Tubes, Flats, Etiquette

I'm curious what folks think about the following.

On a ride this past weekend with two other cyclists from my bike club,
one rider got a flat. When he unfolded his spare tube, the valve stem
pulled right out, so I offered him one of my extras.

Besides the fact that I don't recall him thanking me, I'm curious to
see if he gives (or at least offers) me a tube to replace the one I
gave him. I can't say we're close buddies but we're certainly not
strangers either, having ridden on club rides together for the past
five years.

I would not say anything to him--I'd feel petty--and I don't really
care about a $5 tube, but I am curious because I do think that one's
attitude about such things--thoughtfulness, courtesy, helpfulness,
etc., on club rides--reflects one's general values in life. What's your
experience? --Roy Zipris

In our group folks always contribute tubes (and CO2) and the general
feeling is that the payback will happen eventually when you need one
donated back to you.
It might work differently if there were folks who were always taking
and never contributing but that doesn't seem to happen so it pretty
much goes along without the need to keep score.
But certainly a "thank you" is part of the process.

The dude owes you $5. 'Specially since he didn't offer profuse thanks,
which is called for, even in today's less polite society.

Next time you guys wind up in some place of business together, get it
back by asking for a beer or sammich.

On Mon, 06 Jun 2005 12:25:45 -0700, Roy Zipris wrote:

I'm curious what folks think about the following.

On a ride this past weekend with two other cyclists from my bike club,
one rider got a flat. When he unfolded his spare tube, the valve stem
pulled right out, so I offered him one of my extras.

I always carry two spare tubes. One is brand new, the other has several
patches. If someone (other than you, Roy...) needs an extra tube, I give
'em the old one. That way I don't feel the guy owes me much except thanks
for saving him from a long walk home.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | A mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into theorems.
_`\(,_ | -- Paul Erdos
(_)/ (_) |

On 6 Jun 2005 12:25:45 -0700, Roy Zipris wrote:

I would not say anything to him--I'd feel petty--and I don't really
care about a $5 tube, but I am curious because I do think that one's
attitude about such things--thoughtfulness, courtesy, helpfulness,
etc., on club rides--reflects one's general values in life. What's your
experience? --Roy Zipris

If it's someone I ride with regularly, I give him a replacement tube next
time (and I make sure it has the same type of valve stem). If not, I either
offer to pay for it on the spot, or shout him coffee & cake afterwards.

--
bpo gallery at http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/mvw1/bpo

Roy Zipris wrote in message
.com...
I'm curious what folks think about the following.

I would not say anything to him--I'd feel petty--and I don't really
care about a $5 tube, but I am curious because I do think that one's
attitude about such things--thoughtfulness, courtesy, helpfulness,
etc., on club rides--reflects one's general values in life. What's your
experience?

I loaned someone a tube on a club ride, and when we got back to the cars, he
stripped it out of the tire and returned it to me. I would have prefered
cash, but getting the tube back was adequate.

Once I saw a guy walking a nice road bike along a road where I knew the
nearest anything was quite a few miles away. For whatever reason, his tube
was no longer operational, and he didn't have a cell phone, and he was
walking the bike along in his sidis with road cleats until he reached a
payphone to call his wife. Although I was in my car, I had my bike (and bike
bag) in the back coming home from my own ride, and gave him a new tube and
chatted with him until he got it pumped up and operational. He gave me five
bucks, which I felt was a reasonable trade.


--
Warm Regards,


Claire Petersky
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referr*al/Cpetersky

I loaned someone a tube on a club ride, and when we got back to the cars,
he
stripped it out of the tire and returned it to me. I would have prefered
cash, but getting the tube back was adequate.

I would have told him to keep the tube; as often as from road hazards, tubes
are damaged from improper installation & removal. You got back, at best, a
used tube.You don't know what might have been poking it from inside the tire
either. Plus he may have been using a bit much body english when inflating
it, and weakened the area where the tube connects to the valve.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

"Claire Petersky" wrote in message
...
Roy Zipris wrote in message
.com...
I'm curious what folks think about the following.

