Mark Cavendish helps out London cyclist - by fixing puncture

Anthony.C wrote:

I can't speak for women (being a male) but I thnk you may be overthinking things a little..what's the worst that you could happen ? On the plus side you could get lucky and meet  your next wife..

I have a wife already, and she really doesn't like cyclists (Long story...).

Anthony.C wrote:

I can't speak for women (being a male) but I thnk you may be overthinking things a little..what's the worst that you could happen ? On the plus side you could get lucky and meet  your next wife..

One wife is enough, thank you

There seems to be a timid attitude by yielding to the political correctness brigade. Like said all you have to do is say 'Do you want some help? '

Most people will say please if they are stuck or can't fathom something out

Anthony.C wrote:

I can't speak for women (being a male) but I thnk you may be overthinking things a little..what's the worst that you could happen ? On the plus side you could get lucky and meet  your next wife..

The current one might have something to say about that.

Anthony.C wrote:

I can't speak for women (being a male) but I thnk you may be overthinking things a little..what's the worst that you could happen ? On the plus side you could get lucky and meet  your next wife..

   But back to the "minus" side----it could be your ex-wife. Ba-boom!

SevenHills wrote:

First rule of the road in my book. Always check that someone stopped by roadside is OK and offer to help.

I appreciate that this is getting OT from the article, but it's really not as easy as that.

As a bloke, I am always being told by the media not to speak to single women (ie. on their own, nothing to do with marital status) I don't know, in case it looks like I am coming on to them.

So, I do get very worried that if I asked a woman whom I didn't know if she needed help, then I would appear to be implying that she couldn't do it herself and that I was working myself up to "... beating my chest and doing an internal Johnny Wiesmueller roar." (as was put by another poster) (even though, for the sake of full disclosure, I have never done a Johnny Weismuller roar in my life!).

If it's another bloke, I don't feel under that pressure and I will stop and ask if they need a hand or whatever.

So, I'll put this out to the room: would female cyclists prefer that male cyclists who are otherwise strangers ask if they need help, or not?

brooksby wrote:

SevenHills wrote:

First rule of the road in my book. Always check that someone stopped by roadside is OK and offer to help.

I appreciate that this is getting OT from the article, but it's really not as easy as that.

As a bloke, I am always being told by the media not to speak to single women (ie. on their own, nothing to do with marital status) I don't know, in case it looks like I am coming on to them.

So, I do get very worried that if I asked a woman whom I didn't know if she needed help, then I would appear to be implying that she couldn't do it herself and that I was working myself up to "... beating my chest and doing an internal Johnny Wiesmueller roar." (as was put by another poster) (even though, for the sake of full disclosure, I have never done a Johnny Weismuller roar in my life!).

If it's another bloke, I don't feel under that pressure and I will stop and ask if they need a hand or whatever.

So, I'll put this out to the room: would female cyclists prefer that male cyclists who are otherwise strangers ask if they need help, or not?

You don't even have to stop. A simple, "You OK?" as you approach/ride past is enough. If they want your help they will say No to that question and if they don't want your help you usually get a "Fine thanks".

Common courtesy and no pressure/creepiness from you and you have done your duty for making sure you have not passed on the other side.

I think a lot of people these days overthink this stuff. It's different if you stop and ask but if you ask whilst still moving you are allowing them to say no i don't need yorur help without invading their space or making them feel they have to accept.

SevenHills wrote:

I think a lot of people these days overthink this stuff. It's different if you stop and ask but if you ask whilst still moving you are allowing them to say no i don't need yorur help without invading their space or making them feel they have to accept.

Thank you - that's actually very helpful

brooksby wrote:

SevenHills wrote:

I think a lot of people these days overthink this stuff. It's different if you stop and ask but if you ask whilst still moving you are allowing them to say no i don't need yorur help without invading their space or making them feel they have to accept.

Thank you - that's actually very helpful

WOW - is it really different if you stop and ask???  Ok - I've been cycling along either on my own or in a group and seen a cyclist by the roadside and shouted are you ok and then been too far down the road to actually hear what their reply is i.e. I'm just going through the 'helpful fellow cyclist' motions without any real intent to offer any help.

