W&OD Vending machines

[dbb]

@consularrider 155110 wrote:

No open bike shops (and not much of anything else) on Sunday in Germany at any time of the day.

Call Cannon!

[Sunyata]

@chuxtr 155112 wrote:

I know that sh*t happens and has happened to me (like snapping a chain more than 20 miles from home, but that was also probably my fault because the chain probably should’ve been replaced), but why is anyone riding a bike that they seem to be worried about breaking down and needing spare parts or a shop nearby? I mean, if you’re riding a properly maintained and cared for bike the odds are relatively small that you’re going to have something “major” happened. In my experience, whenever I’ve come across a cyclist who has had something go “terribly wrong” with their bike, more times than not it’s because of inattention to maintenance or replacing something that should’ve been replaced (like my chain). Not trying to be a d*ckhead, but really. If you take good care of your bike, it usually takes good care of you.

Said the person who has never had a stick kicked up in their drive train or a NEW chain break twice in one race.

Sh!t happens no matter how great of a bike maintenance freak you happen to be. Which is why I carry spare links, spare tubes, tools, etc. But sometimes something happens that no one can prepare for or fix trail side. Just ask vvill about his Veteran’s Day ride on his BRAND SPANKING NEW BIKE…

[rcannon100]

@chuxtr 155112 wrote:

I know that sh*t happens and has happened to me (like snapping a chain more than 20 miles from home, but that was also probably my fault because the chain probably should’ve been replaced), but why is anyone riding a bike that they seem to be worried about breaking down and needing spare parts or a shop nearby?

Tires flat. Chain jams. Spokes break.

I think there is the other spectrum from the one you are assuming. Some of us ride hard. Karen went out with her new fattie and fell over, bending the hanger. I ride the horse trails and have bent so many rims my LBS threatened to kill me (true story). People wipe out on the boardwalk at trollheim. Seat tubes slip and need to be adjusted. Toe cleats become unscrewed from use. Indeed, I would suggest that experience breeds the inclination to carry microtools and a tube. I find that Crown Royal makes excellent tool bags.

Come to the next cyclocross race. (or road race but they are WAY MORE boring). Assume that everyone there is a passionate cyclist that cares for their bike. And then count how many mechanicals take place.

[dbb]

@rcannon100 155118 wrote:

I find that Crown Royal makes excellent tool bags.

He says that because he likes the process of getting the bag empty.

[chuxtr]

sunyata and rcannon100:

Yes, I know sh*t happens. That’s why I started my post the way I did. And even admitted that it’s happened to me. And there will always be stuff you just can’t repair roadside. But, at a minimum, you ought to be able to replace/fix a flat. You shouldn’t need a vending machine (which is how this thread started) to be able to do that. And we’re talking about riding on the W&OD Trail, not a cyclocross race or off-roading. If you’re riding in mortal fear of your bike breaking down that while riding the bike trail and worried that you’re too far from the nearest bike shop, I’ll respectfully suggest that maybe you need to pay a little more attention to the condition of your bike and all its various parts. Does that mean you won’t encounter a problem? No. But it does significantly reduce the likelihood that you will.

But yes, the unexpected can still happen. Like my buddy who broke a spoke on our ride last weekend. But I’m not going to ride carrying spare spokes any more than I’m going to have spare derailleur/brake cables with me. Some stuff you just accept (or at least I accept) that I’m not going to be able to deal with if I’m not home with my workstand all all my tools.

That said, yes, you should be as prepared as possible while riding. Carry at least some basic stuff like a spare tube(s), patch kit, and some sort of mini/multi-tool. Maybe a spoke wrench. Maybe a chain tool. Just depends how much you want to lug around in a seat bag or jersey pocket. Personally, I lean towards being a minimalist but to each his/her own. When all else fails, there’s always your cell phone to call Uber or someone to come pick you up.

For the record, I’m a former (local) road racer and have done (team) RAAM, so I have a little bit of experience riding (hard) and taking care of my bike(s).

[ImaCynic]

One issue I see with bike parts vending is the item cost. Using similar vending machine markup, a tube would likely be in the $10-12 range. A light or multi tool would certainly be even more. These relatively high dollar items would likely be irresistible to vandals. Should security cameras be installed? Next is how one would pay for these? Cash? Not enough cash? How about credit card? Well, to handle credit card transactions, a POS terminal is required, now a phone line to the location is needed. What sort of revenue would be needed to justify these?

I personally can’t see needing anything from a vending machine that I can’t carry or have myself. Having a properly maintained bike, charged phone, sensibly stocked saddle bag, and some basic bike repair skills will cover just about anything one may run into on the trail…well, perhaps not “run into”, maybe “run over”.

As I’m sure WTOP commentator Chris Core would say if he’s a cyclist, “Being prepared when out riding is a Core value”

[chuxtr]

I’ll add that in all my years of racing, outside of races themselves almost all mechanicals that my teammates (as well as others) had while out on rides were because something wasn’t properly adjusted or was in need of replacement well before the ride. My broken chain being a case of the latter. Even though one my teammates pointed out to me the week before that maybe my chain needed replacing, I was just too lazy and said, “Nah! It’ll be OK.” NOT! And something I could’ve easily done myself. So instead of finishing the ride, I parked my bike in a snow bank and waited for the calvary to arrive. 😀

[rcannon100]

@chuxtr 155121 wrote:

That said, yes, you should be as prepared as possible while riding. Carry at least some basic stuff like a spare tube(s), patch kit, and some sort of mini/multi-tool. Maybe a spoke wrench. Maybe a chain tool. Just depends how much you want to lug around in a seat bag or jersey pocket. Personally, I lean towards being a minimalist but to each his/her own. When all else fails, there’s always your cell phone to call Uber or someone to come pick you up.

