Just seen Cedric Gracia’s near life ending crash, didn’t look like a biggie. But he broke his pelvis and severed a main artery (can’t remember what it’s called) in his groin, which can cause you to bleed out in minutes. A bar , brake lever or branch in the groin could do the same thing. He was very lucky, is very fit ( and new what to do, what was happening) and emergency services were easily contacted by race staff by radio. Who knows of devices where you can get in touch with emergency services when no phone coverage is present? I know you can get devices that will send a distress signal out, but in an instance like this without direct contact/specific message to whoever your toast. Surely there must be some other option to a satellite phone. I hope

Spot tracker will transmit a SOS to the emergency services along with your location.

I know but it will only send an SOS, it won’t give any details of the emergency and won’t allow you to communicate with them, what will allow communication?

Satellite phone only. On a cost vs probability basis, how many could justify it?

What Scott said

Spot Connect paired with your mobile will send a short text message.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distress_radiobeacon
In Australia the EPIRB is used, I think it depends what frequencies the local Search and Rescue listen on in some ways.

If you didn’t know you can register your phone so you can text to 999.

This might save you where there is a very poor phone signal which is no good for making a call.

Look up an app called echo 112 .. its a free app which sends your location to local emergency services

I misread this as black country sos…. you probably would need emergency help if you ever found yourself in dudley. 😕

You’ve got to be conscious to operate a transmitter. Surely someone could build a device that senses big impacts then gives you a minute to deactivate it before it sends out an SOS with your locaton?

http://www.emergencysms.org.uk/

C

Carry an oldSamsung or Nokia brick sim-free.

Seriously OP if you knocked yourself out (more likely) you’d be waiting to come round anyway. If with others you’d be seeking a signal.

What next flares?
Pack an old phone.

Just ride.

Surely someone could build a device that senses big impacts then gives you a minute to deactivate it before it sends out an SOS with your locaton?

What, like this?
Icedot

The OP is looking for something that works where there is no phone/SMS signal.

ARCC at Kinloss used to see EPIRBs going off all over the world pretty much…..not sure what the score is now Nimrods are gone

In CG’s case, without immediate help from riding buddies, i’d suggest he could have been dead in 5mins max. No amount of calling in the cavalry is going to help in that case………..

Realistically, i think you have to accept the (small)risk, that a situation might occur that you cannot mitigate, whatever you do.

Take the usual precautions, take a charged mobile, tell people where you are going and when you’ll be back, pack sensible first aid/survival items (to depend on where you are riding etc).

Beyond that, just enjoy your ride!