Disappointing

stevemcol

Had a puncture tonight and was fixing at the side of the road. Seven cyclists passed me in three seperate groups. Not one asked me if I was OK. When did that become the new cycling etiquette?

brat

Hope not. We rely on looking after each other.

Johnmcl7

Did you need help or indicate to the groups you wanted help?

I wouldn't stop for a cyclist at the side of the road if it looked like they were fixing a puncture and weren't indicating they needed help nor would I expect a cyclist to stop for me in the same situation. If someone has a mechanical as part of the group I'm in, we'd stop and help if needed but that's because we're cycling as a group and not leaving someone behind to have to catch up.

John

somersethillbilly

You've got to use the international "Cyclist in Distress" gesture....



....Then run like a flamingo on Ritalin.

stevemcol

I didn't expect or want anyone to stop. What would have been nice would be an "OK mate?" as they rode past. I always do.

Norman_Castle

You probably looked like you knew what you were doing. If you looked like you needed help its likely it would have been offered.

Nasqueron

If someone is stopped and clearly changing a puncture then I won't offer help as I take it they know what they are doing, it's a bit different if they're sat there - that said I have limited tools on the bike and I'm not that good on bike mechanicals so limited what I can do beyond lend a phone

rdr

I always ask if they need help

daivid

Always ask, and have always been asked. I'm lucky to live in an area that has long been popular for cycling so perhaps the etiquette is more established?

esuhl

The only time I was asked was when I was stopped on someone's driveway and the house owner rushed out to offer his air line to reinflate my tyre. Everyone else on bikes just rides past.

If someone is fixing their bike, I probably would assume they're okay. If they are just standing there, walking with their bike, or looking around, I'd always check they were okay.

Last summer, I saw a woman in a group, struggling to push a big, heavy e-bike with a puncture. I offered to help fix it, but they explained they'd found it impossible to remove the rear wheel as you need special tools due to the hub motor. The woman was really annoyed -- it was her first trip out on the e-bike, which she'd bought so she could do a bit of gentle exercise without being left behind by the other non-e-cyclists. Dragging it home with a flat looked like more exercise than she'd ever expected to do in her life!

Johnmcl7

daivid wrote: »

Always ask, and have always been asked. I'm lucky to live in an area that has long been popular for cycling so perhaps the etiquette is more established?

I don't see it as bad etiquette not to ask if someone needs help if there's no indication they want it, personally I'd prefer people didn't ask for help if I was in the same situation because if I wanted help I'd make it clear I did - having everyone going by asking if I'm ok when I'm just trying to get on with a repair without cursing too much at my bike would just annoy me.

If there was an indication the person needed help I wouldn't hesitate to stop and in some cases I've gone home, got my car and taken a stranger home but not for people who were clearly fine.

John