Playa Bikes in Gerlach

[alexcaste]

I have heard from some people that you are able to buy or rent playa ready (decorated and illuminated) bikes. Does anyone know if this is true and if so how much does it cost to buy or rent?

[FossaFerox]

Would.Not.Recommend. We had a bike repair camp between our camp and our favorite bar and the stories those guys would tell about the "playa ready" bikes for sale in Empire/Gerlach were funny when they weren't tragic.

Plus, remember that there isn't exactly a WalMart out there. you have no guarantee of finding anything at all, nevermind finding something that's in a state of good repair (super unlikely), lit and decorated at all (very unlikely) never mind lit and decorated to your tastes (incredibly unlikely) or finding something that isn't being sold for four to five time what it's worth (outright impossible).

[BBadger]

Pre-decorated bikes... now that's something I haven't heard of before. I guess it's better than the bikes not being illuminated though.

[Sham]

I have seen some bikes in Gerlach, but I really would depend on that for your bike for the week. There is only a limited number of them, and quality is a concern. If you get a dud, you are stuck with it, since you really can't leave the event to exchange.
Radical self reliance. Bring your own bike and light it up.

[Elliot]

I also do bicycle repair on Playa, and I have one thing to say about "roadside bikes": NOOOOO!!!!!

[Elliot]

And I think Sham means that he ...would NOT depend on... such a bike. (Typing in the middle of the night, words sometimes get lost in the dark.)

[Frizzboom]

At the "Playa Ready Monkey Hut Store"

[unjonharley]

Maybe we should not be bad mouthing Gelach bikes..

They could have good intentions.. WE do not need to have bad feeling with our neighbors..

[FossaFerox]

Except it isn't our neighbors. It's people who come in and set up shop on the side of the road. They're fly-by-night operations that rip people off with no roots to any community, let alone Gerlach.

[unjonharley]

Except it isn't our neighbors. It's people who come in and set up shop on the side of the road. They're fly-by-night operations that rip people off with no roots to any community, let alone Gerlach.

On what authority are you making this statement?

[GreyCoyote]

What?? Fossa now needs AUTHORITY to HAVE an opinion?

I dont think so, Unjohn. He can have any fucking opinion he wants. Same as you. Me. Anyone. And I for one happen to agree with it. Based on what I have seen. My AUTHORITY is my personal opinion. Do I need more?

Unless someone died and left you in charge, with or without "AUTHORITY", Fossa can have an opinion.

[unjonharley]

What?? Fossa now needs AUTHORITY to HAVE an opinion?

I dont think so, Unjohn. He can have any fucking opinion he wants. Same as you. Me. Anyone. And I for one happen to agree with it. Based on what I have seen. My AUTHORITY is my personal opinion. Do I need more?

Unless someone died and left you in charge, with or without "AUTHORITY", Fossa can have an opinion.

That was not an opinion.. It was a statement.. And a knee jerk one at that.. Just like you horse shit. Now go play in the street..

[GreyCoyote]

Ah. There ya go. Now YOU have an opinion too!

I dont agree with it, but hey, I completely support your right to have one!

No AUTHORITY needed.

[Elliot]

...which goes down in history as The Battle of Gerlach.

[FossaFerox]

Unjon, the guy working at the gas station was bitching about them when we stopped to refuel our truck on the way into the city. I accepted his declaration that they're outsiders and charlatans as fact. I didn't ask him whose authority backed his statement, though. Maybe it flows forth from God, maybe the Crown, maybe Larry... I really should have asked.

How else would I ever be able to figure out that the guys working out of easy-up shade and rental trucks moving more bikes than Gerlach has residents were outsiders?

[unjonharley]

Well that is what I was asking you... The people of Gerlach are good folks..

I would not want to give them a bad name..

[Frizzboom]

Drop them in a lake if they float they are a witch, if the drown they are innocent.

[Canoe]

He used "Authority" in the sense of "Source". Too many "facts" thrown out without anything to back it up.

"Except it isn't our neighbors. It's people who come in and set up shop on the side of the road. They're fly-by-night operations that rip people off with no roots to any community, let alone Gerlach."
is very materially different when it doesn't include
"the guy working at the gas station was bitching about them when we stopped to refuel our truck on the way into the city. ... that they're outsiders and charlatans".

[trilobyte]

See the most recent Jack Rabbit Speaks newsletter for information about making bike rental arrangements. Do not do business with the dodgy place on the side of the road. As others have mentioned, more often than not they're scrounged from a previous event and sit out in the elements all year, with little to no maintenance or care given to make sure they'll be dependable rides.

The point of decorating your bike is to be creative and express yourself! The idea is to participate in the art and culture of Burning Man, not buy it.