Seigi]

See, when I got a puncture and had to call my parents I wished someone had asked if I was all right. There was actually a mountain biker who was cycling around in circles over the village green (I think he'd just got the bike, so that's probably why) and he didn't ask if I was all right

I'd just feel bad if I needed help and it meant them giving me an inner tube, I'd feel indebted to them, and since I rarely carry money I don't know how I'd pay them for it.

 

[Bayerd]

See, when I got a puncture and had to call my parents I wished someone had asked if I was all right. There was actually a mountain biker who was cycling around in circles over the village green (I think he'd just got the bike, so that's probably why) and he didn't ask if I was all right

I'd just feel bad if I needed help and it meant them giving me an inner tube, I'd feel indebted to them, and since I rarely carry money I don't know how I'd pay them for it.

It's worth noting that repair outfits cost about a pound or two and usually have several patches. I tend to get a puncture once every 1500 miles or so, so on that basis take the help if it's offered. There won't be many that can't afford a 20p patch....

 

[Cubist]

See, when I got a puncture and had to call my parents I wished someone had asked if I was all right. There was actually a mountain biker who was cycling around in circles over the village green (I think he'd just got the bike, so that's probably why) and he didn't ask if I was all right

I'd just feel bad if I needed help and it meant them giving me an inner tube, I'd feel indebted to them, and since I rarely carry money I don't know how I'd pay them for it.

Without wanting to sound smug, I'd be happy to give you the inner tube, and be pleased I had been able to help out. If you asked how to repay me, I would tell you to to do the next favour you could to the next person who needs it. I recently saw a lad on a bike with no rear light at night. I stopped as I could see he had a light but it was unlit. It had stopped working in the rain. I keep some Tesco LEDs in my glove box, so it was a simple case of taping one onto his seat tube. He was very grateful, and liked the "pay-it-forward" idea.

 

[Norm]

He was very grateful, and liked the "pay-it-forward" idea.

I had that with one chap with a flat tyre. I sorted him and he wanted to make payment, I refused and said "All I want is a commitment to pass it on".

 

[MossCommuter]

I gave a chap a tyre the other day (he happened to be walking by the house, his tyre in shreds). It was a crap tyre, worth nothing and only saved for just such an emergency. I virtually had to force him to accept it.

 

[Cubist]

[QUOTE 1556041"]
No I don't. Walking 5 miles home after getting a puncture is giving penance for being stupid enough to leave home without:-

a) Checking your tyres
b) Carrying a spare tube
c) Carrying a puncture repair kit
d) All of the above
[/quote]

Forgot that bit! Yeah, tossers......