spclark 

It can, I've used it a couple of times. Depends a lot on many variables. Finding leaks in pressure systems is vastly easier than vacuum systems in my experience. Pressure leaks usually messy, obvious, potentially hazardous. Vacuum's more an annoyance unless you're doing something like vacuum-bagging component layup where even a small vacuum leak can lead to project failure. This a reasonably priced device intended for finding vacuum leaks. You can spend a LOT more of course! My tube idea's similar in nature to the old mechanics' trick of using a dowel rod to listen to bearings & stuff in operating mode.

plumberroy

Yes PVC Will hold more than 5 psi and not come apart. Probably more than 50% of the time. But when it does come apart it throws sharp shards of plastic to penetrate completely through a 2x4 I have seen this numerous times. I know it it is in the specs because I looked it up for a customer that was running air in schedule 80 PVC. It's in their specs because it has happened enough that their liability lawyers had it put in their paperwork. That was told to me by a company rep for Charlotte pipe. There's enough chance of pipe failure with air pressure to cause serious injuries that it is stupid to take the chance.
For the record I personally saw a 9 inch shard of plastic go through a 2x4 with approximately 4 inches sticking out of back of the board this was 3 inch pipe and it came apart at just under 50 psi. I've seen it come apart several times

LarrySellerz

It’s easy with snoop or a helium leak checker imo, but yeah harder than pressure for sure. Vacuum sucks

bwilli88 

Yes, I have often stopped to help both here in Cambodia and in the States

fsdogwood

Thanked the gentleman, was told to "pay it forward"

noimagination

Not much to relate. Handed out a tube once. Helped a lady put a dropped chain back on once (it was a derailleur equipped bike, so it took like 15 seconds). I've asked people if they needed anything scores of times, nearly all have been OK. On the flip side, have had someone give me a tube once (early in my riding career I ripped the valve out using a new/unfamiliar pump).

The people I've chosen not to help (because it would take too much time, and might not be appreciated): those with geared bikes pushing their bike up a hill. It amazes me how many people find the concept of shifting gears too difficult or too scary.

indyfabz

I have a Miele vacuum. It sucks the best.

rsbob 

Too many times to count I have wanted to shout, ‘oil your chain’ or ‘you need a lower gear’. But I hold my tongue. Schooling others on how to ride or maintain a bike is not exactly a Good Samaritan thing to do.

calamarichris

I've given away 8-10 tubes, and helped install about half of them. ("Can I pay you for this?" Nope! Pay it forward. Have a safe ride.")

The only time I've regretted it was one skeevy guy in Oceanside, CA when I was pretty exhausted. Fixed his flat, had to dumpster-dive for a small piece of cardboard to line the big hole in his sidewall. Guy never said thank you and he acted like the flat was my fault.
But every other time felt terrific. Find your path to happiness by helping others.

Yan 

Happened to me as well.

I helped a lady fix a flat during an event, and she got pissed at me afterwards, yelled at me in front of other riders saying I made her "feel guilty for being unprepared". B*tch next time please kindly yell at me as soon as I stop, so I know to jump back on my bike and ride off instead of wasting my time helping you.

I still stop for random people, but I no longer stop for people during organized events. The way I see it, if you're participating in an official ride and you don't have a spare tube, that's like crossing the Sahara without bringing a bottle of water. You are indeed unprepared. Good luck to you.

calamarichris

Please don't let one awful person stop you from being a good human being, even during events.
Even at my peak, I'd rather help a brother cyclist or two than finish the century in less than five hours.
Once I had three flat tires (there go the two spare tubes), and I was walking home in my socks. A senior fireman from the Elfin Forest Fire Department drove me home and refused to let me pay for his gas. If I'd had to walk the remaining 8 miles in thin cycling socks, ...I would have been hurtin for certain.

Even if you're desperately racing against them, every cyclist is your brother. Even kids on E-bikes.

VegasJen

Since this thread is still going, I thought I would post about an experience last night.

I was in Vegas yesterday for an appointment. As usual, I took a bike and planned a ride while I was in town. Everything went pretty well and when I was done I ran by a store there that carries some stuff I can't get out here, then headed home. It was already after sundown and getting dark pretty fast. I drove through Red Rock loop, which is where I and a lot of bicyclists like to ride, and I pass a guy walking a mountain bike. My first inclination was "I have refrigerated stuff in a cooler. I should just go home", but then I thought how ****ty that was since other people have offered to help me in the past. I stopped and asked the guy where he was going. Turns out he was still parked about four miles away. His bike was much bigger than mine so I took mine apart and threw it in the trunk, then put his on my bike rack and drove him to his truck.

