Walter S

I'm exploring what my options would be were my bicycle disabled during a tour. I might want to somehow get me and my bicycle hauled to the closest metro area, where I'll find a bicycle shop. There are other options such as finding a town nearby where I can get general delivery of some parts or tools I need. But that's also limited by my technical abilities/skill/knowledge.

What are some options you might keep up your sleeve for this?

I just downloaded an iPhone app, Uber, which apparently draws on a community of people willing to give rides I think. Trying it from my house in metro Atlanta it says no SUVs currently available (you can ask for a "car" or a "SUV"). Not encouraging and I don't know what kind of response I'd find in a rural area. It also shows a rate of $4.25/mile for a SUV. So a 50 mile ride is over $200.

What ideas or experience is out there on this topic?

RaleighSport

I have AAA which is odd with how car light I am, but I've yet to meet a tow truck driver that would mind strapping down a tiny bike over leveraging a car onto the rack.

10 Wheels

Lay the bike down near the road and stick you thump up in the air.

I have had drivers stop when I was just taking pictures.

Machka 

First of all ... take a few bicycle mechanics classes. I took an introductory bicycle mechanics class focusing on doing on-the-road emergency repairs, and then a different intermediate class on a variety of topics. I had the chance to take a 12 week course, but couldn't get there in time for the classes because of my work schedule and because the classes were on the other side of the city, and I regret that a bit. If the opportunity comes up again, I think I might take the classes.

You say you have limited technical abilities/skill/knowledge ... well, you'll increase your problem solving options by increasing your technical abilities/skill/knowledge.


Secondly, make sure your bicycle is in good repair before you begin your tour ... or any long ride out into the middle of nowhere for that matter. You'll reduce the chances of something bad happening to your bicycle if you've taken steps to make sure it is robust.


Thirdly, bring appropriate tools. Your bicycle mechanics classes will help with this. With skills and knowledge and the right tools, you'll be able to deal with most issues you encounter.


[HR][/HR]

The worst mechanical I've had was a seized freehub. Fortunately, the final seize happened about 5 km from the place my cycling partner and I were staying that night (Rowan's place, as it happens), and fortunately the road to Rowan's place at the time was downhill enough that I was able to coast in.

If it had happened earlier that day, there is a way my cycling partner and I could have rigged something up so that I could pedal, or I would have simply walked up every hill and coasted down the other side. It would have been a very slow process!

However, I have learned to recognise the symptoms. When a second freehub was on its way to seizing, I knew that was the problem and was able to solve it before it became a significant issue.

Walter S

I would keep an AAA membership just for this purpose. But they told me the membership fee would not include "towing" a bicycle and rider nor do they offer that service.

RaleighSport

They do in washington actually,I happen to be in Ca though and I may just be lucky with the drivers but they don't mind I think they just put it down as a service charge, like changing a flat... AAA doesn't ask a lot of questions as I have the platinum card or whatever it is.

fietsbob

In Ireland I put my bike in the luggage hold, of a Bus , with the back packs ,

and then, when back in Killarney, got the frame crack welded up .

continued the trip for a few months, more..

balindamood

With some basic mechanical skills, I can hardly imagine a situation where you could not patch it up well enough to at least limp into town. Those few cases where you couldn't include a crash bad enough you wouldn't be able to ride into town, and those that are bad enough you will need a new bike anyway.

raybo

You might find this thread at the UK Cycle Touring forum about bicycle failures experience on tour of interest. It will give you some idea how common bike "failures" occur to people.

For me, personally, the worst problem I've had in 10 years of bicycle touring is a broken pedal that was able to make it to the next town that had a bike shop. I've broken spokes and had flat tires, but those I know how to fix.

Once, on a local ride, the bolt tightening the clamp that holds the seat post broke. It would have made the bike very hard to ride as the saddle would have been way low and wobbly. I'm not sure what I would have done (I now carry such a bolt) had I been on tour but I would guess I'd have MacGyvered something.

Bjforrestal

Personally I fix it, short of tacoing a wheel or shredding both tires at the same time. (Only 1 spare) I can't think of another issue that would keep a fully loaded tourist completely stranded. Busted stem I suppose...maybe bike getting stolen...at any rate, walk to nearest farmhouse, call ranger if in national park, ask people for a lift...if you know how to do basic maintenance and can improvise if needed, have basic tools and spare parts, I really wouldn't even worry about it, just wing it.

ka0use

i just signed up for a cable class at a local co-op, $20. i feel it a bargain for derailers, which is all i need.

Ekdog

I now tour on my Brompton, so it'd be no problem to put my bike on a bus, train or in the back of someone's car in case of a mechanical problem. As I'm mechanically challenged, this gives me peace of mind and allows me to concentrate more on the area I'm visiting.

I envy those of you who live in areas where bike mechanics classes are available.

Doug64

How do you define the middle of nowhere? If you are on a road bike it is hard to get too far out of anywhere.

In my experience the further you are from a town the more willing people are to stop and help. While I have not needed to be "rescued" on a tour, I have been offered help several times while fixing flat tires or looking at a map along the side of the road.

However, I did crash once (not a tour, jsut a long day ride) bending the front wheel, bent both brake levers, bent the front fork, bent the handlebars, and took some hide off me. Fortunately, I was not too far from home, and the lady who stopped to help me called my wife to retrieve me. I did get a new bike out of the deal

If you have some basic mechanical skills and are prepared for the most common problems there is not much other than a catastrophic failure of frame or a critical component that would make you "dead in the water". I have been touring for a number of years, and have never been in that situation.

