prathmann

I agree that people should carry tubes/etc. to repair their own bike - especially if they use an uncommon size that others are unlikely to carry. But tubes are actually very flexible and I've replaced a few MTB fat tubes with skinny 700c tubes - it's not ideal and I advised them to replace it with the right size once they got home, but it was enough to let them ride home. We also once came upon someone near the top of our local mountain (Diablo) who had a flat on the 12" wheel of his child trailer. A 700c tube folded over a bit worked fine for that as well.

spdracr39

I always ask if they have everything they need. I changed a flat once for a lady that had it all but didn't know how to do it.

bbbean 

Depends on the situation. If I see someone having trouble in a relatively isolated area, in obvious distress, or in bad weather, I'll stop to help. If they're in a well traveled area in the middle of the day and they aren't in any obvious distress, I'm likely to keep on riding unless they flag me down. I always stop for someone flagging me down.

FWIW, I always have a patch kit, multitool, pump, spare tube, ID, cash, and cell phone with me. If those aren't enough to get me going again and I'm too far away to walk, I'll flag down passing cyclists or motorists. But unless I'm in trouble, I don't expect people to interrupt their ride to offer help. Appreciate it when it happens, but no obligation exists.

BB

asgelle

Here's what I know. I've been interrupted literally hundreds of times when I was fixing a flat or doing some other minor repair and it just slowed me down. The one time I needed help, I didn't wait for someone to ask; I flagged down help.

RaleighSport

I always stop and ask myself.. and the times I've been broken down, I simply get blown right by... heck one time I recognized a guy as someone I had taught to change his tube on the side of the road! You're doing it right... but you just gotta let other peoples behavior go, you can't make them act how we think we all should.

Machka 

Sometimes a spare ... but at least a boot.

Machka 

If you're walking the bicycle, I would figure you've got things under control. I walk my bicycle to get into the right position to take a photo ... or up a steep hill ... or sometimes to slow down and enjoy a view.

If you're in the midst of changing a tire or look like you're working on the bicycle, then I might ask if you've got everything you need.

Fastfingaz

I do a lot of motorcycling and the first carnal rule is you never leave a fellow biker in distress, you have to at least stop and ask if they need any help!!!!!! I carry that same attitude when I'm cycling,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

gpsblake

I always stop and ask. I carry a portable pump and emergency patch kit and always offer it to them, it's just polite to do.

One time, the guy didn't have a cellphone, so by stopping to ask, he was able to use my cellphone for a ride back home instead of having to push his bike home.

Now around here, the few times I have had a flat that I didn't bring repair kit for, locals almost always pull over to give me a ride back home.

GravelMN

I always slow down or stop and ask if they need help. 90% of the time they wave me off with a "Nope, I'm good" and I go on my way. On rare occasions I've come across someone who is ill prepared, or injured, and then I always stop to help.

dynaryder

I always stop and ask. Actually started carrying a 15mm after I stopped to help a cute girl who's lockring was stripped and I had to run home to get the wrench to flip her wheel.

What pump? Is it Presta-specific,or is there a procedure to swap the head? If the latter,you should be able to find the directions on the manufacturer's website.

Fastfingaz

Hey moooney sounds like you're gonna need a automobile to carry all that,,,couple of MRE's maybe,,,,,, just joking around

curbtender

I have a buddy that gets all into it when he stops to help. He's fixing tires, adjusting cables, raising the seat, talking Q factors... Heck when I need a tune-up I just go sit in front of his house with the rim off.

02Giant 

Wave next time...

wolfchild

You shouldn't even be riding your bike anywhere unless you carry spare tubes, pump, tire levers and some basic tools.

mprelaw

Some people who use folding bead tires do. One will fit in a jersey pocket. Some people carry one in an empty water bottle, and stick it in the seat tube cage.

Wire beads are a little tougher to lug around, though.

