Cycle rescue/ breakdown recovery.

Anyone any experience with this?. I'm pretty excited about it to be honest! (I run tubular tyres)

A quick search brings up a couple of companies that do it. This is the first link. ETA:

https://www.eta.co.uk/breakdown/bicycle/

'If you suffer a breakdown to your bicycle whilst out cycling, our 24-hour recovery team is on hand to arrange transport for you and your bicycle back to a safe location. We’ll take you to the nearest repair shop, railway station, car rental agency, overnight accommodation or home, within 25 miles'.

Basically:

1. £18 per year.
   
2. Upto 3 call outs. (After that they ask for maintenance documentation).
   
3. More that 1 mile from home.
   
   

Got to be worth it, surely?

Don't know if I'd say its 'got to be worth it', as I've only been truly stranded once in many years of cycling (bottom of Cheddar gorge, just about to do the return leg to Bath (30ish miles) when the connecting pin in my chain snapped). On that occasion I just rang a mate to tell me where the nearest bike shop was and was back on the road within 20 minutes.

In London I would never consider it, as you can always jump in a black cab to get you home or walk to the nearest shop to fix the issue.

I just spoke to a representative on their site and average call out time is 40 minutes and if they're longer than an hour, they pay you £10. Must admit it seems pretty good for the price.

I agree not worth it in London. I just reckon it would give me peace of mind cycling around the countryside on tubular tyres if I know I can't call the girlfriend to come get me.

Can you call them if you bonk?

Haaa. Good idea. You could let a tyre down as well, to be on the safe side..

What's wrong with carrying spares and being self-sufficient and/or carrying a phone and credit card for cab or calling the missus?

I guess that a cab would be more that £18

Hence being self-sufficient being my first point. Still, you only need a cab to a train station or a bike shop.

Yeah I know what you're saying. I am pretty self sufficient. But if I'm on my Sunday best with tubs I'd happily pay £18 a year, A YEAR TO not have to take a spare tubular tyre with me..

Tubular tyres (chevrons)..

"Our average response time is 39 minutes"

Meh.

Yeah not great, agreed. Tenner if over an hour tho..

Fuck it. I'm probably going to sign up anyway. As it is, if I've no mate or gf with a car to collect me if I punc#*@e I take a bike with clinchers.

I like the idea of 24 get home assistance, or at least 25 miles closer. It's insurance innit and not bad price if you're in the countryside every weekend.

@Itisaboutthebike
in younger days when tubs were pretty much the norm. I would never have dreamed of going out without a spare. Can't imagine why you would. Doesn't weigh much & quicker to change than a tube

What's wrong with being self-sufficient?

This.

It's not difficult.

I just much prefer cycling light, that's all. You lot really aren't buying into this are you!

Cycling light - inner tube, pump, multitool (eg topeak hexus that includes Allen keys, spoke key, @Chainbreaker) this is not much to carry and will cover you in most eventualities - assuming you have the basic knowledge of maintenance.

No. It runs along the same vein as people who employ dog therapists and drink soy lattes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EY7lYRneHc

Haaaa, as if it does!

@dancing james. I'm very technical and take basic tools, etc. I guess I'm specifically thinking about rides in the country with tubular tyres. And that I would appreciate a back up plan for peace of mind. As for me, fuck carrying a spare tyre on the off chance of a flat.

I just much prefer cycling light.

The tools and components required to stay self-sufficient take up to the size of a water bottle, and probably weighs as much as a full bottle too.

The exception is tubular tyres, which can hardly be felt under the saddle.

Spare inner tube, not tyre.

If you ride tubs take a spare. Do you think they will have spare tubs and glue one on by the roadside for £18?

Do you think they will have spare tubs?

Might have spare wheels to swap.

Does not look like they fix your bike

lHow does it work?

If your bicycle breaks down, we’ll arrange the recovery of you and your bicycle back to a safe location. This would either be in the form of a local taxi which we would book for you, or one of our breakdown recovery agents.

In the event that we arrange a taxi for you, please ensure that you retain any receipts for claiming back your expenses.

I'd rather finish a ride than have to abort because of a puncture.

I lol'd;

Am I covered if I break down at home?

No. Cycle Breakdown cover begins one mile from your home.

As for me, fuck carrying a spare tyre on the off chance of a flat.

Erm..