Breakdown Cover JOGLE Mobile Repair ???

[Mike777]

Hi all

Has anyone had experience of any mobile breakdown repair service on thier E2E....

Wondered if it's worth it....I am ok with most things but my main worry is breaking a spoke with the weight I am carrying then having to find a bike shop which can repair. Having booked all my accommadation in advance can't afford to fall behind.....

Any comments or recommendations...

Many thanks for your time

Regards

Mike

[meic]

If you are really worried about that, the only way to cope is to learn how to do an emergency repair.
You could try and make it less likely by carrying less* or stronger wheels.


*which contradicts carrying tools and spares for all eventualities no matter how unlikely.

With the lack of cyclists in the Kingdom you are not going to get support within a reasonable distance of you outside of cities, where you could push the bike to a shop anyway.

Better to cope with any emergencies yourself by asking strangers for help, buses, taxis etc.

[vernon]

The breaking of a spoke is not a catastrophe. It's normally possible to soldier on until you get somewhere with a bike shop.

If you are popping spokes perhaps it's time to get your rear wheel re-laced with new spokes.

If you are still paranoid about breakages, learn how to remove the rear cassette - thats the side where breakages happen most frequently and how to replace and true your wheels.

I have had the following problems while cycle touring:

Spokes loosening - a bike shop re-tensioned the spokes and trued the wheel for me in Shrewsbury. (LEJOG ride)

Rear drop out fractured at 6:30 on a Friday evening in Chorley - fracture brazed and back on the road by 8:30 same evening courtesy of Bill Nickson cycles and George Brown a fellow cyclist who came to my assistance (same LEJOG ride)

Spokes pulling through the rim - new wheel purchased from a bike shop in Dumfries. Ferried to the bike shop by campsite owner near Sanquar (JOGLE ride)

Spokes pulling through the rim in Dijon, France - ferried to a Decathlon by a fellow camper to purchase a replacement wheel. (Channel to the Med ride)

Bottom braket failure - replaced by a Decathlon technician in Nevers (Eurovelo six route)

I never lost more than a couple of hours per incident.

[robgul]

As suggested a broken spoke need not be the end of the world - especially if the wheels are of reasonable build quality - have a look at http://www.cycle-endtoend.org.uk/index. ... Itemid=103 for an interesting solution to the problem (I have one but have yet to have to try it out)

.... and of course "... the weight ... " is perhaps a good point to start and reconsider your luggage : usual rules apply - lay out all the stuff you think you need and then put 50% of it away and don't take it with you ... in dire emergencies there are places called "shops" where you can acquire most things

To address the question about "breakdown cover" - Scotrail has a deal with ETA for some sort of service but it seems to just get you to a station .. and on experience with ETA I wouldn't hold my breath on it working.

Rob

[Big T]

It's only in the far north of Scotland that you are likely to be far from a bike shop. You can carry the tools to mend a wheel and the only other thing that will really stop you is if your frame breaks. You can fix most other things by the roadside or get a lift to the nearest shop to sort it out.

Carry spare spokes, chain links, tyre boot (cut from an old tyre), or spare folding tyre, zip ties, insulating tape, spare tubes and a puncture repair kit, multi tool, chain tool and spoke key.

[Mike777]

Hi all

Thanks for the advice............

I am not comfident about replacing spokes so is such cases I will just have to divert.

My back wheel is a up graded strong one so it will hopefully be ok !

Question I have is what is a tyre boot (cut from old tyre) see post 4 used for ???

Many thanks

mike

[Big T]

A tyre boot (which is just a few inches of old tyre with the bead cut off) can be placed inside a badly cut or split tyre when replacing the tube and will enable you to carry on until you can replace the tyre.

There is no dark art to replacing spokes. You just unscrew the old spoke, put in the replacement, tighten it up so that when you pluck it, it makes the same note as its neighbours and you'll find that your wheel will usually be true enough to ride. The only complication is if the broken spoke is on the drive side of the rear wheel. Then you have to remove the cassette to replace the spoke. You can carry the tools to do this but they are quite big (chain whip, cassette tool and large spanner).

[vernon]

You can carry the tools to do this but they are quite big (chain whip, cassette tool and large spanner).

Not necessarily true. The Next Best Thing (NBT) sold by Spa Cycles is a small tool that would easily fit in a pocket unobtrusively.

[Big T]

Yes, I've heard of the mythical "cassette cracker" but never seen one in the flesh, or used one.

[vernon]

Yes, I've heard of the mythical "cassette cracker" but never seen one in the flesh, or used one.

They are not mythical. They are very real.

The Pamir hypercracker is the stuff of legend by the NBT2 is very much of this world and works well.

[meic]

Except for those people with aluminium or carbon fibre bikes?