How do you make sure you get home?

[Quiet man]

Ok, so after 15years of doing very little I'm getting back on my bike (Saracen Fastrax). Took it into Halfords for a service and they replaced both gear cables. Anyway, first time out and gears didn't appear to be changing properly so I decided to cut the trip short (plus two guys 10 years older passed me on a climb and said good morning, I didn't have the breath to respond). Two minutes later when I tried to change gear the chain snapped. Halfords are re-servicing the bike and replacing the chain FOC. It occurred to me that should I experience a similar breakdown 10 miles from home I'd be buggered.
So, the question is how do you experienced cyclers make sure you get home if things go pear shaped.

 

[Nearly there]

Good advert for Halfords servicing

 

[Quiet man]

Good advert for Halfords servicing

Ok, but things can go wrong in the best of circumstances, the real measure of any company is what they do to put things right. I guess we will see. Remember you never really know how good any company is until something goes wrong and you get a chance to see how they respond.

 

[BrumJim]

Option 1: Walk to the nearest train station, and catch the train.
Option 2: Call wife and get her to pick you up in the car.
Option 3: ETA do call-out as part of their insurance
Option 4: Use your smart phone or your exellent pre-ride planning to contact the nearest bike shop and see if they can rescue you.
Option 5: Stand by the side of the road looking pathetic until someone stops to help.

 

[daSmirnov]

The best way is to give your bike a good going over fairly frequently, its much better to spot a potential problem before hitting the road.

Next up is to bring tools out with you. Tubes, allen keys, screw drivers, chain tool, tweezers and spare links, could even bring a roll of cable. That way most minor things can be fixed road side.

Finally, train stations are your friend.

 

[Nearly there]

Option 1:
Option 2: Call wife and get her to pick you up in the car.
Option 5: Stand by the side of the road looking pathetic until someone stops to help.

Probably what i'd do

 

[HovR]

Regular preventative maintenance. If you can't do it yourself, your LBS can. A lot of Halford's branches have bike mechanics of questionable skill levels - Be warned!

 

[Herzog]

So, the question is how do you experienced cyclers make sure you get home if things go pear shaped.

Buy some KMC quicklinks and a decent multitool and learn how to use them. Understanding how a bicycle works allows you to understand how to both prevent, and fix, problems. And you'll save a shed load of cash by not going to Halfords every time the gears need adjusting.

 

[PaulSecteur]

For p*unctures I carry 2 tubes and a reapir kit,tyre levers, plus a pump.

I also have a chain tool and some sram (or KMC from decathlon) quick links, and a multi tool.

Should a brake cable snap I would have to contiue at a slower pace using one brake. If a gear cable snaps I would have to make do with just the rear or front mech. A pain, but can be done. I have a multi-tool and a set of allen keys too for running repairs. In a sealed bag taped unside my seatpost is some get me home cash.

Anything that cant be fixed with that results in a phone call that start like...

"Dad... Are you doing anything important right now...?"

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

New list

1. Never go to hellfrauds
2. Go on a cycle maintenance course - best £45 I ever spent at Edinburgh Cycle
3. Carry a basic toolkit with you in seat bag

Anyway- that's my take

 

[totallyfixed]

How do you make sure you get home?

Lose the gears

 

[numbnuts]

Some people laugh but I carry all this

1 P*ncture repair kit
1 allan keys
1 set of tyre levers + 2 spare
3 inner tubes
Folding tyre
Tyre patches
1 small head torch in winter
marigold gloves
Small length of chain (3 inches)
1 small chain tool
Cassette tool and chain whip
Spare spokes
Kevlar spoke
hypercracker
Spare nuts, bolts, powerlinks
Wire cutters
Pliers
2 small screw drivers
Small sockets to fit screw driver handle
First aid kit with triangular bandage paracetamol, co-codamol, gaviscon tablets
Batteries for rear light and computer and bulbs
Small tyre pump (not mini)
1 Co2 pump
Zip ties
spare keys for house, bike locks
Phone
Pen and paper
10 sheets of kitchen roll
Very small bottle of hand cleaner
Insulation tape
£5 in small change
Small roll of gaffer tape
Brake and gear cables
Spare bite valve for camalbac
Small roll string
Spare gloves

 

[totallyfixed]

Some people laugh but I carry all this

1 P*ncture repair kit
1 allan keys
1 set of tyre levers + 2 spare
3 inner tubes
Folding tyre
Tyre patches
1 small head torch in winter
marigold gloves
Small length of chain (3 inches)
1 small chain tool
Cassette tool and chain whip
Spare spokes
Kevlar spoke
hypercracker
Spare nuts, bolts, powerlinks
Wire cutters
Pliers
2 small screw drivers
Small sockets to fit screw driver handle
First aid kit with triangular bandage paracetamol, co-codamol, gaviscon tablets
Batteries for rear light and computer and bulbs
Small tyre pump (not mini)
1 Co2 pump
Zip ties
spare keys for house, bike locks
Phone
Pen and paper
10 sheets of kitchen roll
Very small bottle of hand cleaner
Insulation tape
£5 in small change
Small roll of gaffer tape
Brake and gear cables
Spare bite valve for camalbac
Small roll string
Spare gloves

 

[jdtate101]

In my tool kit:

2 spare tubes
Small rubber "boot" cut from a disused tube incase of tyre wall rips
puncture repair kit (patches and glue)
multitool that includes chain breaker and tyre levers
2 spare chain links
Emergency £20 note

Plus I always go out with both my mobile phone and a bank card in a sealed plastic bag in one rear jersey pocket.

 

[Rob500]

In my tool kit:
Small rubber "boot" cut from a disused tube incase of tyre wall rips

Hi jdtate101.
Could you explain the way in which you go about using/attaching a rubber "boot" if ever unfortunate enough to need one?