Road rescue services?
03-10-10, 10:40 AM
#1
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Road rescue services?
You get stranded on a long road 40 miles from civilization. All you have are bike shoes. You just had two flats in a row/a broken chain/a broken crank - the point is, your bike isn't moving. Your wife is out of town. You're new to the city and you don't have any friends with cars. Who do you call?
Are there any services for this? Do you just call a taxi? The Police? I'm talking about Texas and Austin in particular but I'm curious as to other people's experiences here.
Are there any services for this? Do you just call a taxi? The Police? I'm talking about Texas and Austin in particular but I'm curious as to other people's experiences here.
03-10-10, 10:44 AM
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Yeah I've seen ads for services, don't know much about them.
IMO, don't embark on a ride if your bike is not in good repair. Always bring a credit card or cash for just in case. I always bring a cell phone, and in my case the wife knows my general route.
I've only had to call for pickup on rare occasions over the years but I'd expect newbies might need more help in the early years.
Also, here's another good reason to ride with a group / club on a mapped route with re-groups, especially for newer riders.
IMO, don't embark on a ride if your bike is not in good repair. Always bring a credit card or cash for just in case. I always bring a cell phone, and in my case the wife knows my general route.
I've only had to call for pickup on rare occasions over the years but I'd expect newbies might need more help in the early years.
Also, here's another good reason to ride with a group / club on a mapped route with re-groups, especially for newer riders.
03-10-10, 11:09 AM
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You get stranded on a long road 40 miles from civilization. All you have are bike shoes. You just had two flats in a row/a broken chain/a broken crank - the point is, your bike isn't moving. Your wife is out of town. You're new to the city and you don't have any friends with cars. Who do you call?
Are there any services for this? Do you just call a taxi? The Police? I'm talking about Texas and Austin in particular but I'm curious as to other people's experiences here.
03-10-10, 11:19 AM
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It's called hitchiking. You use your thumb to indicate you would like a ride. Maybe you won't get *****, murdered or beaten and left for dead and actually will get a lift back to town. There's like three decent people left and I know for a fact two of them live in Texas.
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03-10-10, 11:52 AM
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03-10-10, 11:59 AM
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Stuff happens. I'd call a taxi in that situation. It wouldn't be cheap, but you'd get home. If you don't have a phone just keep walking until you find somebody who does. Always carry cash in case you can bribe somebody to either call for you or give you a ride.
03-10-10, 12:01 PM
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Order a pizza, have it delivered, and get a ride back.
03-10-10, 01:12 PM
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Around where I live, there is no cell phone service 40 miles outside of town. Maybe you can find a ranch or country store somewhere and ask to use their phone. I prefer to have enough supplies with me to fix anything that is likely to happen. I have not been stranded yet.
03-10-10, 01:16 PM
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If you're riding in that situation, you should be prepared to fix multiple flats. Also carry a mini tool with a chain tool, and an 8mm allen wrench and you can fix the chain and the crank.
And there is always lowering the seat and riding it like a hobby horse.
I'll do most anything to avoid being sagged home or asking for help.
And there is always lowering the seat and riding it like a hobby horse.
I'll do most anything to avoid being sagged home or asking for help.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
03-10-10, 02:00 PM
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these things cross my mind as well. I prepare the best I can and hope for the best.
03-10-10, 02:01 PM
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NEWS ARTICLE: AAA begins offering roadside assistance - for bicycles
https://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting...oadside_a.html
https://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting...oadside_a.html
03-10-10, 02:39 PM
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NEWS ARTICLE: AAA begins offering roadside assistance - for bicycles
https://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting...oadside_a.html
https://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting...oadside_a.html
03-10-10, 05:58 PM
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You get stranded on a long road 40 miles from civilization. All you have are bike shoes. You just had two flats in a row/a broken chain/a broken crank - the point is, your bike isn't moving. Your wife is out of town. You're new to the city and you don't have any friends with cars. Who do you call?
Are there any services for this? Do you just call a taxi? The Police? I'm talking about Texas and Austin in particular but I'm curious as to other people's experiences here.
Are there any services for this? Do you just call a taxi? The Police? I'm talking about Texas and Austin in particular but I'm curious as to other people's experiences here.
...at least twice
Yes, you can find mountain bike shoes that are every bit as stiff and almost as light as road shoes...and you can walk in them.Second, I'd have my patch kit with me so that I could fix at least 10 more flats. And if that were too many, I'd still be able to walk
Third, I'd have my chain tool so that I could put a new master link back in the chain and get rolling again.
Fourth, I'd ride one legged if my crank arm were broken or I'd pull out my tools and fix the problem so that my crank isn't broken.
Fifth, I'd walk to the top of hills (remember the mountain bike shoes
) and coast down to the bottom.Sixth, I'd McGuiver my way out of any other problem that arises until I could get somewhere for help.
The only thing I would never...not in a million years...do would be to call my wife to pick me up. Mostly because I don't carry a damned cell phone. I haven't when I've been 1000 miles away from home and 3 weeks out on the road nor when I'm commuting to work and it's snowing...again
She'd probably just laugh at me anyway
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
03-10-10, 06:22 PM
#17
Senior Member
It's happened twice.
Both times I called the wife.
I've come to the conclusion I'll ride a flat 10 miles rather than listening to her complain about having to drive out 20 minutes to pick me up.
Both times I called the wife.
I've come to the conclusion I'll ride a flat 10 miles rather than listening to her complain about having to drive out 20 minutes to pick me up.
