At a local HIM yesterday about 10 miles into the bike leg I came around a turn and saw a bike lying within the right line of the road. I looked around and didn’t see anyone right away so I figured maybe the guy was taking a leak in woods. Plus, people ahead of me kept riding by. But, I did a double-take because I saw a guy lying the ditch writhing in pain. I slowed down and stopped to help and as I am doing that about 10 people pass me and one guy even says: “keep going, he’s’ fine”. The guy that crashed was definitely not fine as he couldn’t get up was missing some skin on his shoulder and his face was bloodied. Fortunately, there was a turn about 50 meters up the road and I was able to get the attention of the police officer directing traffic who, subsequently called in an ambulance. So, maybe I lost 2-3 mins on my bike leg but, I would have waited there for 30 mins if that’s how long it took to get help for this guy. And I wold hope my fellow athletes would do the same if I had crashed. I am pretty dissapointed that not one person even slowed down to check on this guy especially, at a small local race with the only thing on the line is a jug of hammer gel for placing in the top of your age group. I hope all those people enjoy their 20 oz of rasberry gel.
That’s disgusting. I can’t believe people can be so self centred. Let’s hope the theory of karma holds true. Well done for doing the right thing, I am sure you felt good about your day regardless of your result.
Wow… I’ve never ever heard of/seen that in a race, people are always so helpful. Thats pretty messed up
That’s disgusting. I can’t believe people can be so self centred. Let’s hope the theory of karma holds true. Well done for doing the right thing, I am sure you felt good about your day regardless of your result.
I agree, Raspberry Hammer gel is totally disgusting.
Thanks Lewis!
I’m surprised we haven’t had the first of the" what can anyone do if they don’t have first aid experience" post yet. That’s the usual sequence in these threads.
Triathletes…self centered?
…Never…
go to the triple T for a better experience. 2 years ago I slammed on the brakes with Dawhead so we could help out rroof with a flat! Dawhead called dibs and I kept going.
LOL! Different “class” of racers at the TripleT for sure. Man that flat was hard to fix - my fingers were froze!
@OP - kudos for stopping to help. I’d certainly wager triathletes are more self-centered than the general U.S. (and likely other nations) population. But, I think this is just a sad trend in general (at least in the U.S.)
I know I would have stopped. You can totally loot the guy’s bento box while he is writhing in pain.
That’s disgusting. I can’t believe people can be so self centred.
What world do you live in? I look around and all I see are self centred people and it takes a selfless act to make my head turn. People being selfish and self centered is just the norm.
I saw the same thing at a race, can’t remember which one, where someone had gone off the road on a harsh downhill corner. One girl had stopped and was totally hysterical so I stopped and spent as much energy helping that girl calm down as I helped the girl who crashed. The crasher was a mess. Couldn’t realyl move so I stableized her head as best I could and waited for the EMTs to show up. Several women slowed down or stopped to see if we needed anything but, sad to say, not one of the guys did. I think I lost a total of 10 minutes.
That’s disgusting. I can’t believe people can be so self centred.
What world do you live in? I look around and all I see are self centred people and it takes a selfless act to make my head turn. People being selfish and self centered is just the norm.
Sad, but true.
@OP - Good job for helping him out. I believe good things happen to good people, so cheers to your upcoming good fortune! 
You made a nice deposit in your kharma bank. That is all you can do.
glad you helped the guy
good job
.
You made a nice deposit in your kharma bank. That is all you can do.
well, maybe it payed off as my time was huge PR!
That is really messed up ! ! ! ! ! !!! Glad you stopped to help him!! I would have done the same if in your shoes. Congrats to you for being the “BIGGER” person.
I’d like to think that most of those people would have stopped if asked. Most people just get scared when a situation like that arises and assumes someone else will take care of it or already has. If I saw you there not asking me for help I probably wouldnt stop, not because I dont want to help but because I would think it wasnt needed. There is no excuse for the one guy who said “keep going he’s fine” he is just a total prick. Glad you guys stopped rather than sticking your head in the ground.
It’s a shame that it need be said, but kudos to you for doing the right thing. It brings a smile to my face to know that others can see the bigger picture.
//Edward
I think it’s great that you stopped and helped the guy. I don’t think that it’s just triathletes but people in general who exhibit boorish behavior. I got clipped during a group ride earlier this year and crashed pretty hard. While I was laying on the ground semi-concious I remember hearing someone ride by and yell get the F off the road. One of the guys who had stopped to help told the guy to go F* himself and I found out later that it was my friend Paul who yelled at the A-hole. I always make it a point to ask riders stopped on the side of the road
if they need help because you never know when you’re going to need it
yourself.
Here’s an interesting phenomanon: noone will stop until they see someone else stop, be it a biek crash or car accident.
Good on you for stopping.
I figure the “I don’t know first aid” comment above was in jest, but you do not need to know first aid in order to stop and help. Heck, at least stop and tell the person you are going for help.