While bike-sharing initiatives may not be appreciated all the time, there are also individuals who have these increasingly common bikes to thank for.

On Sept. 24, an Australian triathlete grabbed an oBike to finish a race in Malaysia, after his bike started showing problems.

oBike, Singapore's first homegrown bike-sharing company, had launched its services in Malaysia in April this year.

The triathlete subsequently said that the oBike had "saved his day".

oBike to the rescue

The incident happened when Lachie Kerin, an Australian professional triathlete, was participating in the Challenge Iskandar Puteri, a triathlon held in Johor, Malaysia.

He participated the race with his own bike.

Unfortunately, during the last 32 kilometres or so, his bike started to show problems. His steerer snapped - his handlebars, frame and fork fell apart, causing him to stop by the roadside.

That was when he saw a couple of oBikes. It occurred to him that he could ride one of them to complete the race, since there were similar ones in Australia.

When there's a will, there's a way

Kerin then got on the oBike and finished the last 30 over kilometres of the race.

Although he found the bike to be not as "ideal", as it did not have a water bottle holder while he rode on it for 2 hours in the hot weather, the triathlete still appreciated it.

He said that it was "actually pretty damn fun" and that "it made for a looooong day but an epic memory and one [he] won't forget soon".

View this post on Instagram

Pro tip - When there's a will there's a way. Unfortunately just under 60k into the bike at @challengeiskandarputeri I managed to snap my steerer meaning my handlebars, frame and fork were no longer together. Luckily for me, I was able to muster a city bike and get the last 32ish km done before making a lot of mates on a nice jog/stroll in skin melting heat. The city bike, despite it's top speed of about 18km/hr and no water bottle holder (not ideal for 2hr in asian heat), was actually pretty damn fun albeit not ideal. It made for a looooong day but and epic memory and one I won't forget soon! Thank you to Challenge for having me and I can't wait to come back next year! Congrats to @mitchrobins21 @frreddie @cambrown72 @baldwin_nick on great races and a fun couple of days 👊 #triathlon #cycling #tri365 #ironmannews

A post shared by Lachie (@ljkerintriathlete) on Sep 23, 2017 at 7:56pm PDT

Speaking to a representative from oBike Malaysia regarding the same incident, the athlete also said that oBike had "saved his day".

[related_story]

Generally, a professional triathlete may choose the DNF (Did Not Finish) option, if he finds himself facing problems like this during the race.

But in his Instagram post of him finishing the triathlon on an oBike, Kerin said it was "ride or die".

View this post on Instagram

Ride or die. #triathlon #cycling 📷 JTDream Singapore

A post shared by Lachie (@ljkerintriathlete) on Sep 24, 2017 at 3:11pm PDT

Now you know shared bikes are not just about riding for fun, it's pretty serious business too.

Top image composite via Lachie Kerin's FB and Lachie Kerin's Insta