Sounds like we are arguing in violent agreement re the prudence of carrying. And thus, to the point of this thread, a vending machine along the trail would be of little use.

It also sounds like we are in agreement that there are cyclists out there that experience mechanicals – regardless of cause or fault. After all, in the immortal words of Rumsfeld, “We go cycling with the cyclists we have – not the cyclists we might want to have…”

I carry links, boot, patches, pump, tube, levers (because I rather a tube than a patch), chain breaker, microtool, and a microleatherman, and a spoke wrench. This all fits in a small crown royal bag. That has covered about all. More than that and you need a LBS.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]13776[/ATTACH]

Again, to the point of this thread, vending machines carry levers, tubes, patch kits, and power bars. They dont carry spare tires, spokes, hangers, pedals, cables….. A vending machine is not going to solve a problem that a properly equipped cyclist cant attend to.

Sooooo….. you going to be part of the solution and join Trail Patrol? After all, there are wayward cyclists on the trails at 7 am on a Sunday.

PS: So those guys on the Tour de France and world’s Cyclocross with mechanicals are all poseurs??

[SolarBikeCar]

i carry a first aid kit. Never used it and don’t expect to need it. Is is dead weight I should leave at home or is there a good chance I’ll find someone who will be glad I have it in the course of a say a couple hundred rides?

[chuxtr]

@rcannon100 155133 wrote:

I carry links, boot, patches, pump, tube, levers (because I rather a tube than a patch), chain breaker, microtool, and a microleatherman, and a spoke wrench. This all fits in a small crown royal bag. That has covered about all. More than that and you need a LBS.

Sooooo….. you going to be part of the solution and join Trail Patrol? After all, there are wayward cyclists on the trails at 7 am on a Sunday.

PS: So those guys on the Tour de France and world’s Cyclocross with mechanicals are all poseurs??

You are more prepared for the coming bicycle apocalypse than I am! I carry levers, spare tube, patch kit, CO2 cartridge(s), mini-pump, and mini-multitool. All except the mini-pump in what used to be a neoprene case for a portable hard drive. And everything in my center jersey pocket. I hate seat bags.

Hate to disappoint you, but I won’t be joining the Trail Patrol. That said, I always stop to ask if someone is OK and if they need a hand when I see a cyclist by the side of the path/road. More than happy to help anyone out if it’s within my capabilities.

And yes, all those TdF guys are poseurs. But seriously, out of 190 some odd riders in a 3 week long stage race, how many mechanicals other than flat tires do you see? Not many because their bikes are tuned every day. But they can still suffer mechanicals because sh*t happens. They also are a lot harder on their bikes than your average W&OD rider so the fact that they don’t have more mechanical issues is somewhat amazing. I would expect there to be more mechanicals in cyclocross simply because of the elements.

[DrP]

@SolarBikeCar 155144 wrote:

i carry a first aid kit. Never used it and don’t expect to need it. Is is dead weight I should leave at home or is there a good chance I’ll find someone who will be glad I have it in the course of a say a couple hundred rides?

Continue to take it with you – there is a chance you will find someone who needs it. A couple of years ago when biking, my biking buddy fell and got some really bad road rash – full of gravel too. Several people stopped to see if we needed anything, but until someone stopped with a first aid kit (small, but good enough) there wasn’t much for anyone to do – we had bike tools, water and phones. That first aid kit allowed us to bike back and not worry about infections or leaving a trail of blood.

Since then I have started carrying a small first aid kit on my weekend rides because that was neither the first nor most recent fall my friend has had. In fact, I have had to supply bandages about a year ago.

[Vicegrip]

@SolarBikeCar 155144 wrote:

i carry a first aid kit. Never used it and don’t expect to need it. Is is dead weight I should leave at home or is there a good chance I’ll find someone who will be glad I have it in the course of a say a couple hundred rides?

Given the odds of life most likely your first aid kit will be used on you.

[rcannon100]

Actual picture from Trail Patrol training:

And ironically, a picture from the first day of training:

That’s right. Always blame the mechanicals on the mechanics!

Do you think we could get these vending machines along the WOD?

[huskerdont]

@SolarBikeCar 155144 wrote:

i carry a first aid kit. Never used it and don’t expect to need it. Is is dead weight I should leave at home or is there a good chance I’ll find someone who will be glad I have it in the course of a say a couple hundred rides?

I don’t carry a full kit, but for the last few years, I have carried a roll of gauze. Takes up little space and adds little weight. Just wrap it around the road rash or cut to stop the bleeding and go, then clean and sanitize when at your destination. But if I were bikepacking, then a full kit would be in the pack.

[ursus]

I carry a cheap kit which I bought at a Safeway, I think that I have needed for myself twice and helped others a couple of times too.

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