Brotherhood

Makoto

Makoto

Member
I was able to sneak in a quick ride this morning and was close to Turnbull Canyon. I started from the 7th St. side and was first thrown off by my normal trailhead being closed. A quick check to make sure bikes were allowed on the alternate starting trail and I was off. I was feeling great and was about to cross the park for my final descent back to the car when I looked at my computer for a time check only to notice my computer was MIA. No biggie, I felt something hit my right leg not too far back, so I turned around and started making my backtrack climb only to feel rear tire going flat. I quickly find a small hole in the tread and by the sound of it no more sealant. No biggie, I have a tube and C02. Bad valve on my tube.

This is the purpose of this thread: Just about to start walking my bike out to my car, two male MTB'ers start coming up the trail. I asked for a pump to see if my valve would work with their pump. Unfortunately, my valve was just too far gone. The other gentleman immediately pulls a tube from his bag. At first I declined, but after a quick talk I took the tube. I just wanted to give these two dudes a shout out in case they are on here. I will absolutely pay your tube forward and I hope neither of you flatted and needed the tube you gave me. Cheers MTB brothers! I shouldn't feel the need to even post this up, but in this day in age it is always refreshing to meet compassionate and considerate strangers! Thanks for getting me back up and running. Oh and I found my computer way faster than I could have imagined!

-Mike
 
@Makoto, good sentiment to post up. Edit: Great you got your gear back!

A couple moto guys came ripping up Upper Joplin when I was getting ready to start down. They stopped and chatted. My first thought was Hey, are you guys pulverizing Joplin, Luge, Trabuco, etc... But as we spoke more it was clear they were also cyclists and spoke with empathy about poaching on those trails. We parted ways and I took a short break on Main Divide before dropping into Joplin. Another moto slowed down as he passed and asked if I had all the tools I needed.

There were my brotherhood moments today. Cross-camp brotherhood :)
 
I had a chain snap heading up Mustard on the front end of a Whiting-Luge loop. Didn't have a master in my bag for some reason, but a couple of guys stopped and gave me theirs. I tried to pay him for it, but he wouldn't take any money. About a month later I was riding up the 3 B's at Oaks and came across two guys walking and asked if they needed help. Well, his chain had broke and I did have a master in my bag this time so I was able to pay it forward. Funny how it all works out.
 
Two weeks ago, on Main divide, heading over to Motorway. Dude on a speshy passes by as I am grabbing botttle from main divide. He thanks me. Blasting down towards Motorway, I see him pulled to the side, wrenching on his wheel. It is cold. It's kind of spooky. A bit lonely. Clouds. Some rain. Some snow. I ask him if he has everything he needs. He says that he is pretty sure that he is okay. I sense a bit of trepidation in his voice. So I offer, "You want us to just hang out and make sure it's all good?" Him: "You know, that would be really cool." So, we did. We chatted. He lives in Yorba Linda, just moved from Chicago. After he finishes the repair, We rode together for a bit and I let him go as my buddy was a bit slower.

We didn't do anything... except act as a safety blanket. It was cool.
 
Good to hear and would expect you to post it up. It spreads good vibes when sharing that stuff.
@Voodoo Tom and I were short routing it down McGill one day cuzz Tom was not feeling all that hot. We came across and older Gent riding up the trail, but stopped with a flat. I can't remember if he forgot a tube or already punctured a tube, none the less, I gave him mine and my large volume pump to get back on the trail.

It's a good feeling to pay it forward and I don't even think about the cost of a tube when it comes to someone riding out or hiking out. Hiking out is not an option if I got the goods. Quick Links, shifter cable, tire boots, and more have left my pack on someone else's bike. Never a second thought about it.

Thanks for posting this up Mike!
 
I like this thread. Even on supported rides like the True Grit, I was always asking people on the side of the trail with a mechanical if they needed anything. Most of them didn't, but I would have happily stopped and offered up anything I had in my pack - it isn't like I was racing that race :P

Pay it forward indeed.
 
This is a great thread, and exemplifies how we should treat others... But that's what I'd expect from this group. :thumbsup: I usually carry 8 and 10 speed links, and at least one tube. Anyone on the trail is welcome to all of it... Even if you are a 16 year old speed demon in the Julian Death March, and my trailside assistance means you'll be up and running to kick my butt at the finish line. :laugh:
 
Cool thread idea. I hope it grows bigger than "I rode my bike today." I have assisted and been assisted many times - and I always offer.

Biggest assist was when my friend tended to my sorry ass when I clipped a pedal and knocked myself out. I don't remember any of it. Evidently, he used his shirt to mop up the blood on my lacerated face, and then used it as a sling for my dislocated shoulder. He then summoned some extra help to walk me out to the closest neighborhood. He called his wife to pick us up - which evidently didn't work - so he called an ambulance. Apparently, I was walking and talking, but I still don't remember any of it. He went with me to the ER, contacted my out-of-town wife and stayed with me until I regained awareness in the hospital room about 3 hours after my crash.

