Biker Solidarity?

[Somerset]

If I spot someone stopped (I have been known to not even see things) then I usually slow and put a thumb up and if I get a thumb up back then I ride on, if I don't I turn around and go back and offer help if I can.

Incidentally, it would seem that a few people seem to ride bikes with the phone in the tank bag. I always have the phone with me because of what happened to a friend of mine. He was badly injured (diesel), ended up in a hedgerow while his bike was over 20m away because it didn't slow down as well as him. He waited a long time for help cos he couldn't get to the bike.

Bit grim, but makes you think where the phone should be kept.

[peterkelly]

Like most, I have had experiences of helping, or being helped by, both car users and bikers.

I guess that the basic premise was that bikes (when I started - haha) used to be so unreliable that you would quite often be stranded and possibly in need of help and so the tradition of camaraderie developed. Now you often stop and find they are already waiting for RAC/AA as everyone has mobile, and faults often need more than spanners, pliers and bailing wire.

Interestingly it seems quite a useful custom developed and was in place in Germany in the 60's. In order to make it clear you needed help - you tied a white hanky to the bars. Although, like much that was reported in M/C press over last 50 years, I have never seen it used in practice, it seems quite sensible idea - shame it never caught on.

Pete

[newstu]

<!--quoteo(post=171765:date=Tue 27th Jul 2010, 12:15 PM:name=Somerset)-->QUOTE(Somerset @ Tue 27th Jul 2010, 12:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Bit grim, but makes you think where the phone should be kept.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

bloody good point well made!

never thought of that one - mine is normally wedged behind the screen along with my stand puck - will be in me pocket from now on

[stu]

<!--quoteo(post=171779:date=Tue 27th Jul 2010, 01:41 PM:name=pete7)-->QUOTE(pete7 @ Tue 27th Jul 2010, 01:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Interestingly it seems quite a useful custom developed and was in place in Germany in the 60's. In order to make it clear you needed help - you tied a white hanky to the bars. Although, like much that was reported in M/C press over last 50 years, I have never seen it used in practice, it seems quite sensible idea - shame it never caught on.

Pete<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Have you tried it? I think that's a gay code, Pete. Waiting for confirmation from some of the other members [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]

[peterkelly]

<!--quoteo(post=171785:date=Tue 27th Jul 2010, 02:54 PM:name=stu)-->QUOTE(stu @ Tue 27th Jul 2010, 02:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Have you tried it? I think that's a gay code, Pete. Waiting for confirmation from some of the other members [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Crikey, you seem to know a lot more than I do, Stu! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif[/img]

[zardoz]

Seat off, and propped against back wheel, that's the distress sign I learned many years ago.
I don't think I'd stop for a white hanky, definitely not if combined with leather cap or chaps.