03-10-10, 07:04 PM
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In 30 years of marriage, and more years of riding, I've called my wife once for assistance, and that was when my riding companion was unconscious in the middle of the road, with a broken arm after riding into a support on the side of a dark tunnel.
I thought about one other time in a Tornado, but decided to gut it out.
I thought about one other time in a Tornado, but decided to gut it out.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
03-10-10, 07:12 PM
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In 30 years of marriage, and more years of riding, I've called my wife once for assistance, and that was when my riding companion was unconscious in the middle of the road, with a broken arm after riding into a support on the side of a dark tunnel.
I thought about one other time in a Tornado, but decided to gut it out.
I thought about one other time in a Tornado, but decided to gut it out.
03-10-10, 07:19 PM
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hardcore.
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SocialCyclists Forum
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03-10-10, 07:28 PM
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You could always become a "Silver Spoke" member of the League of American Bicyclists...
https://www.bikeleague.org/members/specialoffers.php
https://www.bikeleague.org/members/specialoffers.php
03-10-10, 07:50 PM
#22
Upgrading my engine
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First, I ride in mountain bike shoes because I know if I have to walk, I can walk at least 10 miles in them...been there, done that...at least twice Yes, you can find mountain bike shoes that are every bit as stiff and almost as light as road shoes...and you can walk in them.
Second, I'd have my patch kit with me so that I could fix at least 10 more flats. And if that were too many, I'd still be able to walk
Third, I'd have my chain tool so that I could put a new master link back in the chain and get rolling again.
Fourth, I'd ride one legged if my crank arm were broken or I'd pull out my tools and fix the problem so that my crank isn't broken.
Fifth, I'd walk to the top of hills (remember the mountain bike shoes) and coast down to the bottom.
Sixth, I'd McGuiver my way out of any other problem that arises until I could get somewhere for help.
The only thing I would never...not in a million years...do would be to call my wife to pick me up. Mostly because I don't carry a damned cell phone. I haven't when I've been 1000 miles away from home and 3 weeks out on the road nor when I'm commuting to work and it's snowing...again She'd probably just laugh at me anyway
...at least twice Yes, you can find mountain bike shoes that are every bit as stiff and almost as light as road shoes...and you can walk in them.Second, I'd have my patch kit with me so that I could fix at least 10 more flats. And if that were too many, I'd still be able to walk
Third, I'd have my chain tool so that I could put a new master link back in the chain and get rolling again.
Fourth, I'd ride one legged if my crank arm were broken or I'd pull out my tools and fix the problem so that my crank isn't broken.
Fifth, I'd walk to the top of hills (remember the mountain bike shoes
) and coast down to the bottom.Sixth, I'd McGuiver my way out of any other problem that arises until I could get somewhere for help.
The only thing I would never...not in a million years...do would be to call my wife to pick me up. Mostly because I don't carry a damned cell phone. I haven't when I've been 1000 miles away from home and 3 weeks out on the road nor when I'm commuting to work and it's snowing...again
She'd probably just laugh at me anyway
If I broke my steerer, I'd ride no-handed and brake with my feet.
03-10-10, 08:06 PM
#24
RacingBear
First, I ride in mountain bike shoes because I know if I have to walk, I can walk at least 10 miles in them...been there, done that...at least twice Yes, you can find mountain bike shoes that are every bit as stiff and almost as light as road shoes...and you can walk in them.
Second, I'd have my patch kit with me so that I could fix at least 10 more flats. And if that were too many, I'd still be able to walk
Third, I'd have my chain tool so that I could put a new master link back in the chain and get rolling again.
Fourth, I'd ride one legged if my crank arm were broken or I'd pull out my tools and fix the problem so that my crank isn't broken.
Fifth, I'd walk to the top of hills (remember the mountain bike shoes) and coast down to the bottom.
Sixth, I'd McGuiver my way out of any other problem that arises until I could get somewhere for help.
The only thing I would never...not in a million years...do would be to call my wife to pick me up. Mostly because I don't carry a damned cell phone. I haven't when I've been 1000 miles away from home and 3 weeks out on the road nor when I'm commuting to work and it's snowing...again She'd probably just laugh at me anyway
...at least twice Yes, you can find mountain bike shoes that are every bit as stiff and almost as light as road shoes...and you can walk in them.Second, I'd have my patch kit with me so that I could fix at least 10 more flats. And if that were too many, I'd still be able to walk
Third, I'd have my chain tool so that I could put a new master link back in the chain and get rolling again.
Fourth, I'd ride one legged if my crank arm were broken or I'd pull out my tools and fix the problem so that my crank isn't broken.
Fifth, I'd walk to the top of hills (remember the mountain bike shoes
) and coast down to the bottom.Sixth, I'd McGuiver my way out of any other problem that arises until I could get somewhere for help.
The only thing I would never...not in a million years...do would be to call my wife to pick me up. Mostly because I don't carry a damned cell phone. I haven't when I've been 1000 miles away from home and 3 weeks out on the road nor when I'm commuting to work and it's snowing...again
She'd probably just laugh at me anyway
03-10-10, 08:24 PM
#25
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In 30 years of marriage, and more years of riding, I've called my wife once for assistance, and that was when my riding companion was unconscious in the middle of the road, with a broken arm after riding into a support on the side of a dark tunnel.
I thought about one other time in a Tornado, but decided to gut it out.
I thought about one other time in a Tornado, but decided to gut it out.
You my friend, are a bada**