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Is there a roadside assistance program for bikes?

Old 04-24-22, 11:54 AM
  #1  
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Is there a roadside assistance program for bikes?

we have veloinsurance and of course the one time we needed roadside assistance Could not find the info. but when I decide to drop the insurance it would be nice to have some kind of roadside assistance. we down drive and dont ahve people that can pick us up and our tandem if we break down. Since we don't drive nothing with car insurance will work I dont think. this is in the US most likely Oregon and Washington only.
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Old 04-24-22, 12:08 PM
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Old 04-24-22, 12:24 PM
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AAA will do this, if you pay for the expensive version. I haven't done that yet, mainly because where I ride, there is very limited cell phone coverage, so I need to be self-sufficient. If I get injured, then I have a different set of problems.

I don't think you have to own a car for AAA membership, but it probably would not be cost-effective.
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Old 04-24-22, 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Polaris OBark
AAA will do this, if you pay for the expensive version. I haven't done that yet, mainly because where I ride, there is very limited cell phone coverage, so I need to be self-sufficient. If I get injured, then I have a different set of problems.

I don't think you have to own a car for AAA membership, but it probably would not be cost-effective.
they have a bike service but I just checked and not here in Oregon.
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Old 04-24-22, 12:38 PM
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Yes. There is one and the good news is it is worldwide but there are other things that require consideration before making the arrangements.

The acronym for the program is SOS which stands for Significant Other Support.

It works well for the most part though there may be the unfortunate side effect of having some fun made at your expense.
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Old 04-24-22, 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by KJ43
Yes. There is one and the good news is it is worldwide but there are other things that require consideration before making the arrangements.

The acronym for the program is SOS which stands for Significant Other Support.

It works well for the most part though there may be the unfortunate side effect of having some fun made at your expense.
well the SOS switch me on the tandem
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Old 04-24-22, 03:32 PM
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Uber
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Old 04-24-22, 05:29 PM
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Originally Posted by fooferdoggie
they have a bike service but I just checked and not here in Oregon.
https://oregon.aaa.com/membership/be...-coverage.html
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Old 04-24-22, 06:58 PM
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huh I did a search and put in my zip and it did not show Oregon. maybe it was just different AAA in Oregon ? I can't remember how much veloinsurance charges for it but I think 10.00 a month.I would've to do the 100.00 a year as the budget plan is only 3 miles that would not do it. ok veoinsurance is 120 a year. so its less for AAA. I wonder if veloinsurance uses AAA for its service?
also this company https://www.betterworldclub.net

Last edited by fooferdoggie; 04-24-22 at 07:39 PM.
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Old 04-24-22, 07:57 PM
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I have seen AAA or one of those services with an actual bike strapped on the bed of a tow truck, it is quite hilarious when they pull up to the shop but a really neat service. If I am desperate which I was once I will take an über but to be fair I was riding a bike that was way too small for me and I was tired, it was hot out and I just needed to get the bike home so a smaller friend could ride it.
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Old 04-24-22, 09:21 PM
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Strava Premium includes Sundays Insurance. Which will reimburse you up to $50 if you need to call for a taxi as a result of your bike breaking down.

Not exactly AAA, but it’s novel.

The insurance also cover up to $600 for a bike computer if yours breaks as a result of an accident while recording a ride.

I just call my wife if I need a lift. She doesn’t mind at all.
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Old 04-25-22, 03:09 AM
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I've seen a few policies that will reimburse you taxi or public transport costs to get home if the bike is unusable, and most taxi companies will have something capable of fitting a bike in. Admittedly, I haven't tried to see what the deal would be with recovering a bike that's caked in mud, since all of the suitable taxis here would be minivans without racks. I figure worst case I can always lock the bike to something, get a taxi home and then go back and get it.
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Old 04-25-22, 08:15 PM
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On Ontario we have CAA with bike service. If you're not a member, Toronto buses have front bike racks so you can always take your bike home.
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Old 04-25-22, 08:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Daniel4
On Ontario we have CAA with bike service. If you're not a member, Toronto buses have front bike racks so you can always take your bike home.
for my regular bike the bus works but for our tandem nope.
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Old 04-25-22, 08:56 PM
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Yeah, it’s called a “girlfriend” or “wife” for most of us, and “mom” or “dad” for the rest.
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Old 04-25-22, 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 50PlusCycling
Yeah, it’s called a “girlfriend” or “wife” for most of us, and “mom” or “dad” for the rest.
not if that wife is on the back of the tandem. my daughter cant haul it and she is working. so I need another solution.
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Old 04-26-22, 05:48 AM
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Originally Posted by 50PlusCycling
Yeah, it’s called a “girlfriend” or “wife” for most of us, and “mom” or “dad” for the rest.
Lots of people have none of those things.
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Old 04-26-22, 06:03 AM
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Originally Posted by fooferdoggie
for my regular bike the bus works but for our tandem nope.
For a tandem recovery you might be better looking for a local "man with van"* or courier company, because almost nothing else will have the space for one.

*I don't know if the "man with van" is a uniquely British thing or not, so I'll explain. It's basically like a cross between a handyman and a van rental; you hire the man for a few hours and he brings along a van, will load it and take it to where you want it. It's normally used for trash runs, delivering bulk items and so on. They are often available on fairly short notice and they'd be able to tell you over the phone if the van is long enough for a tandem or not.
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Old 04-26-22, 06:15 AM
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AAA says they do, but the one time we called they had no idea how to handle it. They wanted to send someone from 3 hours away. So we rode back to the start and drove back to pick up our stranded friend.
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Old 04-26-22, 07:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Herzlos
For a tandem recovery you might be better looking for a local "man with van"* or courier company, because almost nothing else will have the space for one.

*I don't know if the "man with van" is a uniquely British thing or not, so I'll explain. It's basically like a cross between a handyman and a van rental; you hire the man for a few hours and he brings along a van, will load it and take it to where you want it. It's normally used for trash runs, delivering bulk items and so on. They are often available on fairly short notice and they'd be able to tell you over the phone if the van is long enough for a tandem or not.
that would be cool to be able to get out father then we can ride and return.
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Old 04-26-22, 07:57 AM
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Uber to the local Uhaul/Penske/Lowes/Home Depot for a $19.95 2 hour rental.

Spare key stashed somewhere on the vehicle you use to haul the tandem. You can call someone to come pick you up with it.

Last edited by seypat; 04-26-22 at 08:01 AM.
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Old 04-26-22, 11:10 AM
  #22  
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In Japan I was helped by a mobile bike repair, a van with tools and parts. It was a bit of a happy coincidence, as it was called by somebody else. As I saw the van and repair done on a bike, I asked whether I could be helped too. It was more pricey than at a regular shop, but not by a lot.
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Old 04-28-22, 09:53 AM
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Sounds like SAG support - a restatement and extension.

SAG because those people know what it's like. They have some of the tools and know-how. They have a certain love for the sport. Oh, and they're old.

Besides, they will always have that ice cold drink and fresh fruit.
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Old 04-28-22, 11:13 AM
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I live in a rural area, so for me "roadside assistance" means whatever tools & supplies you can carry with you. If I had to wait on someone coming to me to fix my bike I'd be waiting for hours.
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Old 04-28-22, 04:27 PM
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Uber is free until you use it. Kinda of a pay as you go service
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