i always give a wave or thumbs up to someone at side of road.

if same response then all is well otherwise i would pull over, especially when they have a kiddie with them :)

I give the thumbs up, if I got a thumbs down or similar then I would stop.

I have the vague recollection that a helmet placed on the floor next to the rear wheel signifies I need help, can anyone put me right on this?

Good tips include the petrol tank sat next to the rear wheel and the rear wheel missing :D

Yup, just make the bike look as broken down as possible-tank up is a winner ;)

This most certainly used to be the case, however it seems to have got lost in translation over the years and there are more riders that do not know this than those that do.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I normally have a good look & stop if I deem it necessary - gut reaction :!:

Why? I probably could, but just cant be arsed.

When the gear lever return spring gave up the ghost on my bike I must admit that I broke down! In fact I was distraught! :cry: :lol:

Helmets by the bike? Tank jacked up? Pah.....For an half Irish, English bloke,stranded on a mountainous Spanish road with an Italian bike on French tyres, the only way to get the attention of the German riding a Japanese TLR was to do a frantic waving of arms and the international little finger and thumb "telephone" shape to side of head routine! Totally international and worked a treat! 8) :lol:

I stopped once because it was on a b road not far from home. The guy seemed rather disgruntled that I'd stopped to ask. :roll:

All the others I've seen have been on motorways or dual carriagways and I've been going way too fast to stop anyway. :P