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Good Deeds & The Cycling Community

Cycling is rich in community and you can always rely on a fellow cyclist to help you out in an emergency. We took to Twitter to ask our cycling friends for their best story of a #GoodCyclingDeed.

 

We are always looking for ways to support our fellow cyclists… our national helpline has over 20 years of experience in helping cyclists when they are victims of cycling collisions. We sometimes hear stories of how other road users – often cyclists – have offered assistance on the spot and we know it can make a real difference to how people feel and respond in the immediate aftermath of a collision. In our opinion, cyclists are pretty special people – never too busy or in too much of a rush to help out another rider – and this collection of inspiring stories proves it!

 

Cycling can be an intimidating sport when you first start out, especially if you are not confident fixing your own bike or riding in traffic, but you can always rely on other more experienced riders to help you out if they see you are in trouble.

 

Simon Warren – Author of the 100 Climbs Series@100climbs

Mended many chains in London but will never forgive myself for not stopping during the LBL sportive to help a guy with a busted chain. Would have cost me a minute… He may still be out there 4 years later!

 

Peter Young@PETERSYOUNG

In the middle of the Yorkshire Dales I came across someone with a torn tyre. I always carry a cut up piece of an old tyre to put inside and get you home, so got him back on the road.

 

Matt Becker‏ – @MattBecker82 

A year or 2 ago, I suffered a rear mech+hanger fail and didn’t know what to do. Passer by helped and did a makeshift conversion to single-speed, which was a godsend. A few months ago, I did the exact same for someone else, and was glad to pay the favour forward. #GoodCyclingDeed

 

Gillian Brodie‏ – @GillBrodie 

I saw a man fixing a puncture near my house, so I took out my bike pump and wet wipes to clean his hands. It was his first time commuting by bike and his first time changing a tyre, so he was grateful for the help!

 

Priya‏@londonparchment 

Not my actions, but a fellow cyclist gave me a paper mudguard to clip on my bike on a v rainy day. Also as a new-ish cyclist, I always really appreciate when other cyclists @ lights mention to look out for upcoming bad potholes/blind spots/pinch points/adverse cambers.

 

It’s not just mechanicals where people need help… helping someone who has crashed or been involved in a road traffic incident can make a bad moment a little bit better for them. 

 

Lee Christensen‏ – @wreckeddeco

Have heard many asking for directions and offered my help for them. Seen collisions and provided video for cyclists to use. And had a good laugh with countless others in the pouring rain, soaking wet and without rain gear.

 

Kim Dargan‏ – @OralHealthHelp

Old Kent Rd – a guy gets knocked off his bike by a van. Van drives off. Guy is in the middle of road. I help him to the pavement – lots of traffic! – and move his bike. Ring 999. Ambulance arrives and he’s taken to hospital. Can’t remember what happened to his bike. Hope he was ok!

 

Liz Almond‏ – @liz545 

Yep! Rider ahead of me came off due to loose chippings close to my home, so I invited her in to clean up. Also helped with a few punctures/dropped chains.

 

Stephen Morrison‏ – @HowManyMiles_

No, but at the @LochLomondTri, several other cyclists stopped (adding time to their times) to make sure I was ok when I ended up in a ditch. They kept me smiling until first aiders arrived to deal with my broken clavicle and dislocated shoulder. #GoodCyclingDeed

 

Daniel Malpass‏ – @Malpy1 

Found a bike in middle of road in mid Wales. Stopped. Cyclist on first sportive had overheated and fell off 15m down an embankment. Force fed him water/gels, called event support/waited/found his Garmin Etc… then my tyre popped for fun in return.

 

Karma is going to get you in a good way!

 

Benjamin Hall‏ – @BadgerBrhall

I’ve tried to a few times, but no help was needed. Though one rainy morning, I had two punctures and only one tube. A fellow rider just passed me one of his without uttering a word and rode off into the sunrise – hero. (Bramley near Leeds)

 

Alex Margison – @AlexMargison

Was in Italy recently… spotted guy by side of road changing inner tube & trying to pump it up with micro pump, so went back to the place where we were staying & fetched my track pump for him. Next day I was out when double punctured… Had just started 5 mile walk back to where we’re staying, when guy pulls up on his MTB. He pointed to his house 300m away and dug out a load of inner tubes and his track pump for me. ‪#Karma

 

Brendan‏ – @scarface_9toes 

Guy had no spare tubes 10 miles from work. I had two, so gave him one while putting the other in his flat tyre & off he went. I got two more tubes from the shop near work. Two days later, I got a £500 bonus! #Karma

 

Helping someone else out benefits everyone even you.

