Been stranded on your bike?

[Mo1959]

Just wondered what most peeps do in the event of a more serious mechanical on their bike when a good bit away from home and nobody to call on.

Through my own choice I am a bit of a loner and don't have a wide circle of friends to call on and family wise only have my Dad who really shouldn't be driving and I wouldn't even call him, and my brother who is at work Monday to Friday. My neighbour was excellent when I broke my collar bone and took me to appointments, etc but sadly is thinking about moving back to be nearer her family shortly so got me thinking about what I would do if I was stuck miles from home.

Not sure if many taxi firms would be willing, or have the space to pick up bikes or not. Some of the places I ride can be a bit remote so definitely no public transport around. Anyone found themselves in a similar situation?

 

[summerdays]

I've had to call on Mr Summerdays to pick me up once when I managed to bodge the wheel so I couldn't remove it or turn it, so couldn't even walk with it.

If he hadn't been around I might have tried either a friend or ringing a taxi firm and seeing if they had a large vehicle that could fit the bike in.

Chances are that in your situation more rural, that a passerby might offer help? You could always look for somewhere to lock up/ hide the bike and go back at a later time to pick it up when you could make arrangements with family?

 

[andyfraser]

Thankfully I haven't been in that situation but it's something that scares me. That's why I don't go too far from home so I can walk back if I need to. I also have some loop courses where I'm never more than a couple of miles from home. The loops can get boring though.

 

[Fnaar]

Maybe not quite what you mean (as I had a car, 7 miles away) but rpeated punctures and then a snapped chain led me to leaving my bike behind a hedge, then trudging 7 miles across remote Northumberland countryside (in my cycling shoes and garb) in order to get the car, then return to the hedge to pick up the bike, then drive home.

 

[pplpilot]

A recovery service may help ease your concern, https://www.eta.co.uk/breakdown/bicycle/

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I'll phone family (wife has collected me twice so far), unless I'm grumpy and stubborn (or I know they are busy, it all depends on the degree of problem), in which case I walk and feel sorry for myself. It's not happened often but I did have a situation where I went through too many punctures (and then destroyed a valve) in one go so ended up with a 7 ish mile (odd that number's come up twice now) walk to where the car was (was commuting home, got told off by friends for not phoning them, knew wife was busy.).

I would consider putting the bike somewhere safe (I rarely commute with even a café lock) and walk/taxi. I would imagine some taxi companies (the ones with the MPV's) might consider taking a bike if you phoned them. I had a friend in the 80's who left his RD350LC behind many hedges and walls, depending on where he'd crashed/broken it, would knock on the owners door and ask permission.

I think if you are sufficiently distressed someone would take pity on you. If I was truly middle of nowhere I'd take to flagging down vans and hoping I guess. People are surprisingly nice when you ask them.

 

[jonny jeez]

Through my own choice I am a bit of a loner ... what I would do if I was stuck miles from home?

Without meaning to sound harsh...or judgemental...I suspect this is one of the the consequences of your choice.

Why not consider finding some ride buddies, if only for occasional trips. I used to be a little like this myself, preferred to ride alone and wasn't keen on clubs etc.

But since converting a few mates and starting our own ...very small club...I find I have 4 or 5 options if I ever need to call in some air support.

Plus, riding with company really is an enjoyable way to cover miles, create bonds and keep active.

Good luck.

 

[Col5632]

Thankfully it hasn't happened to me but I would hope that somebody would come and get me

 

[biggs682]

walk if poss

 

[Dave 123]

Call for the team car. She came out with fresh bread the other week!

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I guess, thinking about it, if you aren't going to change your riding habits (I know I'm not) then it's probably worth phoning around the bigger taxi companies on spec and seeing if they would have an option if you got stranded. Can't hurt to ask. Failing that ask around local bike shops to see if anyone does do bike recovery locally. A final resort might be the 'man with a van' services that get advertised in supermarkets, etc. Again, phone around when you don't have a problem and just see if it's the sort of thing they'd consider doing if you phoned them out of the blue. If sufficient said 'yes' then put their details in your phone.

If all of that comes up blank, then carry a lock with you so you can leave the bike if you need to and be willing to just use a taxi for yourself and then return to collect the bike once you are home.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Call for the team car. She came out with fresh bread the other week!

Yeah, when I thought about this I've had one wife recovery service visit for a mechanical (seriously buckled rear wheel 30+ miles from home) and one for an injury (off on black ice, hobbling wounded, 7 miles from car and 20+ from home.) in the last two or so years. Not the best of records :-/

 

[Ian H]

Regular maintenance should reduce the likelihood to pretty remote. Basic tools will cover most eventualities.

 

[Globalti]

Mrs Gti and I once picked up a roadie who was walking. He was pretty peed off and when we reached his house his wife was standing on the doorstep like Andy Capp's wife Flo, arms folded, demanding loudly: "Okay, so what's he done THIS time?"

I always carry a spare inner tube in the car and just yesterday we stopped for two blokes who were fixing a puncture - it turned out that one had ridden into the slot in a cast-iron manhole cover and burst his tube!

My bike is in top-top condition and I carry a multitool, two gas cylinders, a tube and some patches so I can't think of anything that would stop it apart from a broken wheel. If I was really stuck I would just shoulder the bike and hitch a lift; as w00hoo_kent writes above, poeple are usually generous and ready to help. I used to hitch-hike all over Britain and found that lifts came sooner if drivers coud see the purpose of your trip so when going to Scotland I always made sure my climbing rope was visible on the top of my rucsac.

 

[mr_cellophane]

Call for the team car. She came out with fresh bread the other week!

Can you post the number for the rest of us.