RaleighSport

silentlysailing

That looks similar to how I just had my wheel trued at a bike shop, only they hit tables and walls instead lol.

djb

in my experience, making sure your bike is in great condition to begin with is THE biggest way to reduce the chances of having issues on the road. New or very good condition tires, wheels trued and spokes properly tensioned, good meaty brake pads, chain in good shape and every thing adjusted properly. This will make a huge difference, and cannot discount tossing your bike into a ditch for whatever reason, but is all stuff that you can control.

as mentioned, getting a lift from people is always doable, Ive had lifts a few times on tour, not from mechanicals, but others situations, but in the end, people will help if you are in trouble.

I just want to emphasize not to "assume" your bike will have no problems if you ignore it or have no knowledge of mechanical stuff- in life there are lots of things that we can control and prepare for, and having your bike in tip top shape before a trip is one of those.
I thoroughly recommend taking a bike mechanic course, or find someone to teach you stuff. Like all things in life, you cant learn it all in a day, but bit by bit. But one has to start somewhere and some time, so dont be shy, start learning

Bjforrestal

That video was straight awesome! I wrench on bikes quite a bit and had no idea that was possible!

Machka 

Incidentally, if you are looking for bicycle mechanics classes, I've found them in a number of places:

-- university/college ... some offer short community night classes. That's where I took my first bicycle mechanics course.

-- sporting goods shops ... watch the websites of places like MEC, Decathlon, Anaconda, REI and similar. I took my second bicycle mechanics course through MEC.

-- bicycle shops ... the intensive 12-week course I mentioned was run through a bicycle shop.

-- cycletouring clubs ... I've seen that several cycletouring clubs (in Canada and Australia) offer bicycle mechanics workshops. Usually an all-day on a Saturday events in the spring. Very hands-on, designed to get the participants bicycles tuned up for the season.


All these classes aren't usually widely advertised, you've got to do some hunting to find them.

In the case of the bicycle mechanics class at the university, it was in the programme, but when I called to enquire about it, they told me that they only run it if they've got at least 10 participants ... and so they rarely run it. Terribly sorry, but it probably won't be run this time either because there were only 2 or 3 people who had expressed interest in the class. There was about a month before the deadline, so I advertised the class ... I sent emails around to clubs etc. telling them that this class existed, etc. etc. ... and it ran with about 15 participants.

Rowan

The three worst mechanicals I have had were:

1. A broken inner race on the rear hub on my first-ever tour (which happened to be across the Nullarbor Plain. I initially improvised by using some washers from a roadside sign to get me another 50km or so. At which point a young farmer took me in and we arranged for an alternator bearing to into the hub. It was a loose fit, and some distance and days down the road, it collapsed and took the rear derailleur into the wheel. I was several miles outside of a town, I pushed the bike in and spent several days holed up in a cheap motel and ordered a new wheel from a bike shop in a nearby town. I rebuilt the derailleur and was on my way. The incident was my own fault for fiddling with the hub before I left Perth.

2. A broken derailleur cable, inside the shifter. No biggie, because I had a spare one. It was a bit more trouble trying to get the head out of the shifter. I changed cables a little more frequently as a maintenance thing after that incident.

3. Stripped threads on a fixed gear hub. Again my own fault for using an inferior quality cog on an aluminium hub. I had the week's groceries on board, and it was about 16 miles before the end of a century. I walked and coasted the rest of the way home... and felt really sore the next day in the back and legs, but I was sure to order a good-quality Surly cog to go with the new hub, and I haven't had any trouble since.

I had a rear wheel come really loose when the majority of spokes unwound on a five-day, 800km tour, but I just tightened them back up with the tool I had with me... then replaced the wheelset with a better quality one when I got home.

Machka and djb have identified the key points -- maintain your bike in tiptop condition, and use the best quality parts you can afford, even when it comes to replacements. Then get some mechanical knowledge beyond repairing a flat tyre. That includes adjusting the derailleur and brake cables when needed to ensure everything continues to operate crisply on your bike.

rcschafer

I enjoyed reading that thread; something about the use of language and the place names

gpsblake

The very worse thing that can happen is you will have to get a ride from someone you don't know into a town. Or perhaps the humiliation of hiring a tow truck driver for a bike (they will do it, probably laugh about it behind your back). Almost everywhere, someone will stop and offer help eventually. People seeing you push a broke bike down the road know you're not some creep trying to carjack them.

When I got flats in Texas, always someone was pulling over to see if I needed help while repairing the bike.

Don't over worry about it. People toured before cell phones and no one just disappeared from a broken down bike. It will always work itself out.

Rowan

The question also has to be asked: Is there the same level of concern when driving a motor vehicle in an isolated area? I've seen quite a few vehicles broken down on the side of the road, without occupants in all sorts of rural places. Some have been expensive brands, too. The logistics of getting a bike to a place of repair are much, much easier than for a motor vehicle.

Walter S

Since I don't have a motor vehicle my concern for what to do when it breaks down is zero!

Walter S

Thanks for the reality check. I know it WILL always work out in the end. Probably most of my anxiety is what it means to my schedule. I have a job with important responsibilities for my company. A couple days of delay getting home after an incident is a significant problem. I just need to accept that as a risk.

So far I do go out of my way to put the bicycle in good shape for the trip so failure is unlikely.

Thanks for the perspective.

Walter S

That is an interesting thread. I was struck by the fact that the OP has never had problems on tour. Almost without exception, the respondents have had numerous problems on tour. I think that speaks more to the psychology that drives the urge to respond than to the statistics of bicycle failure though.