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

[superbadger]

[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]

ouch!!!!. Ok well i am pretty sure the lesson has been learnt... Well if not your comment has extra kudos from me.. Back to the post i have asked a few and got the usual 'im ok'. I did end up helping a car-driver who's car wouldn't start though. The irony eh???

 

[growingvegetables]

"pay-it-forward" idea.

+1 Like it too. Used it - beneficiary and passer-on.

 

[apollo179]

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.

Most people do automatically refuse help and it takes some insistance to help but it leaves a lasting appreciation. I got a puncture when i was blundering about on an old bso and a lycra clad roadie stopped and walked me home apologising that he didnt have his repair kit on him as he was only going the short trip to work. On route he advised me on schwalbe tyres and this forum. Must have made him late for work. Anyway it does restore your faith in human nature when it happens to you.

 

[Bluebell72]

I would say 'No, I'm ok' too.
A few weeks ago, I fell off at a level crossing, on wet rails, and a passerby asked if I was ok.There was also a group of chavvy youths approaching on t'other side of the road and they were laughing and pointing at me. I just muttered 'I'm fine, but thanks' to the nice passerby, I was so embarrassed.
About a mile down the road I stopped and had a quick check over - the bike was fine, and my arm was a bit bloody, but was nearly home. I had stitches later too!

It's really daft, but I'd always go and ask someone if they needed help. Last winter, my OH and I were in the car, and coming away from traffic lights, a motorbike in front wobbled, and they guy dropped it. We got out of the car, and went to help, and in moments, there were about 10 people there, lifting his bike up, getting him up, waving the traffic on. Very heartening.

 

[Fiona N]

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.

I had the opposite - on an Audax I got a puncture and found out too late that the two tubes I had with me were those completely daft ones with the screw-in (or out, in this case) presta valves. I replaced the punctured one but only a few miles down the road, the valve was leaking on the replacement. The guy I was cycling with (previously unknown to me) gave me a good quality tube and refused payment. After the ride, I sent a replacement tube to the Audax organiser and asked her to forward it. At later event I met up with the gentleman again and he was adamant that I shouldn't have replaced the tube he gave me. But it means he can give it to some other damsel in distress

 

[chillyuk]

I had a breakdown this morning that needed the chain split to untangle it from between my freewheel and spokes. The newer 6 speed Shimano freewheels have rivet heads that trap the chain when it goes down between the freewheel and spokes. They are a pig to un-jam. Anyway I was doing what was needed, two cyclists went past without a word then one stopped. I told him everything was under control so I didn't need help, but thanks for stopping, but he decided to stay and watch, and talk, and talk and talk. By the second talk I realised he was slightly affected with learning difficulties so I made allowances. I wonder how good a spannerman he is if I had asked for help!

 

[chillyuk]

I would say 'No, I'm ok' too.
A few weeks ago, I fell off at a level crossing, on wet rails, and a passerby asked if I was ok.There was also a group of chavvy youths approaching on t'other side of the road and they were laughing and pointing at me. I just muttered 'I'm fine, but thanks' to the nice passerby, I was so embarrassed.
About a mile down the road I stopped and had a quick check over - the bike was fine, and my arm was a bit bloody, but was nearly home. I had stitches later too!

A few years ago I fell from a bus whilst trying to get off. Some chav types came running over, helped me to my feet, dusted me down and said "Are you OK Pop". Pop for heaven's sake, I was only in my late 50's then. But just go to show how we shouldn't judge on appearances.

 

[Hip Priest]

I'd always accept help if I was in a pickle. I'd offer it too.

 

[dand]

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.

That sounds like a really good idea. Wasn't there a film about that pay it forward concept?

 

[ColinJ]

I've just remembered being at the side of the road fixing a puncture, when a roadie slowed to ask if I needed help. I called out "No, thanks, I'm okay!" but immediately realised that I wasn't, so I shouted after him and he came back.

I had finally realised that my eyesight was no longer good enough when not wearing glasses to see small objects close up, such as the bit of glass that I could feel was stuck in my tyre. The helpful cyclist got it out in about 15 seconds.

I carry an old pair of glasses in my tool kit now!

That sounds like a really good idea. Wasn't there a film about that pay it forward concept?

Yes - it was called, er, Pay It Forward!

 

[Maylian]

Just wanted to pass my thanks on. Cycling home today from Gosport and about 5 miles in I realise I've got a flat as I'm leaning in to take a roundabout, I managed to keep the balance and get to the side of the road and as always I keep 2 inner tubes in my backpack. I got to the pavement and started to take the wheel off and a kind cyclist offered his help, I declined since had it in hand but was very appreciative of the offer and thought of this post as he cycled off.

Anyways just wanted to thank all those cyclists that offer and help others out there, its appreciated even if we don't accept it

 

[ACS]

This afternoon I heading home through a very rural part of Fife, on a a road I would not normally use, I took a wrong turn. As I was grovelling up the hill, I saw a young lad (12 ish) on the opposite side, mountain bike abandoned on the grass verge and he was sitting holding his right arm across his chest and clearly upset.

Pulled over and asked if he was alright, he said he was, clearly he wasn't. He said he had a sore shoulder having come off his bike and crashing into the verge and ending up in the drainage ditch hidden by the grass.

Asked him where he lived, in the village at the bottom of the hill about 2 miles away. Anyway after some cajoling I persuaded him to call his parents on my phone, they came out being with us some 10 minutes later.

While we where waiting I asked how long he had been on the verge, about 30 minutes. I asked how many vehicles has passed him, 6 including the truck that forced into the grass verge he replied in all innocence.

The entire incident left me feeling very despondent.

 

[lulubel]

If I had a puncture and someone stopped to offer help, I probably wouldn't accept. My tyres come off and on again easily enough, and there isn't a great deal 2 people can do really. If it was something I hadn't done before, I'd accept, though, even if I had the tools to do it (rather like I accepted help changing a wheel on my car when I had a puncture because I wasn't confident with doing it myself).

I always offer help if I see someone at the side of the road, but no-one has accepted yet. To be honest, the few people I've seen have been dealing with punctures and looked like they had everything in hand.

 

[brokenflipflop]

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.

Hey Mathew. If he'd have been English would you have said "good luck with that. Later dude" in Welsh of course.

Only kidding mate

 

[slowmotion]

I have absolutely no problems at all in accepting help if it is offered, and I need it. I'm getting better at asking for it too. If I see a cyclist with a flat tyre or an up-turned bike, I'll ask if they need something. Why not? I might need help from a stranger in the future myself.

BTW, if you are that kind roadie who asked after my welfare at the top of Dark Hill in Richmond Park this evening, chapeau