 

KukuPenthouse‏ – @KukuPenthouse 

Was driving home across the moors after just being made redundant that morning. Passed a lady pushing her MTB miles from anywhere. Luckily for her, I had my track pump and repair kit, so we got her flat sorted. Helping someone else out helped me deal with my own shit that day.

 

Matthew Jones‏ – @DrMatthewJones 

Touring through Belgium. Saw a guy with a puncture having trouble fixing it. Another cyclist stopped and helped. Long story short, ended up giving him one of my spare tubes and we all went out and drunk great Belgium beer.

 

GeordiePhil‏ – @philrush74 

I ‘found’ a stranded guy on a dark lane whose light had packed up. It was too dangerous to cycle. I had my bike rack on the car so gave him a lift home. He got me some beers while I unloaded his bike.

 

And sometimes people help, just because it is the right thing to do.

 

Floyd‏ – @floydruns 

Last time I was in London, I got a puncture whilst on my way to Euston Station to catch a train. Started to panic thinking I was going to miss my train. Flagged down a cyclist on a cycle super highway and he very kindly repaired it for me on the spot.

 

Lewis Hill‏ – @Hilly_Hilltop 

I double punctured out in some random Essex lanes the other day and was stressing as no tubes or water left. 3 riders from Maillot Noir CC stopped, gave me their spares, replaced my tube for me and generally stopped me worrying. Made my day!

 

Mike O’Hanlon‏ – @unoghoulie

Within the last couple of weeks, I have replaced a tyre for a novice who was struggling with it. Then, a couple of days later, at the exact same spot, passed a group of riders attending to a chap who had crashed. We’re bike riders, it’s what we do.

 

It seems the cycling community is friendlier and more supportive than other road users or even other sports!

 

Matthew Boylan – @MattRB78

Bust chains, broken cables, flat tires… Loads of commuters in Manchester I have helped and been helped by. Could you ever imagine a motorist stopping to help another motorist the same way cyclists help each other?

 

M4L5T‏ – @EspressoandGin 

I’ve had fellow cyclists stop when suffering with a puncture/torn tyre… Cyclists always give their fellow cyclists a nod/wave when passing… I run a fair bit as well, and you don’t get the same kudos from a passing runner.

 

But the final word goes to-

 

Richard Warner‏ – @rgwarner 

If you ever ride passed a cyclist stuck by the side of the road and don’t ask if they need help, you will suffer a puncture in the rain when you have no repair kit. And deserve it.

 Tell us about your #GoodCyclingDeed on @Cycle_SOS!

For more information about our services or to start your claim, call 0808 100 9995 and speak to one of our specialist solicitors. We’re here to help. You can email us or schedule a callback.

Written By:

Emily Pheysey

Litigation Executive

Emily has over 7 years of experience in the legal sector, handling road traffic accident claims to recover compensation and support her clients. Her focus is to ensure all clients feel comfortable and at ease with the claims process so that they can focus on their recovery.

Emily considers rapport to be an essential part of the role and strives to always provide excellent client care.

Away from work, Emily enjoys spending time with her family and friends and travelling as much possible.

Diane Holderness

Litigation Executive

Diane is a Ministry of Justice (TOJ) Team Leader within our Cycle Department. She has 11 years’ experience managing road traffic accident claims, and 6 years’ experience managing MOJ claims.

Diane enjoys a challenge and always strives for the very best results for her customers; something that is clear in the way her team continually adapts its strategies in order to secure the most desired outcome. Diane has worked her way through the legal ranks here, and is proud to now have a strong, specialist team that is committed to customer satisfaction.

Diane believes that happy clients make a happy working environment, and it is this that ensures a productive and efficient workforce.