I would not say anything to him--I'd feel petty--and I don't really
care about a $5 tube, but I am curious because I do think that one's
attitude about such things--thoughtfulness, courtesy, helpfulness,
etc., on club rides--reflects one's general values in life. What's your
experience?

I loaned someone a tube on a club ride, and when we got back to the cars,
he
stripped it out of the tire and returned it to me. I would have prefered
cash, but getting the tube back was adequate.

Once I saw a guy walking a nice road bike along a road where I knew the
nearest anything was quite a few miles away. For whatever reason, his tube
was no longer operational, and he didn't have a cell phone, and he was
walking the bike along in his sidis with road cleats until he reached a
payphone to call his wife. Although I was in my car, I had my bike (and
bike
bag) in the back coming home from my own ride, and gave him a new tube and
chatted with him until he got it pumped up and operational. He gave me
five
bucks, which I felt was a reasonable trade.


--
Warm Regards,


Claire Petersky
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referr*al/Cpetersky

Roy Zipris wrote:


I would not say anything to him--I'd feel petty--and I don't really
care about a $5 tube, but I am curious because I do think that one's
attitude about such things--thoughtfulness, courtesy, helpfulness,
etc., on club rides--reflects one's general values in life. What's your
experience? --Roy Zipris


Non-cycling etiquette would certainly demand he give you a new tube.
Your buddy may feel such a formality trivial since you ride together so
frequently and there's something to be said for paying it forward.

Personally, I'd give you two new tubes.

--
My bike blog:
http://diabloscott.blogspot.com/

"Roy Zipris" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm curious what folks think about the following.

On a ride this past weekend with two other cyclists from my bike club,
one rider got a flat. When he unfolded his spare tube, the valve stem
pulled right out, so I offered him one of my extras.

Besides the fact that I don't recall him thanking me, I'm curious to
see if he gives (or at least offers) me a tube to replace the one I
gave him. I can't say we're close buddies but we're certainly not
strangers either, having ridden on club rides together for the past
five years.

I would not say anything to him--I'd feel petty--and I don't really
care about a $5 tube, but I am curious because I do think that one's
attitude about such things--thoughtfulness, courtesy, helpfulness,
etc., on club rides--reflects one's general values in life. What's your
experience? --Roy Zipris


I give tubes, CO2 cartridges, and anything else they need to get home to
anyone who needs it regardless of if I know them or not. Most club members
usually give me a new tube the next time that they see me but if they forget
I don't fret over it.

On Mon, 6 Jun 2005 15:48:34 -0700, "Claire Petersky"
wrote:

Roy Zipris wrote in message
s.com...
I'm curious what folks think about the following.

I would not say anything to him--I'd feel petty--and I don't really
care about a $5 tube, but I am curious because I do think that one's
attitude about such things--thoughtfulness, courtesy, helpfulness,
etc., on club rides--reflects one's general values in life. What's your
experience?

I loaned someone a tube on a club ride, and when we got back to the cars, he
stripped it out of the tire and returned it to me. I would have prefered
cash, but getting the tube back was adequate.

Once I saw a guy walking a nice road bike along a road where I knew the
nearest anything was quite a few miles away. For whatever reason, his tube
was no longer operational, and he didn't have a cell phone, and he was
walking the bike along in his sidis with road cleats until he reached a
payphone to call his wife. Although I was in my car, I had my bike (and bike
bag) in the back coming home from my own ride, and gave him a new tube and
chatted with him until he got it pumped up and operational. He gave me five
bucks, which I felt was a reasonable trade.

Cool. I've never had occasion to help a fellow cyclist, but it would give
me a thrill - at least the first time. Receiving anything back in return
would seem trivial compared to the great feeling, good will and a chance to
talk to a fellow rider. Uh, typically I don't carry an assortment of tubes
or anything, but I do carry a floor pump in my car.

jj