I on the other hand, helped a total stranger tighten his derailleur and I adjusted it for him! Woooooo Whooooo! Yay me!

I also replaced @Cougar 's derailleur cable, and he has helped me repair two broken chains.

I am that kind of a hero!
 
In warmer months I keep a big water bottle and a dish in my car for hot pooches and thoughtless owners who don't water up for the walk.

I helped a random rider fix his tire with superglue and sidewall cuttings. We were riding the same trail and generally going the same way as similar pace. He seemed miffed when I asked him for my superglue back! Note to self: Be generous with your help and consumables; don't give away your a_hole and sh!t through your ribs.

I've given away water, tubes, headlamp, first aid, assistance and more. But I'm not sure if bragging about how much we help others is in the spirit of the thread, so I better stand my ass down. :cautious:
 
on the fully... A group of newbies were gathered around a bike. One guy had a flat. They had taken out the tube were attempting to wet cement glue fix on the trail.. it wasn't working...after the chat, I took out my tube and gave it to them.. they were all happy, saying that they been trying for 15 minutes to seal the puncture...
 
Any time I come across someone on the side of the trail, I ask if they are good and if they need help. More often than not they decline. I ave given out several tubes and helped change tubes, bend and adjust derailers, and straighten some tweaked bars.
A few years ago I was riding CHSP on the east side of the park on Bane Ridge singletrack (way less populated). I was stopped having a snack and an older couple came across me, they were polite and said hello but kept on pedaling. About two miles down the trail I came up on them. They were to the side of the trail. The man had flatted (running tubes), they both had tubes. But they both had tiny holes in them from being rubbed while in their pack for so long. The wife was just about ready to ride to their car and get a tube and bring it back to him (or vice versa, don't remember). They were parked off of the 91 and Green River, which was about 4-5 miles away. I offered up my tube, they refused claiming it wouldn't fit. As I was riding 26" and both of them were on 29ers. I assured them it would work and it did. They both offered to give me some cash, which I refused. I only asked them to pay it forward.
Fast forward about a year and a half, I'm riding Santiago Oaks having a snack at the top of Chutes. And, this older couple rides up and we start chatting. A few minutes into the conversation the man says "your the one that saved us in CHSP". We talked about that for a while and he tried to give me some money again. Again, I refused telling them to just pay it forward.
Since that day in CHSP we have crossed paths at least a half dozen times. Most recently at CHSP on Bovinian Delight where they were with a group ride of at least 15 riders. ALL THE RIDERS EXCEPT FOR THEM were on E-bikes. I had pulled to the side to let them all pass, heckling each one of them as they went by. The couple was the last two riders as they rode up they instantly recognized me. I asked them were their E-bikes were and all I got back in return was a stern look and the man waving his index finger back and forth as if he was saying no-no-no! That gave me warm and fuzzy feelings. We all wished each other a good ride and pedaled on.
 
I will admit.....I have lent a helping hand more times than I could ever recount.

I have given out cases of tubes, boxes of nutritional items an bags of chainlinks and chain pins.

Some people want help, but don't know how to ask for it. I ask....I always ask. Can't tell you how many instances it has taken 2-3 time asking it they are good before they give in.

It has been everyone from XC riders with nothing to groups of riders with packs full of gear they don't know how to use. Experienced riders to noobs, even hikers.

Ran across an experienced rider out in Weir Cyn with a chain stuck behind the cassette about 35 mins before dark. He was gonna walk back to Trails End Park. Took 2-3 offers to help before he gave in.

Ran across a kitted up younger XC rider in Oaks with a flat....no tube, no pump. Took 3-4 offers for help before he gave in....he didn't know how to change a flat.

Ran across a noob walking his bike on the upper end of Hidden Ranch at Blackstar 10 mins before dark. Broken chain. Was going to walk all the way back. 3-4 offers before he gave in. No tools, no knowledge.

Gave some hikers the rest of my water on Stagecoach along with directions and advice. Gave my remaining water to a hiker that was suffering from heat exhaustion on Quaill Hil.

Helped out a rider in the Oaks with a broken leg get down the trail. Assisted a rider who would be airlifted out at Oaks after a crash.

Have escorted riders out of areas where they were lost, tired and running out of daylight.

It is what we do.
 
mike said:
I've given away water, tubes, headlamp, first aid, assistance and more. But I'm not sure if bragging about how much we help others is in the spirit of the thread, so I better stand my ass down. :cautious:
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I would rather hear about all the good things riders have done, instead of reading just one post about a rider that just rolled past a rider in need and ignored them.
 