I always ask,"everything OK?" when I pass a stopped bike. When someone is walking one, it's a good bet that everything's not OK.

rommer25

I've had a couple of Roadies stop and help me with a flat when I first started commuting. I have had the opportunity to stop three times as of late. Each time, they had it under control. The last time, I had stopped to adjust something and two Roadies buzzed past met without comment. Later down the road, I saw them. One of them had his bike laying on it's side and the other one was on the phone. I wanted to buzz by but stopped anyway. One had a flat. I offered but they said they already called for a ride to pick them up.

delcrossv

Pulled into the local mini-mall with my car and saw an older gent sitting on the sidewalk next to his bike. He had a flat and no patch, tools, tube etc. It transpired that he was about 20 miles from home. I let him use my cell phone to call a cab. I guess some folks just figure it'll never happen to them.

Squeeze

That's my wife. She rides with the kids to school and some on her own when I'm at work. She's not likely to sit down with me and learn how to change and/or patch a tube, but I installed an under-seat bag on her bike with a tube, her own Pedro's tire levers in pink (!), and a patch kit. I figure it's better for her to have the stuff in case she gets a flat and a guy happens to ride by and offer help.

jhazel

I always ask, especially if someone is walking a bike, because I can't imagine walking my bike if I can ride it. Mostly, the answer is "I'm fine." Sometimes the person needs help. One time it was a well prepared rider whose multi tool didn't have the right hex key for what was broken. I had the right key and we were on our way in about a minute and a half. I enjoy being helpful and by the time I get to the heavily traveled areas I'm usually ready for a break.

StephenH

Around town, quite likely wouldn't ask. Ditto for driving. The catch is, I can't drive from my house to work without seeing a couple of cars stranded. If I stopped at each one, I'd never get anywhere.
I don't carry a spare tire on my daily rides, do on the tandem, but it's a 28 or 32, not a 25, so it's not going to fit many of the roadbikes out there.

spdntrxi

why don't you carry a spare ? is the real question..

Normally I'd offer, but if I found out you didn't carry a spare.... honestly I'd wish I didn't offer.

FBinNY 

IMO, we have to take it apart and look at the pieces.

The OP doesn't have the right to expect help. It would be nice if it were offered, or even if those who pass at least asked if he was OK. But this isn't the sea, and there's no unwritten law that requires offering help to someone stranded. By extension, it was also not the middle of noplace, or the desert or deep woods, so the only consequence of leaving someone stranded is that they'll be inconvenienced.

For my part, I'll slow down and ask if someone is OK, and if I can help I will, but in most cases I can't help because I have the wrong tube or pump or otherwise can't do much.

So, offering help is a good thing, but not offering isn't a bad thing.


BTW- based on observing over almost 50 years on the road, I suspect that cell phones play into this. Just about everyone has a phone on them 24/7, and people passing a stranded person might assume he too has a phone, and would have arranged help if he needed it.

Afterthought, what the OP should have had by way of spares isn't a factor either way. This is about passer conduct, and willingness to help a stranger. Those passing likely don't know the nature of the problem, and so are unlikely to think "I won't help someone unwilling to carry a spare tube".

cyclist2000

I usually slow down to ask if they need help. But if they are walking a bike, I might not.

Camilo

My wife's got a fully equipped saddle bag and I have taught her how to change a tire at least 3-4 times over the past couple of years. But each time I teach her, it's like she's never seen it before and it takes at least 1/2 hour to get through it. Plus, the bottom line is that she never just tries to change a tire on her own at home to see if she can do it without my supervision. I'll have to admit a bit of bad husband behavior - the last couple of times I've been changing a tire in the garage and she asks if she can do it with my help, I've refused because I'm usually in a hurry to get it done and teaching takes longer than doing. Like I said, I've tried several times, and I've just decided she has to learn it on her own at this point.

However, if she gets a flat, or one of her riding buddies gets a flat, at least they'll have what they need and either muddle through it, or if someone knows how to do it, it can get done. I have no problem with driving out to pick her up if she needs my help either, and I really don't mind doing all of her bike maintenance including swapping tires and tubes, etc. OK, I can't make Thai curry without her giving me direct assistance, and she doesn't give me grief about that.