Nina Haddock

Chartered Legal Executive

Nina has over 30 years’ experience in the legal sector. She specialises in recovering compensation for injury claimants as a result of road traffic accidents. Her focus for each and every claim is to help her clients secure the funding that they need to pay for ongoing treatment and support.

Nina became a CILEX Fellow in 2006 and now helps her clients and their families at a time when they have been through a traumatic experience, and everything they hold dear to them appears to be changing.

One case Nina is particularly proud of is supporting a client who had successfully sought asylum in the UK, following a road traffic accident. The claim was successfully pursued through the MIB and the client was left with significant injuries. Her client was able to use the compensation to aid family members with their applications to seek asylum in the UK.

Julian Fox

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Julian qualified as a Solicitor in 2005 and has worked in all areas of personal injury since 2000. Julian has a well-rounded understanding of personal injury law, having represented both claimants and defendants.

Julian always aims for maximum damages to meet his clients’ needs for injury and rehabilitation expenses, and can often secure interim payments to help meet clients’ financial needs. Julian is highly proactive in ensuring cases are progressed, ensuring a timely conclusion.

When not at the office, Julian is a keen cyclist, both on roads and virtually -he will often do an hour of ‘Zwifting’ in the mornings before starting work.

Richard Atherton

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Richard has 12 years of legal experience and qualified as a Solicitor in February 2014. He has been a Team Manager with us since 2019. Throughout his career, Richard has specialised in personal injury, handling an array of Road Traffic Accident cases, in addition to employer and public liability.

Richard prides himself on his very strong strategic and planning skills, which come into their own in complex injury cases where more technical arguments are involved. On every case, he is committed to ensuring that his clients receive full compensation for their injuries.

Away from work, Richard enjoys sport; he is a season ticket holder at St Helens Rugby Club and a Liverpool FC fan. Not only a spectator, Richard also likes going to play golf as often as he can.

Dave Gardner

Litigation Executive

Dave has over 20 years of experience in the legal sector. His specialism is personal injury and he has dealt with hundreds of cycling injury claims during his career. Excellent client care and communication is paramount to Dave. He prides himself on being accessible and available, attending court hearings where damages are in dispute to ensure the best outcome for his clients. One case Dave is particularly proud of is when he supported an elderly client who suffered serious injuries following a road traffic incident. The police had not taken any action against the defendant, so Dave had to be proactive and act within a 24-hour window. The case proceeded and the client was in receipt of £30,000 in damages, which he would not have been entitled to had the client not approached Dave. He is also an avid supporter of Glasgow Rangers and travelled abroad on many occasions to see them play in European competitions.

Gerard Horton

Partner

Gerard is a Senior Solicitor at Cycle SOS. In his 13 years of experience, Gerard has built a national reputation in the catastrophic injury sector, dealing with high value and complex cases. Alongside his legal role, Gerard supports several charities including Headway Central Lancashire, Northwest Regional Spinal Injuries Centre and spinal injury charity, Back Up.

Julia Eyton

Partner

Julia brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Cycle SOS team.

Specialising in representing those who have had life changing injuries, Julia handles some of the most serious and complex personal injury cases both within Cycle SOS and nationally.

She often works on high value claims and is skilled in winning complex liability cases.

NADIA KERR

Partner

Nadia has over 30 years of legal expertise and has represented hundreds of vulnerable road users. With a focus on ensuring timely rehabilitation, speedy repair or replacement of bikes and kit, and securing fair compensation, Nadia is committed to advocating for justice and client rights. Alongside her legal career, Nadia actively participates in national campaigns to benefit vulnerable road users and acts as a Trustee/Director for the national cycling charity, Cycling UK. Nadia was named in Cycling UK’s ‘100 women’ and was a founding member, now running a women’s cycling group, TeamGlow in South Manchester. Among her many achievements, Nadia takes pride in her spot on BBC Breakfast, where she provided expert commentary on long term government funding for pothole repairs.

Caroline Morris

DIRECTOR OF SERIOUS INJURY

Caroline has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years, recovering more than £56 million in damages during that time, to help clients rebuild their lives after injury.

Caroline is committed to achieving rehabilitation options early, meaning her clients benefits from the best care and treatment at the earliest stage possible.