http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: You have a puncture, someone helps, what next? en Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:15:01 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230&page=2#post-156604 Wed, 11 Jun 2014 12:51:50 +0000 Nelly 156604@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My mate and i were out in East Lothian on saturday, en route back we came across a (German?) chap wheeling along near kinnaird park - he was looking for the nearest bike shop (good luck!!).</p> <p>He had bought the wrogn sort of inner tube so my mate (who lives within a mile) gave him a spare.</p> <p>He desperately wanted to give us cash, but of course we refused but asked him to share the love at a later date. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230&page=2#post-156593 Wed, 11 Jun 2014 11:30:34 +0000 DaveC 156593@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I helped a guy called Gavin this morning wheeling his bike along the NEPN. He has a spare tube cut his rims didn't let the valve poke out enough for his pump to attach. I stopped, helped Gavin pump up his tyre with my EBC mini track pump (only £20 at local EBC shops - very good pump) and was on my way.</p> <p>Gavin is a lurker and non member. So Gavin, stump up the courage to join us online! Say hellp, you'll find us a (mostly) friendly bunch.</p> <p>Dave C</p> <p>You stop to help someone with a puncture, What next? Badger them into joining CCE! :D </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230&page=2#post-131948 Sat, 09 Nov 2013 14:17:18 +0000 skotl 131948@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My previous two punctures have been thorns, presumably picked up on the A90 path around Burnshot </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230&page=2#post-131938 Sat, 09 Nov 2013 10:42:32 +0000 gembo 131938@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>nelly, now you have said that you are risking further p fairy visits, </p> <p>I think, phew, lucky I haven't had a puncture for ages, but I never say it just in case.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-131937 Sat, 09 Nov 2013 10:20:35 +0000 Nelly 131937@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I gave a guy a tube a year or so back at Stenhouse - only occurred to me later that I was sans tube.</p> <p>Dave C - thats a lot of tubes to carry, do you puncture a lot on the fife commute? </p> <p>Is it thorns, glass, potholes ? Mine last night (first for over a year) was hitting a pothole, but I seem to have been lucky with glass etc recently. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-131933 Sat, 09 Nov 2013 09:43:39 +0000 DaveC 131933@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I carry 3 tubes and don't have a problem giving a spare tube away, I carry a punture repair kit also. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-131929 Sat, 09 Nov 2013 09:34:40 +0000 gembo 131929@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Also, I will give a spare tube away, if I have two spare tubes. Imagine giving your tube away then getting your own puncture further down the track. You would be kicking yourself then </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-131916 Sat, 09 Nov 2013 01:34:56 +0000 skotl 131916@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Tricky one. At least you stopped, Dunny!</p> <p>There was a bit of a debate re motives on this thread so I prefer to view it as a query of how many folks will offer help to their fellow cyclists.<br /> I'm heartened at the positive response :D </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-131902 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 21:39:45 +0000 gembo 131902@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@dunny</p> <p>He was heading towards more light. Your inflation might have lasted until the aqueduct where he would have pushed towards bruntsfield.</p> <p>Say 3 Hail Marys and 2 How's Yer fathers and absolve yourself of the guilt </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-131821 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 12:25:45 +0000 Dunny 131821@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Last night on the towpath just after Wester Hailes (when it gets dark,) I stopped and helped a wee Italian guy who had a flat back tyre. His English was minimal but he managed to tell me that it was a slow puncture, and he had to reach Bruntsfield. He had no pump, so I put some air in it for him and it didn't immediately deflate again. So I thought, ach you'll be fine, and didn't mention my spare tube in my bag.</p> <p>Now I feel guilty I never offered it, and wonder if he did actually make it. So I think you did the right thing skotl, forget the cash for the tube - the guilt in not offering a tube keeps you up at night. He was just a wee guy and it was very dark... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126558 Tue, 01 Oct 2013 09:38:30 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 126558@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<em>All I really want is for someone to do the same for me sometime when I'm stuck :-)</em>"</p> <p>This. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126523 Mon, 30 Sep 2013 21:31:30 +0000 threefromleith 126523@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I usually ask "Are you OK there?". Only once has someone said, "Not really.." Was happy to stop &amp; help him get his tyre back on, then used one of my CO2 carts to quickly get him up to pressure and on his way (he was an older chap, it was cold &amp; dark and not ideal weather for hanging around trying to slowly pump the tyre up).</p> <p>All I really want is for someone to do the same for me sometime when I'm stuck :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126512 Mon, 30 Sep 2013 19:26:46 +0000 neddie 126512@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A wise old cyclist once said to me:</p> <p>"Fix yur bike up weel, at home where its warum and dry. Carry a tuul kit and a tuoobe &amp; yu'll only ever end up fixing some wan else's bike" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126498 Mon, 30 Sep 2013 16:48:19 +0000 skotl 126498@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's exactly what I say to them (as evidenced by me asking @baldcyclist the same question a few days back). Happy to accept the karma - if I was in it for the money, I'd pick a cheaper hobby! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126495 Mon, 30 Sep 2013 15:59:42 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 126495@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I fixed a puncture for someone at St Leonards pone morning. She was completely stuck, and was moving to the States the next day, so on her way to do something or other. I just patched it up and sent her on her way with a cheery smile.</p> <p>Loaned someone a mini-pump when I didn't have time to stop properly, gave him a card and asked him to give me an email to get it back to me. Which he did, then left it at my house (I was out, but it got popped through the door).