Two weeks ago I hit up Brown mtn to KB around 4 pm, it was drizzly and getting late. I hammered up to the top and on my way down I put my phone in my back jersey pocket which I NEVER do. I got back to the car which is 6.5 miles from the top and realize my phone is gone!!

I started to rewind things in my head and remember that about a mile from the top my Garmin beeped which I now understood was letting me know my ph was no longer connected. Then I also remembered one rider making his way to the top as I was going down. At this point I had 2 choices. The fist was tonride back up and look for my phone and the second was to take the chance that the rider ran into my phone and picked it up for me. I opted for option two since it was getting late and I didnt have lights.

I waited for about 30 mins at the trailhead looking for the rider. Just as I was about to turn back to the car, the rider comes out. I look at him and ask if he had seen my phone. He says "dude you are so lucky" and pulls my phone from his pack!! I was sooo stoked, and grateful, didnt know how I cld repay him, I will some day Im sure! I found a renewed sense in humanity with this incident and it further solidifies why I love this sport and the people who take it seriously, becuase there is a strong brotherly bond that brings us together!!
 
4 years ago I was riding Demo Forest in Santa Cruz, with a few friends and someone managed to lose their cleat bolts. Dan came to rescue and pulled out a few sizes and he was back on the road again. I carry all kinds of weird stuff, like cleats, cleat bolts, chainring bolts, ferrules. I also carry the common tube, cables and so on. On more remote trips I carry the kitchen sink.
 
I haven't yet run across anyone who needed me to donate to their cause, but I do remember this one yahoo who bunny-hopped a culvert (or tried to) and pinch flatted. He figured all was good as he had a spare tube. He very quickly realized he'd had it in the seat bag too long. It had a hole in it.

Another rider stopped, gave him a tube and went on his way. The donated tube also had a hole in it. Walk of shame ensued.

Luckily I only had to walk a mile back to the truck. :oops:
 
few years ago, we were also at the demo forest in santa cruz,, all getting geared up and ready to go when this one local comes by, chit chatting. He rode with us the entire ride, guiding us to all the good stuff... brotherhood! had a great lunch spot too!
 
mtnbikej said:
Ran across a kitted up younger XC rider in Oaks with a flat....no tube, no pump. Took 3-4 offers for help before he gave in....he didn't know how to change a flat.
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Heard a story about Lance Armstrong in an XC race. He flatted, pulled over to the side and raised his arm for help-then he realized he didn't know how to fix the flat and nobody was going to come help him. ( Then he took some PEDs and won anyway! J/K!!!)

Always wrap your tube-it will save you from trouble in the future....
 
mike said:
Cross-camp brotherhood
Click to expand...
Hey, we're all in this together. Asking or helping out another human in need, regardless of chosen sport, is just the right thing to do in most any case. What goes around comes around. Some other cross-camp help experiences...

I've had a lady hiker pull out her substantial first aid kit to cover a bad abrasion on my nose and face after dumb crash. Neither I or my riding mates had the necessary bandages. She would not let me beg out of her help, though I thought I was ok. Really appreciated after the ride as the wound was full of dirt and the antibiotic cream likely helped allot. Maybe she was a nurse and just had that instinct.

Another, pedaling up Santiago Canyon Rd from Cooks after the Luge to finish out with Whiting, ran across a road bike rider on the other side of the road sitting, staring at his road bike. We crossed over to see if was ok. Just a flat tire, he had nothing to fix it tube or patch wise. I gave him my patch kit (remember those?) since I doubted my big spare 26 tube would fit on his narrow road rim and tire. Saved him a long walk or a pickup from his wife.

The somewhat recent situation on Chiquito w @mike and @crashalot, I was near bonking and not doing well with the bike handling, a little dazed and confused after a couple of crashes. Mike got his substantial bandage assortment and fixed the shin wound up. Both waited for me to get the little climbs done and make it back to the car..

A year or so ago, ran into a hiker at Chiquito falls, wandering, out of fluids. Gave him most of what was left of my water in my camelback, poured into his water bottle. He ended up getting medevac'd when Craig and Rox tried to help down Chiquito as we rode back up to Blue Jay. Not sure that guy would be around if not for the help of our group.

The weirdest one I can remember, @mike and @kioti and I were having post ride refreshments after chaning the fossil hill flag. We were parked on the side of Santiago Canyon rd near Modjeska grade. A guy on a road bike, seemed like he was in a group, just pulled over and stopped next to us. He started going off on politics (timeframe was the lead up to the election). Baffled us all why a road biker in a group would pull off to talk politics with three strangers o_O

TL/dr: Gotta love the differences in people and their mindset.. generally I'd say dirt trail users are a friendly bunch and willing to help another in need, regardless of sport... :thumbsup:
 
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