I believe all AAA plans, not just the gold, provide bike roadside assistance.

So AAA doesn't change tires these days?

Of course!!! Good point!

Exmechanic98, how did they transport your bike?

Thank you for sharing this information.

I worked for AAA for a short 3 months. They were awful to their employees, even worse to their customers and took no feedback from either. I had to quit because of the way they expected us to treat customers. I regularly had to tell people it would be hours before we got assistance to them, even if they were in dangerous situations. If they were in a rural area with few providers, lol, it would be hours before we could even get a hold of someone to get an ETA. The final straw for me was having to tell an elderly lady on a road in the middle of no where at 11pm that it would be at least 2.5 hours to get someone to her. She was terrified and started crying. I ended up calling the local Sheriff's department and having a deputy go to her. Once the deputy arrived he had a tow truck to her within 10 mins.

AAA service is nice to have, but don't expect them to save your bacon in a timely manner.....

My grown son has used AAA for several problems and always gotten good and timely service. Dead battery replacement, tow from side of road, tow from apartment to repair shop, etc. No complaint. He's an old-car fan, so has had a few problems. I don't know if calling for a bike tow is counted against your allowed number of tows per membership year. Another possibility would be to call Uber.

Fantastic idea!

Next time I'm out on an organized ride, I'm going to list AAA as my emergency contact.

But at least this guy was carrying a cell phone.

(Something I don't currently own.)

I was the first (and snarky) reply.

It was asked as a question as to why go out on such a long ride and not bring the means of basic repair ?. That's a fair question. Bikes are not cars and while bike mechanicals are rare, flats are not, usually.

I'm still curious as to how somebody sets out for 40 miles with no repair kit ?. That's never been explained and maybe doesn't need to be. And while I'm glad to hear that the new AAA rescue a cyclist in distress concept works, I know it's not something I would even remember, even if I were a AAA member (I just dropped them), partly as it's been ingrained into me as the culture of cycling that you carry along enough stuff to fix minor emergencies. Been that way for all the 28 years I've been cycling.

Thus my original question remains, why would a person not take a repair kit ?.

I haven't changed a car tire in years. I carry one of those electric air pumps. In the event of a flat, I refill the tire and drive to the tire store.

The other thing to consider is AAA might not always work or a "bicycle" call. I don't know if it is a part of their policy or not. Let's assume it is. Lots of these people are independent contractors. They might not be aware of all of the policies. You might just wait in "100 degree" temperatures only to be turned down for help from the mechanic.

Glad it worked for the OP but I would only use AAA as a very last resort.

It's part of their policy. They mailed out a big thing earlier in spring about how Roadside Assistance now included bicycles, as well as advertising it in their magazine they send out every so often. Also in the 2 times I've had to call them for my car, you explain the situation to the operator so they know what to send out, so I image by the time the person is traveling to you they know the situation and would have turned it down at the operator level, not after they arrive to assist.

I'm interested to know how the bike was carried on the truck. I would not want a good bike to be all scratched up. I'm always prepared, but stuff happens. I did use up two tubes and the patch glue was dried out once.

Read what I posted again. Just because it is part of their policy does not mean it is going to happen. Good to know that you can explain the situation to the operator but you know how things get lost in translation. I would much rather use them as a last resort. I need to check into that policy. It might be worth joining up. I am sometimes concerned of what to do in the event I have a major, mechanical, illness, injury etc since I don't have anyone around to fall back on.

I implied AAA might have changed the bike tire when they arrived. Just lol.

And.. it's not terribly difficult to create a bike mechanical issue if need be..

What is the radius/distance that AAA would serve to return you home? I usually plan loop-trip rides (returning to whence I left), but...

You'd have to check, because it probably varies by region.

OTOH - you have to draw a hard line between a backup plan B, and a good Plan A which should keep you from needing it.

Agreeing with the sentiment many expressed here, you want to be prepared for reasonably likely issues, ie. flats, and save plan B for things that you don't reasonably expect or plan for, ie. a crash or cracked frame.

I think my plan offers three bike tows in one year. The regular towing for my plan is 80 miles free. Over that you get charged by the mile. This probably includes bikes.

Does that include hauling you home?

Looked up the "Northeast" policy.. link below. 2 Tows/year for bikes, up to 10 miles. Mileage penalty beyond 10 miles evidently.

https://northeast.aaa.com/membership...-coverage.html

I am also a CAA member and am glad they offer bicycle tow and flat repair services. Never had to use it though. I am also glad our public buses have front bike racks eventhough some if the non-knowledged public complain about them being a waste of taxpayer money because they never see any bicycles on them.

Ah, yes. The call of shame. I've had to make that call a few times myself. Not to AAA, but to family members.

After 2011 bike crash wife filed with AAA since we had the optional accident policy and it paid out $1,000. Almost forgot about it but always ask if discounts available from a business.

I take exception to the phrase "plain" vanilla. It is technically incorrect as vanilla is a flavor. The phrase refers to ice flavors and "plain" ice cream would be unflavored. But due to systemic, institutional racist norms, the "white" flavor of ice cream became the "plain" or normative standard while ice creams of other, darker complexions , brown chocolates, red cherries and strawberries, butterscotches and others became marginalized and considered "exotic".

By referring to vanilla as "plain" it demeans and discounts the contributions and hard work of those who grow and produce the vanilla bean, and others in the food production industry, many working in sweatshop conditions for little or no pay while those at the top grow rich off the toil of those they subjugate and hold down.

The adjective "plain" also hides and conceals the proud Mexican, Central American and Mesoamerican origins of vanilla, or its place in Aztec culture, and the history of conquest and exploitation they endured. Or how Hernan Cortez stole both vanilla and chocolate from the native population and introduced them to a white Europe, all to eager to colonize and plunder.

So, no FB, I say to you with tongue firmly planted in cheek, that not only is the phrase "plain vanilla" racist and euro-centric, but "politically correct" posts need not be boring, nor dull.

And that, fellow cycling enthusiasts is how to take some one else's opinion out of context.

(Just having fun!)