So, I recently tried to help a fellow rider while I was in my cage and was met with a very hostile and negative situation (details, here ).
I also think there is a lot of negativity in general. In the other thread, others started posting about times they helped other riders.
I think it is important for us (riders) to remember that we are a unique community and that incidents like last night are rare. It is important for us to have the camaraderie to help each other out.
So, I invite you (fellow riders) to tell your stories of helping fellow riders. I'll get the ball rolling as I've been riding enough to see many stranded riders on the road.
1) A couple hours west of Thunder Bay, at the beginning of a long weekend on the Trans-Canada a guy from Calgary with a loaded up cruiser got a flat tire. I pulled over and he was dumbfounded as he had nothing to remedy the situation. We used some logs I found in the woods to prop his bike up so the rear wheel was off the ground. I travel with a plug kit and a compressor. Together we fixed his flat, inflated his tire and went our separate ways.
2) The next day (so, on the same trip, but this time east of Sault Ste Marie) in the late evening I saw a grey bearded gentleman pushing one of those massive harleys with his wife a few paces behind. I turned around and it turned out he ran out of gas. He was on the edge of town but it was a good couple kms to the petrol station. I went and got him a couple litres of gas and followed him to the station. Turned out it was a couple from New Hampshire on vacation. He said a half dozen bikes passed him including a pack of 4 cruisers WHILE he was pushing the bike without doing anything to help. *tisk* *tisk*
3) Last year, on my way to work I happened to take the cage in because I was doing errands after work and needed the trunk space. On the 401 eastbound, express, just after DVP I saw a bike on the shoulder. I pulled over and told him I ride too and asked if he needed help. He was turning over the engine with the starter, saying "it just died on me." I told him to stop cranking it over because he probably ran out of gas and he's just going to kill his battery. We open the tank and sure enough, it's dry as a bone. He lived not too far so we drove back to his place, got some fuel and returned to his bike. Sure enough, the battery was dead. Luckily for him, I keep jumper cables in my car. The funny thing: we work for the same company.
I've got a couple more positive stories, but I want to hear yours. I've seen others post thank you threads and others post about helping fellow riders. I want all of us to be encouraged to help out fellow riders. Even if you can't actually help, it's worth it just to offer some support or to offer a cell phone to use (or an air conditioned car to sit down in for 5 minutes).
Cheers!
I also think there is a lot of negativity in general. In the other thread, others started posting about times they helped other riders.
I think it is important for us (riders) to remember that we are a unique community and that incidents like last night are rare. It is important for us to have the camaraderie to help each other out.
So, I invite you (fellow riders) to tell your stories of helping fellow riders. I'll get the ball rolling as I've been riding enough to see many stranded riders on the road.
1) A couple hours west of Thunder Bay, at the beginning of a long weekend on the Trans-Canada a guy from Calgary with a loaded up cruiser got a flat tire. I pulled over and he was dumbfounded as he had nothing to remedy the situation. We used some logs I found in the woods to prop his bike up so the rear wheel was off the ground. I travel with a plug kit and a compressor. Together we fixed his flat, inflated his tire and went our separate ways.
2) The next day (so, on the same trip, but this time east of Sault Ste Marie) in the late evening I saw a grey bearded gentleman pushing one of those massive harleys with his wife a few paces behind. I turned around and it turned out he ran out of gas. He was on the edge of town but it was a good couple kms to the petrol station. I went and got him a couple litres of gas and followed him to the station. Turned out it was a couple from New Hampshire on vacation. He said a half dozen bikes passed him including a pack of 4 cruisers WHILE he was pushing the bike without doing anything to help. *tisk* *tisk*
3) Last year, on my way to work I happened to take the cage in because I was doing errands after work and needed the trunk space. On the 401 eastbound, express, just after DVP I saw a bike on the shoulder. I pulled over and told him I ride too and asked if he needed help. He was turning over the engine with the starter, saying "it just died on me." I told him to stop cranking it over because he probably ran out of gas and he's just going to kill his battery. We open the tank and sure enough, it's dry as a bone. He lived not too far so we drove back to his place, got some fuel and returned to his bike. Sure enough, the battery was dead. Luckily for him, I keep jumper cables in my car. The funny thing: we work for the same company.
I've got a couple more positive stories, but I want to hear yours. I've seen others post thank you threads and others post about helping fellow riders. I want all of us to be encouraged to help out fellow riders. Even if you can't actually help, it's worth it just to offer some support or to offer a cell phone to use (or an air conditioned car to sit down in for 5 minutes).
Cheers!