He was super thankful. He asked me a couple times if he could give me some money. The last time he asked, "are you sure I can't Venmo or Paypal you some cash?" I didn't say it but though, "thanks but I don't even know how to do that." Instead I just told him to pay it forward.

wheelreason

Ultrasonic leak detector makes small leaks either pressure or vaccum (there is actually no difference, you are just looking at it from the other side) easy to find. You can also pressurize to find leak, as they don't have check valves , and vaccums don't suck, they just appear to. Oh, I had, 1 1/2" schedule 40 pvc up to 300 PSI, just for S&Gs, and it did not assplode.

McFlyRides

Agree on organized event, given there are tons of folks out on course and probably neutral support. No need to stop and be a personal mechanic for someone who is barely prepared.

During a race if someone wipes out fellow racers will make sure there is no need for medical assistance, but that's about it.

When out for a general ride I'll usually ask if someone stopped has everything they need. I've helped with tubes, chain tools, etc. Everyone has a cell phone now and can call for a bail out if a road side repair isn't possible.

ScottCommutes

x2 when offering to help with jump starts and tire changes on somebody's car. Everybody has help on the way already.

urbanknight

I always ask "ARE YOU OK?" when passing a cyclist stopped on the side of the road/trail. Most of the time they tell me they're fine, but I have on occasion loaned a pump, patch, or tube. One was the rider had provisions but the pump failed. Twice the rider didn't know how to use their pump. One was someone who neglected to carry any supplies and I made sure they understood how useful it is to have them with you. Always a pleasant interaction.

rekmeyata

If I see a cyclist with a problem I'll stop and ask if they need any help, most of the time they have it under control, but some don't, so I will help them.

I try to make these types of stops a teaching stop, I show them what to use and what I'm doing and will let them do the work I just talk them through it mostly.

The best stop I ever had was when I was riding down a mountain early in the evening, with darkness coming in about 2 hours, as I came around a bend I see a cyclist off the side of the road with a flat tire, so I stopped to find out what was going on. He blew a hole in his tire and the tube, he had a spare tube but not a spare tire, I had a spare tire! So, I gave him my tire, since walking would have been a 3 to 4 hour walk into darkness, then he asked me for my name and address so he could send it back, but I told him it wasn't necessary it's a used tire, but he insisted, so I gave him the information, he never wrote it down so I knew he would forget. Except 2 weeks later I get a package in the mail, inside was a thank you card from a doctor, along with 2 new high-end tires and 2 new tubes! He never told me he was a doctor on the road, we didn't exchange lives. What a nice person he was.

bblair

Had a guy ride with us years ago who never carried a spare or pump or anything. "I will rely on the kindness of strangers."

"Once," we told him. After that you're on your own. He used up his quota and hopefully learned his lesson.

Had the opposite on a very large club ride last year. About 60 riders. This young guy off with the A group gets a flat and of course gets left behind. B group rides on by too. By the time my mislabeled C group comes along, so I stop, of course. But no way could I get his tire off the rim and we both tried really hard. By then, mechanic from the sponsoring shop rolls by and I flag him down. He picks up the wheel and rips off the old tire with his bare hands. Impressive.

Our now fixed and new best friend paces us up back to the C group as a thank you. Debt paid!

SPlKE 

I always call out to cyclists on the roadside who look like they're stranded or tinkering with their bikes.

I've changed enough tires and tubes during rides that I always ride prepared with tire irons, spare tube(s), a patch kit, and a boot.

.

I was "rescued" once by another roadie. I was using stupidly thin 700-23 tubes to save spinning weight. I had a flat, and while mounting the new tube, I managed to tear a hole in it. The patch kit I was carrying was dried out and useless.

The guy who stopped to help just happened to have a second spare tube (normal, not weight-weenie thin tube). He gave it to me, hung around until I was good to go, and then he rode off into the sunset.

Very memorable.

LarrySellerz

mods: sorry abusing the forum with non cycling related content.

Hey Roy, mind telling me how many wraps of teflon tape you would use on these 1/2 NPT fittings plastic to steel? I normally go like 1.5 wraps for metal on metal which is less than other stuff I’ve read but that’s how I was trained. Thanks!

plumberroy

2-3 wraps but start a thread back from lead thread . Less likely to cross thread. Big thing is not to over tighten.
So we are still on topic I stopped and made sure a gentleman was able to repair his tire yesterday. He was concerned about CO2 inflator working.