Emergency help?

Vivian said:

I was wondering if anyone knows about an emergency service
like the AA and/or RAC, but for cyclists. I live in London
and cycle to Canary Wharf to work.

I believe there are some operating in London. Hopefully
someone will post details.

Quoted message said:

Even though I do carry tools and know how to change a tube
and mend a puncture, I have no idea how to mend a chain, a
spoke, etc.

For the cost of the breakdown service, I bet you could buy a
maintenance manual and a 2nd-hand bike to practice on. Then
if it ever does break down, you'll probabaly get your
commuter fixed up and on its way faster than waiting about
for somone to turn up and do it for you.

~PB

On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 20:49:38 +0100, "Vivian" <[email hidden]>

wrote in message : said:

I was wondering if anyone knows about an emergency service
like the AA and/or RAC, but for cyclists.

The Environmental Transport Association used to do one,
not sure if they still do. And there's a bloke in York
who regularly makes the pages of VeloVision. What do you
mean you don't get VeloVision? I don't know, apathetic
bloody planet...

--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after
posting. chapmancentral.co.ukchapmancentral.co.ukOpen ↗

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at
Washington University

Just zis Guy said:

The Environmental Transport Association used to do one,
not sure if they still do.

The copy of Bristol Cyclist that I have in front of me
contains a note reading: "Please also note that the BCC
[Bristol Cycling Campaign] is affiliated to the
Environmental Transport Association (ETA), who have been
described as the "green AA". If you join the ETA using the
numbers given in the current newsletter, the BCC gets £5,
and you get half price membership. If you have a car please
consider using them."

That last sentence makes me think they may only do cars now,
and eta.co.uketa.co.ukOpen ↗ doesn't seem to mention any cycle
services other than insurance. Might still be worth asking,
though, even if just to register an interest.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
speedy5.freeserve.co.ukdannyOpen ↗
Why I like OE6 - speedy5.freeserve.co.ukoe6.htmlOpen ↗
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

Vivian said:

I was wondering if anyone knows about an emergency service
like the AA and/or RAC, but for cyclists. I live in London
and cycle to Canary Wharf to work. Even though I do carry
tools and know how to change a tube and mend a puncture, I
have no idea how to mend a chain, a spoke, etc.

I'm pretty sure there was something about this in the bumf I
got from the CTC when I joined. I distinctly remember it
saying "excluding punctures". Might be worth looking at the
CTC website.

--
Keith Willoughby flat222.orgkeithOpen ↗ "Most of my
heroes don't appear on a stamp"

Vivian said:

I was wondering if anyone knows about an emergency service
like the AA and/or RAC, but for cyclists. I live in London
and cycle to Canary Wharf to work.

I London, hail a black cab. They will take a bicycle. I've
taken a bike in a black cab myself. I beleive they can
refuse if the bike or you are dirty.

Even though I do carry tools and know how to change a tube
and mend a

Quoted message said:

puncture, I have no idea how to mend a chain, a
spoke, etc.

Look on Gooogle for the maintenance workshops run by Tower
Hamlets Wheelers or Greenwich cyclists.

ps. sorry if this appears twice - first reply fell down a
black hole somewhere

Danny Colyer said:

That last sentence makes me think they may only do cars
now, and eta.co.uketa.co.ukOpen ↗ doesn't seem to mention any
cycle services other than insurance. Might still be worth
asking, though, even if just to register an interest.

Well, we're still paying for their cycle breakdown service,
so they'd better still be doing it! :-)

Note though, that you have to be five miles from home in
order to call them out.

--
Carol "I was just being a little teapot. It's a bad
habit of mine"
- Wyvern, Randall & Hopkirk
(Deceased).

"Vivian" <[email hidden]> writed in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I was wondering if anyone knows about an emergency service
like the AA and/or RAC, but for cyclists. I live in London
and cycle to Canary Wharf to work. Even though I do carry
tools and know how to change a tube and mend a puncture, I
have no idea how to mend a chain, a spoke, etc.

Vivian
-------

Welcome to the group
- consider the cost of 'breakdown cover' against the
possibility of this happening, and your options if it did.

I've been cycling on and off (mostly on) for 30 years, I've
had goodness knows how many punctures (which I no longer
mend at the roadside - I change the tube, and repair later);
I've had one broken chain; never broken a spoke (which
probably wouldn't render the bike unridable anyway); As far
as I can remember I have once suffered a fractured rear hub
axle (Sturmey Archer 5-StAr: known issue); and once had a
seized pedal bearing (sand). I've had 3 'collisions' with
motor vehicles (and never once hit my head....)

As you are commuting in London, you probably have the option
of getting yourself and your bike home or to the LBS (local
bike shop) by black cab, or other public transport, or even
pushing it.

So weighing up the options - I would suggest that learn to
maintain your own bike (?local classes or local cycling
club) and keep a few quid in pocket for emergencies (You'll
probably never need it).

Mike - Leicester

"Mike Gayler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Vivian" <[email hidden]> writed in -"]news:[email hidden]-
net.net:

Change the tube, don't repair it, I carry 3 and i bin the
punctured tubes, if you buy a multi-pack they come at 2.50
each. Buy Bontrager kevlar tyres. Won't avoid pinch
punctures though.

Always carry a mobile, to call the police, or to call a cab
if you can't repair at roadside.

Nick

?????

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 20:22:16 +0100, in
<[email hidden]>, "Nick"

Quoted message said:

"Mike Gayler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Vivian" <[email hidden]> writed in -"]news:[email hidden]-
net.net:

Change the tube, don't repair it, I carry 3 and i bin the
punctured tubes, if you buy a multi-pack they come at
2.50 each.

But at what cost to the environment?