This has been very helpful for me too as I now have a 'Before offering any help to another cyclist' checklist that should only add an extra 10 mins or so before my offer of help has been authenticated and then authorised:

1)  Establish gender - only same sex offers of help are permitted as me being out in my cycling gear on my bike putting the miles in so I can improve this year's TT times could be considered that I'm actually out there trying to get better reception on my Garmin dating app

2) Maintain non-invasion of personal space boundary for when either on your bike (5mts) and off it (2mts) - you won't be able to touch their bike but you can offer verbal assistance

3) Continously monitor the other cyclist's acceptance level of your potentially misconstrued offer of help. "Thanks that's really appreciated" - Ha Ha but what do they really mean as they could be trying to fool you and be ready to zap you with their Tazer

4) Have a meticulously planned exit strategy should your advances be considered unacceptable and they go all awry - akin to the SAS

5) Have the recipient of your advances sign a disclaimer that they will not pursue criminal or litigation proceedings against your offer of help

Soreted - as I'm riding home on my commute tonight other cyclists that I come across can feel so much safer now should they require a bit of help.

chihuahua wrote:

WOW - is it really different if you stop and ask???  Ok - I've been cycling along either on my own or in a group and seen a cyclist by the roadside and shouted are you ok and then been too far down the road to actually hear what their reply is i.e. I'm just going through the 'helpful fellow cyclist' motions without any real intent to offer any help.

This has been very helpful for me too as I now have a 'Before offering any help to another cyclist' checklist that should only add an extra 10 mins or so before my offer of help has been authenticated and then authorised:

1)  Establish gender - only same sex offers of help are permitted as me being out in my cycling gear on my bike putting the miles in so I can improve this year's TT times could be considered that I'm actually out there trying to get better reception on my Garmin dating app

2) Maintain non-invasion of personal space boundary for when either on your bike (5mts) and off it (2mts) - you won't be able to touch their bike but you can offer verbal assistance

3) Continously monitor the other cyclist's acceptance level of your potentially misconstrued offer of help. "Thanks that's really appreciated" - Ha Ha but what do they really mean as they could be trying to fool you and be ready to zap you with their Tazer

4) Have a meticulously planned exit strategy should your advances be considered unacceptable and they go all awry - akin to the SAS

5) Have the recipient of your advances sign a disclaimer that they will not pursue criminal or litigation proceedings against your offer of help

 

Soreted - as I'm riding home on my commute tonight other cyclists that I come across can feel so much safer now should they require a bit of help.

I'm glad someone else understands my concerns

CXR94Di2 wrote:

How many times have women had a puncture and men who don't know them stop and do the job. Afterwards beating their chest and doing an internal Johnny Wiesmueller roar. I know I have a couple of times in my life. It won't be a problem to her. She should learn just incase men die out as a species

I admit I'm a coward at that: I back off from offering help to women precisely because I don't want to come across as a chest-beating mansplainer.  Would rather be seen as a cold and distant dastard (plus, I can be a bit rubbish myself at fixing punctures 'in the field', as it were...).

brooksby wrote:

It doesn't bode well for a JOGLE run if she needed help fixing a puncture, IMO. Or am I misunderstanding the report?

She couldn't get the tyre back on as her hands were too cold. I suspect she's doing JOGLE in the summer in which case this is unlikely to be a problem.

Boopop wrote:

brooksby wrote:

It doesn't bode well for a JOGLE run if she needed help fixing a puncture, IMO. Or am I misunderstanding the report?

 

She couldn't get the tyre back on as her hands were too cold. I suspect she's doing JOGLE in the summer in which case this is unlikely to be a problem.

According to her Twitter she's riding it at the end of the Feb.

Boopop wrote:

brooksby wrote:

It doesn't bode well for a JOGLE run if she needed help fixing a puncture, IMO. Or am I misunderstanding the report?

She couldn't get the tyre back on as her hands were too cold. I suspect she's doing JOGLE in the summer in which case this is unlikely to be a problem.

If that's so, then fair enough. No offence intended.

brooksby wrote:

Boopop wrote:

brooksby wrote:

It doesn't bode well for a JOGLE run if she needed help fixing a puncture, IMO. Or am I misunderstanding the report?

She couldn't get the tyre back on as her hands were too cold. I suspect she's doing JOGLE in the summer in which case this is unlikely to be a problem.

If that's so, then fair enough. No offence intended.

Even in summer, the North of Scotland is often cold and wet and there aren't always many passers-by. Everyone riding long distances in remote should have basic repair abilities.

MartyMcCann wrote:

Fair play to Cav.  I really can't understand the vitriol he tends to attract . Yeah, he's had his moments in the heat of battle but any time I have ever read any interviews with him, he comes across as passionate-of course-, thoughtful and decent and just not  prepared to play the media game which is what seems to wind so many people up. 

Heart on his sleeve, driven by emotion and a huge desire to win. This is what makes him such a captivating athlete (plus the dozens of victories).