Roadside Assistance

[mtkitchn]

I ride solo a lot, and one of my concerns is what I'd do if something happened, i.e. I had a major mechanical issue that I couldn't fix and was far from home.
What do you ladies do when there is nobody on the other end of a telephone to come save you? Does AAA help you if you're on a bike? Do you call a cab? Walk to the nearest bus?
Myself, DH and friends are all in the travel industry and a lot of times when I ride there is nobody in town. Usually I don't stray far from home when that's the case, but I'd like to be able to do longer loops and am looking for options to soothe my worried mind!

[mimitabby]

a friend of mine ended up paying $100 bucks for a cab once when the weather turned and he was having mechanicals. He said it was worth every cent.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Different suggestions depending on what kind of surroundings you might be stuck in. Would you be in populated areas with stores, fast food restaurants and gas stations and such? Or would you be on remote country roads with no stores, public buildings, and no shelter at all to duck into? Would there be people around anywhere at all if you got sick or stuck on your longer rides?

[li10up]

Hitchhike? But only accept a ride from someone in a pickup truck. You and your bike safely in the back. Just tell them you have to prevent any damage to the bike or from your bike damaging their truck.

I've never done this but I think it's what I would do.

[KnottedYet]

I'd call AAA, tell 'em I'm a woman travelling alone and give them my member number and ask for a ride to a safe place (maybe home). I pay for all their travelling perks, so I would expect some help from them finding a ride when I need help while travelling!

They would likely arrange some form of transport (one call does it all!) and hopefully not charge me much.

[Trekhawk]

I ride solo a lot, and one of my concerns is what I'd do if something happened, i.e. I had a major mechanical issue that I couldn't fix and was far from home.
What do you ladies do when there is nobody on the other end of a telephone to come save you? Does AAA help you if you're on a bike? Do you call a cab? Walk to the nearest bus?
Myself, DH and friends are all in the travel industry and a lot of times when I ride there is nobody in town. Usually I don't stray far from home when that's the case, but I'd like to be able to do longer loops and am looking for options to soothe my worried mind!

LOL I do worry about this too but for other reasons. If Im riding out in the sticks on a week day Im always worried that if something happens I wont be back in time to pick my kids up from school. I do have a mobile phone that I could use to ring another mum but the coverage here is hit and miss. This is why I tend to stay a little closer to home on week days and venture further afield on the weekends.

[Pax]

I belong to the Better World Club, it covers me in my car and on the bike. http://www.betterworldclub.com/bicyc...assistance.htm

I can't speak to their service as I haven't had to use it but I found some excellent testimonials online when I was shopping for a plan.

[Mr. Bloom]

Queen, that's a great program. My single biggest concern is Silver's safety when she rides alone...I will have her signed up before the weekend. She can take care of herself, but I'd sure get peace of mind.

[mtkitchn]

Queen, I think that's exactly what I was looking for! Interesting. I see it covers you for 30 miles....is that to take you somewhere within 30 miles? Or coverage within 30 miles of your home?
I need to give those people a call.

[Pax]

Queen, I think that's exactly what I was looking for! Interesting. I see it covers you for 30 miles....is that to take you somewhere within 30 miles? Or coverage within 30 miles of your home?
I need to give those people a call.

They were very responsive to the zillion emails I sent them when I was shopping.

[Triskeliongirl]

Queen, thanks for the tip. I will look into that service too! My understanding is that AAA will not help you, they are an AUTO club only. Normally I am riding in a place where my husband or son can pick me up. But, if I am traveling, I take extra supplies (more tubes than usual, a pump instead of C02, a patch kit, a tire boot, chain pins and a chain tool, etc.) so I can handle most situations. Once I had something different fail, my eyeglass frame broke and I am blind without them. At first I panicked, until I realized I could take the black electrical tape marking my seat position, and use it to hold my eyeglasses together until I was safely home.

[KnottedYet]

Ooh, Queen, that one sounds good! And they do "domestic partners" as part of the family package!

I'm all over that!

(and folks, don't forget to register your bike! www.nationalbikeregistry.com )

[Pax]

...(and folks, don't forget to register your bike! www.nationalbikeregistry.com )

I emailed my local police department today about the registry, I wanted to see if they bother checking it when they recover a stolen bike. The first response I got was that they'd never heard of the registry, then the officer said he was forwarding my email to several people within the dept. to see if they could start using the registry.

[indysteel]

I belong to the Better World Club, it covers me in my car and on the bike. http://www.betterworldclub.com/bicyc...assistance.htm

I can't speak to their service as I haven't had to use it but I found some excellent testimonials online when I was shopping for a plan.

Queen, thanks for posting this. I ride alone in the country and could really use the added peace of mind/protection of something like that. And I love the idea of a group discount (maybe we can chip in for a "finder's fee" for you).

To add to the discussion, I carry a cell phone and money with me at all times, along with a spare tube, Co2 cannisters, etc. I also have a laminated card with my name, address, phone, emergency contact, insurance information, etc. I have several bike shop numbers programmed into my cell phone as well. I tend to ride near one in particular where they know me pretty well. While I have no concrete reason for this, I tend to think that if I was in trouble, they would come out and get me if at all possible. My fear, of course, is that I'll be involved in a hit-and-run accident and be unable to call for help. I'm torn, for that reason, between keeping my cell phone in a jersey pocket (where it could get smashed if I fell) or in my seat bag (where I might have trouble accessing it if I'm in an accident and thrown from my bike).

[SouthernBelle]

I'm torn, for that reason, between keeping my cell phone in a jersey pocket (where it could get smashed if I fell) or in my seat bag (where I might have trouble accessing it if I'm in an accident and thrown from my bike).

I've been in an accident where the phone would have been smashed when I fell, by me, which would have hurt me more than I was more than likely. That's why I go with putting it in my bag.