exmechanic89

Thought I'd post my story here out of general interest. A couple of days ago I got a flat while out on my daily fast 40 miler - had about 11 miles left on my ride. I didnt have a kit or pump with me so I called AAA (my wife and I are gold members), and within 15 minutes they had a driver there to pick me up. Worked out great, it was almost 100 degrees out and I was nowhere near any bike shops, stores, anything. It was a relief for sure.

Basically I'm posting this to remind or inform people who are AAA members that in some states they 'tow' bikes too, not just cars.

Steve B.

Why would you go out on a 40 mile ride with no kit to fix a flat ?

trailangel

Shame on you for not carrying repair items.

General Geoff

Because he has AAA, duh

jack002

This forum is so hateful and judgmental. You go, exmechanic89

exmechanic89

Wasnt expecting such preachy, whiny responses, lol. Whatever.

rumrunn6

curious, did you tell them you were on a bike? did they come with a vehicle that had a bike rack? how did they transport your bike? was the driver cute?

blakcloud

That is a great service for it's members. Glad it worked out for you.

FBinNY 

Shame on you! What did you expect?

You've been here too long to be surprised by the attitude.

Regardless of why you need help on the road, it's nice for AAA members to know it's there.

For my part, on those occasions when I needed help on the road, it's never taken more than a few minutes for someone to stop and offer.

Maelochs

You have shamed us all. A really hard cyclist would have carried the bike home across his shoulders even if he died in the attempt.


(I bet it was easier to call AAA than the significant other.)

bobwysiwyg

Steve B.

I guess my attitude comes from many rides I did with a guy, a former Cat 3, who hated carrying any extra weight, so wouldn't carry a spare tube, CO2, tire levers, etc... he essentially relied on his buddies, who he knew had all this.

I typically carry 2 tubes, 3 CO2's, etc.. in the event I need to give somebody else an extra.

But if you blatantly rely on others to help you and decide to carry nothing, that's kind of unfair to those that end up helping you.

I ended up telling Mr Cat 3 that if he got a flat, I wasn't giving him a tube.

Glad AAA was able to help. I'd bet the driver wondered why your spare tubes were at home.

spinnaker

And in 100 degree weather. Sorry but that is just too crazy or me.

spinnaker

This is pretty typical response from them. A whole lot easier to carry a tube and a pump.

FBinNY 

I'm sorry, but there's a bit too much attitude here.

The OP didn't ask for our sympathy, (which is just as well considering). He simply posted a story about how AAA came through for him.

While I ride tubulars and would never go anywhere without a pump and spare, I don't see a reason to take someone to task over going out unprepared --- especially because he WAS prepared in the sense that he brought a cell phone and could call for and get help. As long as I'm not the one he's calling, I see it as a no harm, no foul situation, and am happy to take the post at face value.

BTW - I wouldn't care either way, but there have been too many cases of OPs being jumped on by the boo birds, and IMO it tends o poison the well of good will we drink from here on the forum

Maelochs

As long as I have been here I have not seen, nor heard of , nor seen any sign of the "well of good will." Maybe if it was marked better?

Scooty Puff Jr

I always carry a tube and tools, but if AAA can get me home sooner I'd rather call them and change my tube at home in comfy air conditioning.

FBinNY 

We can't mark it. Too many would want to poison it. Despite being well camouflaged it's there if you know where to look.

Seriously, had the OP posted about bad luck, or complained that he had to wait, or anything of that sort, I'd have been all over him myself, with a "you make your own luck" post, but I don't see this OP as an invitation for that.

DrIsotope

I've never had to wait more than 30 minutes for AAA to show up. Considering when and where I ride, if I experience a mechanical that I can't fix, a call to AAA is probably my only way of either getting home, or getting to where I can fix the bike. As I put about 3X as many miles a year on the bike as I do the car, may as well get my money's worth.

Saw a guy on the side of a climb just yesterday with his rear derailleur and chain tied into an impossible knot, about 4 miles from my house. In his shoes, I wouldn't even think twice about calling AAA.

spinnaker

There was not one post that was out of line. The whole purpose of a forum is to share both consenting and destining remarks. No one is taking anyone "to task". Just sharing opinions.

BobbyG

Thanks, good to know. I think the humorous intentions of some of the replies didn't translate into text well. But even so, it's good to remember about AAA because although one may have a patch kit and tools, catastrophic failures can happen, collapsed wheels, broken frames, etc. Even with patch kits, spare tubes, etc, if one has CO2 rather than a pump, those have been known to fail, or run out.

Also falls, heat-related conditions, blood sugar issues, intestinal problems, the list goes on...

I don't know if AAA would honor non-mechanical issues, but they might.

FBinNY 

Fair enough, I agree that nobody was out of line. But there's a large gray zone before one crosses any line.

However, though within bounds, the first few posts were kind of preachy.

If posting a story about not having a spare tube and pump, or not wearing a helmet, or doing anything that one may consider outre is an invitation for finger waving, then what'll happen is that those who have a live and let live approach to cycling will move away and what'll be left is a "forum" consisting only of plain vanilla, politically correct posts.

DrIsotope

To my knowledge, they treat any service call exactly the same, whether you locked your keys in the car, ran out of gas, or got a flat tire. If they showed up and it's a guy with a bike, the tow truck operator would probably just be happy not to have to use the ramp.

FBinNY 

I doubt they'd ask, but on the off chance they did, engine failure is engine failure, regardless of the vehicle.

Maelochs

interesting choice of words ... This spring I had a a crank-arm failure---a bizarre series of unlikely coincidences which resulted in my crank-arm falling off and then being un-reattachable on the roadside.

I had to walk home barefoot ... because walking in my cycling shoes ended up being a lot slower and more painful than subjecting my tender soles to pavement.

I didn’t call AAA ... but then AAA never calls me, either. I don’t want to get hung up in a one-sided relationship.