On 2017-08-20 01:53, Ned Mantei wrote:
On 19-08-17 22:15, jbeattie wrote:
Wow, is the tow rope in the pannier pocket next to the heart-lung
machine, or is that in another pannier?


Underneath of the homemade Belgian Tripel that hitched a ride on Wednesday.


... I carry a full selection of
shop tools, derailleur hangers, spokes, rims and a friction-drive
motor, just in case the rider is tired or I can't completely repair
the
bike.https://www.electricbike.com/wp-cont...plerBike21.jpg
I used to bring a granite surface plate and gas torch for fixing and
truing steel frames, but most people are on aluminum or CF these days,
at least back on the super-gnarly trails where I ride.


Once when I came upon a stranded motorist and rolled out my tool kit he
was quite surprised. And we fixed his car.


Eckart Heinrich has a web page (in German) with tales of his bike tours.
In one case he was in the Italian part of Switzerland and wanted to go
from Val Calanca to Val Blenio. Along the way he had to lower his bike
down a drop using a rope. So yes, a rope can be useful.

I carry a couple of meters of light climbing rope, which weighs almost
nothing. If I get stranded and have to spend the night somewhere up on a
mountain meadow, the rope and the emergency blanket could make for a
shelter. Also useful in case something breaks and needs to be tied in
place. A couple of months ago on a dirt road in Sardinia I gave the rope
to a guy on a motorbike for this reason.


It is also really nice when picking up machine parts somewhere and the
box is bigger than anticipated. Or when a big package has to go to Fedex
but it's past the local pickup time.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/