Bicycle tires

Martiansky · Post by **Martiansky** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 1:19 pm

Skinny tires will tear it up more then a wider tire though, right? No matter what tread pattern?

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 1:27 pm

They're going to dig down into the playa, yeah.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 1:35 pm

Thanks for the tire info. Bigger is better. And always get the best rubber you can afford. 8)

Look on eBay for a bike - like Harold Smith (remember Harold's Club in Reno??) said, "Don't spend more than what you're willing to lose". Got a new one for $50 (never ridden, sat around for years, coming soon to a Playa near you) for my partner, and another for me which needed help for $20 (nothing major, about 10 bucks in parts and maybe the new tires and a lot of TLC).

Don't forget lights - you don't wanna get plowed by an art car or other bike or something. I don't count stuff like that - that's "art", not bike, even tho it goes on the bike. And think about a lock - yeah, yeah, it's sad and all that crap, but it's the cost of being a real (if temporary) city, not an outpost town...- because the last thing you want to do is have to walk across town because someone "borrowed" it. Even a padlock through the spokes or a cable thru the frame will make someone think twice...

Then again, maybe walking through town, at least once, would be cool. Got legs??

Martiansky · Post by **Martiansky** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 1:36 pm

I suppose if you did have a deep tire tread, riding around on the street (tar/cement) will wear down the tread depth a bit before going to the playa.
I think I'm going to buy a cheap new bike at a well known kids toy store for about $65 to take out there. It has wide tires on it. Not bringing one of my better bikes.

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 1:43 pm

That's pretty much what I've got. In fact, I'ave got twice as much money invested in blinky and glowy things and a really good headlight as I have in my bike. Two metres of EL wire, four HokeySpokes, a good halogen headlight, and a behind the seat rack.

Oh, yeah. You'll want a basket or rack for the bike. I used a mailbox my first year.

Martiansky · Post by **Martiansky** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 1:47 pm

How well do you think one of those little bike trailers would work? I've got a Burley trailer.
That mailbox idea is good. (Pics?) *wink*

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 2:38 pm

Don't know that I have any pics. There were some problems with it, like anything heavy would make it hard to steer, but that applies to any handlebar basket. An advantage of the mailbox is that you can lock it. I've seen bike trailers of various kinds in use, and they seem to work pretty well. Just be careful riding through crowds later in the week..it's pretty crazy around center camp on friday night, for instance.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 2:39 pm

Trailers... Hmm...

How's your bike's gearing? You could almost do a trailer train (no almost - could be done) going from your trailer to one of those green costco 4 wheel haul alls to a Red ryder wagon... with a red kerosene lantern on the back.

The Playa is big... think bigger!

swampdog · Post by **swampdog** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 2:39 pm

Last year I got a cruiser style bike from a major department store for under $100, worked fine. There's a pawn shop near here that often has bikes parked out front, that's where I'll check this year for a bike for a BM virgin friend.

Martiansky · Post by **Martiansky** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 4:06 pm

So, you suggest a multi speed bike with fat tires to be about the best type for the playa?

dougaldutch · Post by **dougaldutch** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 4:44 am

As part of our camp we had a bike pool (not going to get into THAT idea), anyway it meant that I did get a chance to experience a variety of different bikes.

Having gears was a plus but was a just something that could go wrong and with no hills on the playa felt they weren't essential. Towing of course would be a different kettle of fish.

The best bike for me was little BMX, it was small (easy to park and a deterant to those lanky bike thiefs, sorry confused/mistaken burners), colorful (increased visibility) and had wide tyres (so good handling). You soon got used to cycling with your knees by your chin as well and developed a more laid back style and pace.

The least favoured bikes were racer/ mountain bikes, the ones with skinnier tyres, handle OK on main trackways, but on open playa they just dug in and too sharp a turn it was over handlebars, gonad crunching time.
Admittedly part of the problem was ythe lack of upkeep on our bikes, the simpler the bike design the longer it lasted.

Will definitely be shopping in the kids section when I get over, couple of feet of el-wire and should be good to go.

DougalD

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 5:13 am

Bay Bridge Sue wrote:Trailers... Hmm...

How's your bike's gearing? You could almost do a trailer train (no almost - could be done) going from your trailer to one of those green costco 4 wheel haul alls to a Red ryder wagon... with a red kerosene lantern on the back.

The Playa is big... think bigger!

You can do it, I've even tried it, it is kinda' cool, but you'll get quite the workout trying to get anywhere...

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:00 am

I'm working on the prototype for Lazy Wheels, a set of pneumatic tires mounted on an expanding armature stolen from a golfbag carrier....they mount above the rear wheel of my playacruiser bike, and can be quickly deployed as training wheels for stable, slothful cruising. I'm not completely convinced that this project is silly and pointless enough to continue, though.

synchronicity · Post by **synchronicity** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 6:38 pm

Spotted today at the "Mart". A suitable one speed cruiser. $58.00.
Looked a lot like my stripped down Schwinn from the early 60's.
The less I spend on the bike, the more I can spend on the mods.
Not to mention if new, might make the week without malfunctions.
The airless tires seem like the stuff, one less thing to go wrong.

hunter S · Post by **hunter S** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 11:40 am

I found over the past, re-cycled bikes are easy to find for $5. - $10 at thrift type locals & yard sales. I had my bike go exsploring with out me for the first time last year. good news it provided early AM adventure and was foud on plya :lol: this year bringing multible bikes !!

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 5:18 pm

Just got my amerityres for the yellow velo... unlike what I imagined they went on really easy (didn't even need their tool - gotta find a use for it now), and the bike rides really well with them on. They are a bit harder than normal mountain tires, but softer than my road bike's 105 PSI roundrocks.

Now for a set for The Purple Passion, (too bad they don't make them in other colors) and maybe for the roadie as well.

Still working on wire and lights and reflective stuff... not like the darn thing doesn;'t stand out already like a yellow highlighter (yeah, it's *that* yellow)... but... well... you know.

Oops - it's Maker's time. C'ya!

BBS

Bicycle tires

me too

cruzin on it's own