</p> <p>Had a spectacular blow-out heading through Musselburgh on the way to the East Fortune airshow a few years back, and an old chap on a club run coming the other way stopped and gave me his spare tube (my tube was ripped to pieces). He wouldn't even let me know his name to thank him properly, let along take me up on my offer to pay for the tube, or get him another.</p> <p>Always ask someone, as stated above, "Do you have everything you need?". Only once been caught out by someone saying no, because it was the one and only day I'd ridden to work forgetting to put my little tool roll in, so in the end I couldn't help. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126482 Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:52:10 +0000 MeepMeep 126482@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The times I don't stop to offer help is simply because I've noticed the puncturee too late and am going to fast to make a safe sudden stop - not because I'm not interested in helping.</p> <p>I usually tend to ask "have you got everything you need?" rather than "do you need help?". Avoids anyone feeling patronised and, let's be honest, Mr MeepMeep tells anyone who'll listen that I'm useless at bike maintenance - I just carry the tools for the extra weight. *huff* </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126481 Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:51:55 +0000 jdanielp 126481@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Unless I'm in a rush to get somewhere I will slow down and ask if everything is okay when passing a stricken cyclist, although if they are clearly set about working on something I might not bother. I have yet to actually get involved in any serious path-side mechanics though, which is maybe just as well since my skills are limited. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126480 Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:40:59 +0000 paul.mag 126480@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Am pleased to hear that you stopped. I suspect that the person you helped was hugely appreciative and like others have said would be kicking themselves that they didn't offer some cash.</p> <p>I think far too many riders or maybe it's just commuters don't stop or even ask if they can help. I say this as someone who got a puncture on corstorphine rd and had about 7 (give or take) cyclists go past me and not one of them looked to help. It wasn't an issue and perhaps they all judged me capable of fixing the puncture I just find it a little sad that some cyclists are as insular to their surroundings as car drivers. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126475 Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:09:47 +0000 deckard112 126475@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've been in similair situations but I have to be fair and say I wouldnt be offended that the beneficiary didn't offer me money or replacement. I'd just take satisfaction that I'd helped someone that day. Your post seems to suggest he was pleasant enough and said cheers? Enjoy the sense of helping fellow man! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126473 Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:03:35 +0000 kaputnik 126473@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You carry a wee bag of faerie dust* and stalk out the path you were on, and next time you see him you ride past, drop them ahead of him and then restore order to the universe?</p> <p>* = broken glass shards, thumbtacks, sections of briar. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126471 Mon, 30 Sep 2013 12:59:54 +0000 MeepMeep 126471@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Is this the part where we start a "Missed Connections" thread? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126468 Mon, 30 Sep 2013 12:52:16 +0000 skotl 126468@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Story's not yet finished :D feel free to supply an alternative ending! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126435 Mon, 30 Sep 2013 09:22:21 +0000 AKen 126435@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I read the thread title and imagined this might be the start of a gentle romantic story - the kind you might read in The People's Friend. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126384 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 20:19:20 +0000 wee folding bike 126384@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It might not be so barbaric as reported in the media. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126373 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 13:34:30 +0000 minus six 126373@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Marie Curie do good things with it</em></p> <p>They still promote the barbaric Liverpool Care Pathway so count me out </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126367 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 10:12:07 +0000 skotl 126367@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks for the responses, folks. Glad it's not just me.</p> <p>As Instonography said, I'm sure the guy thought "oh darn" as he headed off so I'll chalk it down to the good deed that it was intended to be.</p> <p>@Nelly - absolutely not the £3.<br /> @Gembo - aye, it occured to me that I'd look a bit of a numpty if I got a puncture 30 yards down the road :) think I'll start carrying a couple of spare tubes now (can't be faffed with puncture repair kits).</p> <p>Cheers all </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126360 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 09:18:27 +0000 gembo 126360@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Helped a guy in the summer and he was overly appreciative.</p> <p>Would be bad if you stopped to help, gave away your spare then got a puncture yourself. Cursing your generosity in giving away a spare tube whilst gluing a patch on to your punctured tube, in the rain and wind as it starts too get dark </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126357 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 08:37:14 +0000 wee folding bike 126357@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've done that in the past. If someone offers a few bob then I ask them to drop it in the next Marie Curie box they see. I don't need the £3 that much and Marie Curie do good things with it. The recipient feels good about themselves and Marie Curie gets something out of it. They might even get more than £3, who knows?</p> <p>These days I usually have 16" tubes so the market is limited. I carry patches too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126356 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 08:37:09 +0000 Kenny 126356@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I had almost the same scenario, but with a co2 canister as I did not have a MTB pump, and off he rode with no offer of cost being returned and I thought it a little rude. But it is only £1 and so not worth the point if getting irritated for long. So aye, I reacted just like you. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11230#post-126354 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 08:26:59 +0000 SRD 126354@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think most of us would have done what you did. And had exactly the same reaction after. </p>