Group ride at 6pm. Everyone is ready to roll. Then Bike Problem Paul arrives. He might be the same person every ride or it might be a different person, but it is frustrating. Frequently, he arrives ‘pushing the start time’ also … it appears to be a them.
Bike Problem Paul is the guy that shows up to group ride and goes to someone (often a mechanic at a local shop) and says something like, “my derailleur has not been shifting well lately, will you adjust it for me?”
Really?
First – a week has passed since the last group ride, but he has not fixed it himself. OK maybe that is a bad decision, but you could have taken it to the shop. Instead, he waited until directly before the ride and expects someone else to fix it.
Second – everyone is there to ride. NOT to sit and wait for his bike to be fixed. It was not important enough to stop sometime during the previous week and take it to the shop, or to call the guy and ask if you arrived early would he please work on it, then how is it important now?
Third – free repair. Again, usually the person asked to fix it owns the local shop or is a mechanic at the local shop. They feel trapped. They do not want to offend him. They have been working on bikes all day and now want to relax and ride and … now he is asking them to work for free.
How do you handle it? Truly, in most cases I have seen the mechanic be gracious. He fixes it and the goes about the ride. But this creates and atmosphere that ‘encourages’ that behavior. I have a friend that owns a bike shop. People did it to him all the time. It would go like this, “Mechanic Matt, my derailleur has not been working well since our ride last week. Will you fix it for me now so I can ride tonight”. Mechanic Matt, would stop what he was doing, prop up his bike, quit getting ready himself and start to work on Bike Problem Paul’s bike. Of course, Bike Problem Paul most likely does one of two things – hovers and gets in the way … or … simply goes and chats and enjoys his time while his bike is being fixed.
At first most people will let that go. In some instances, letting things go allow it to become a theme. So, someone might speak up if it occurs again. Someone other than Mechanic Matt would say something like, “Bike Problem Paul, this is becoming a theme, please get your bike maintenance completed before the rides.” That was the nice way that might be uttered early on. It might have progressed to some comment about needing to compensate Mechanic Matt. IF the behavior is consistent, it might evoke some more direct comments. Was the following going through many minds during these instances? And did I actually hear it come out of someone’s mouth, “Are you serious? This guy has been working on bikes all day long and finally got away to relax and ride and because you were too lazy to bring your bike to him and actually pay him to work on it you expect him to give up ride time to fix your bike for free”. To which an astonished Bike Problem Paul might have responded, “I, I… I Uhh, I can pay you … I just need a little adjustment …I have been busy UHHHH”. Mechanic Matt is a nice guy and likely responded, “it is ok, I will take care of it”. An uncomfortable moment would hang in the air. Not that anyone wants someone to feel uncomfortable but having to face the truth and some accountability might decrease the frequency of those moments.
If you have a problem and the mechanic is your buddy? If you are a frequenter to that shop and this is an anomaly? We understand there are exceptions. Yes, ‘calling out’ the behavior could offend Bike Problem Paul and might just chase him or another away from cycling. That is possible. What else is possible? Although his lone actions might not put bike shop where Mechanic Matt works out of business, it might alter Mechanic Matt’s actions. Mechanic Matt might quit coming to club rides because he wants some peace and quiet. I have seen that happen.
Relationships. Everyone has to get something from it. If there is a taker and a giver then the relationship is unhealthy and it will not last or, better said, should not last. If both parties gain what they need from the relationship, then it is healthy and will likely last. Conversation helps relationships grow or end.
What do you say? Is it ok to show up on a ride and expect someone else to fix your problem? After all, it is our group, and we are all here to support each other. Maybe Bike Problem Paul always brings food and drinks for the group post ride. Maybe the relationship is healthy.
Tell me…
Our 6:00 pm rides are always chasing sunset. Be ready ride at 6:00 or you’ll have to chase. Be part of the group, not the source of the problem.
Depends on the group I suppose. But one thing consistent with the groups I’ve ridden with over the years is that you pull that kinda thing too many times and there will be heckling. And if it kept up I recall some hurt feelings, some continued sensitivity, and eventually maybe some changed behavior. Except for Special John, he still shows up expecting everybody to help him fix his bike.
I’ve observed something like the exact flip side of this scenario.
Mechanic Wannabe William insists on fixing Good Guy Gary’s bike a few days before the ride even though Good Guy Gary is totally fine to take it to a shop and pay an actual mechanic to look at it.
Half way through the ride in the middle of nowhere bits start coming loose on Good Guy Gary’s bike and we all have to stop.
Mechanic Wannabe William, without the specific tools required to perform a repair, relies on others in the group to wave down passers-by to borrow inappropriate tools to perform a makeshift fix so we can limp home.