Not being facetious here, but is binning tubes better for
the environment that using a solvent-containing rubber glue?

Love and S-S bonds from Rich x

--
When one is on a bicycle, all roads lead to roam.
www.artybee.net (same [censored], different layout)

"Richard Bates" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Not being facetious here, but is binning tubes better
for the environment that using a solvent-containing
rubber glue?

Love and S-S bonds from Rich x

If you accidentaly stick one of the patches to yourself, do
you start growing pointy ears?

cheers, clive

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 21:34:25 +0100, in
<[email hidden]>, "Clive George"

Quoted message said:

"Richard Bates" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Not being facetious here, but is binning tubes better
for the environment that using a solvent-containing
rubber glue?

Love and S-S bonds from Rich x

If you accidentaly stick one of the patches to yourself, do
you start growing pointy ears?

No, but it's a good way to stop smoking...

--
When one is on a bicycle, all roads lead to roam.
www.artybee.net (same [censored], different layout)

Well, I managed to repair a tube using patches, but it only
lasted from Elephant and Castle to Stockwell (where I live).
Next morning I got up to find a flat tyre!! No extra tube,
had to wait for the weekend to go to the shops and buy one.

Vivian
-------
"We learned more from a three minute record than we ever
learned in school". No Surrender

"Richard Bates" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

But at what cost to the environment?

Not being facetious here, but is binning tubes better
for the environment that using a solvent-containing
rubber glue?

Love and S-S bonds from Rich x

Clive George said:

If you accidentaly stick one of the patches to yourself,
do you start growing pointy ears?

No, because patches don't actually vulcanise. Press patched
ear against a heated non-stick frying pan and patch can be
peeled off. Same with inner tubes.

~PB

Pete Biggs said:

No, because patches don't actually vulcanise. Press
patched ear against a heated non-stick frying pan and
patch can be peeled off. Same with inner tubes.

Probably the ear can be peeled off too, especially if you
make a habit of
it...

--

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
bhpc.org.ukbhpc.org.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================

"Vivian" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Well, I managed to repair a tube using patches, but it
only lasted from Elephant and Castle to Stockwell (where I
live). Next morning I got up to find a flat tyre!! No
extra tube, had to wait for the weekend to go to the shops
and buy one.

You should have had another go at it. It's possible that you
didn't let the cement dry enough before applying the patch,
or maybe you didn't roughen the tube enough before putting
the cement on. It's also possible you had a second leak.
It's much harder to make a good job of it at the roadside
than in the comfort of your own home. The winning strategy
is to buy the spare tube in advance and carry it with you.
Then when you get a puncture all you have to do is change it
and repair it when you get home. If you have about half a
dozen spares you can save them up to repair in a batch.

--
Dave...

[email hidden] (Dave Kahn)typed

Quoted message said:

You should have had another go at it. It's possible that
you didn't let the cement dry enough before applying the
patch, or maybe you didn't roughen the tube enough before
putting the cement on. It's also possible you had a second
leak. It's much harder to make a good job of it at the
roadside than in the comfort of your own home. The winning
strategy is to buy the spare tube in advance and carry it
with you. Then when you get a puncture all you have to do
is change it and repair it when you get home. If you have
about half a dozen spares you can save them up to repair
in a batch.

Do this somewhere warm and dry, where you have access to
running water and unlimited tea. Tune in to your favourite
radio station.

Take your time. Make sure you really roughen the area around
the puncture. Apply a thin layer of runny rubber solution[1]
and allow it to dry. Apply another layer of rubber solution
and let it dry. Take foil off patch and apply patch to
puncture. Scratch patch on till paper starts separating,
then peel off paper carefully, preferably from the centre of
patch, outwards.

Inflate repaired tube underwater to check for another
puncture. Hang tube up to dry Fold tube carefully

Check all stored inner tubes for holes annually as these can
arise behind your back!

[1] If it's not runny, you've probably kept the tube too
long after breaking its seal.

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden] Edgware.

"Helen Deborah Vecht" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Dave Kahn)typed

Quoted message said:

Do this somewhere warm and dry, where you have access to
running water and unlimited tea. Tune in to your favourite
radio station.

The patches that I have have glue in them already. I don't
think they are designed to last, just to get you out of an
emergency. As for radio station....I'm very disapointed at
the radio stations in this country, but that's another
matter... and another newsgroup I suppose!!

Thanks to all of you for the information and suggestions.

Vivian
-------
"We learned more from a three minute record than we ever
learned in school". No Surrender

On Thu, 22 Apr 2004 00:01:57 +0100, in
<[email hidden]>, "Vivian" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Helen Deborah Vecht" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Dave Kahn)typed

Quoted message said:

Do this somewhere warm and dry, where you have access to
running water and unlimited tea. Tune in to your
favourite radio station.

The patches that I have have glue in them already. I don't
think they are designed to last, just to get you out of an
emergency. As for radio station....I'm very disapointed at
the radio stations in this country, but that's another
matter... and another newsgroup I suppose!!

Remember that not all pre-glued patches are suitable for
high pressure inflation. Leeches are an example of MTB-
only design.

I'm told that Park patches are great for high pressure
tyres. I have a small pack of them but have not yet needed
to use them.

Love and glue from Rich x

--
When one is on a bicycle, all roads lead to roam.
www.artybee.net (same [censored], different layout)

Richard Bates said:

I'm told that Park patches are great for high pressure
tyres. I have a small pack of them but have not yet needed
to use them.

I've stopped using them because I've only ever had bad
experiences with them. IME they're prone to blistering and
the adhesion isn't good.
--
Michael MacClancy Random putdown - "He loves nature in spite
of what it did to him." - Forrest Tucker
www.macclancy.demon.co.uk www.macclancy.co.uk