Pondering whether to bring my nice bike

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:41 pm

I no longer have the crusty old mountain bike that accompanied me to the last 5 burns. I located a cheap used bike that looked good but later found out it was less than ideal. I'm wondering whether I should look for another one or bring my nice new $600 bike. It's ideal for the job in all ways other than how pissed I'd be if it got stolen or run over.

I could try to cover up all the fancy stickers advertising the brand names of the components and wrap the frame in fur but I fear it will still look too nice and shiny.

Have any of you taken a nice bike? Did it become too much of a worry or hassle? Did it get stolen or mangled in any way?

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:53 pm

I've taken two nice bikes to the event and my sister took one. Hers got stolen and the only reason it happened is because it wasn't decorated and it wasn't locked.

While I'm bringing a nicer bike this year (Decorated and with locks), I do know one thing. If it does vanish, don't even bother reporting it to a BRC Ranger. You'll get told to wait until Monday and (insert excuse here as to why) they won't bother helping you look for it. This is one area where radical self reliance is alive and well with an vengeance.

So for the original question...I say bring it.

Desert Duck · Post by **Desert Duck** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 6:19 pm

Dust is hell on components, but I usually spend a few hundred on whatever crazy bikes I'm bringing, so I guess I'll say-protect your stuff, bring what'll satisfy your requirements, clean everything as soon as you get back. For security, if you don't feel a lock is enough, then some fur will disguise what you're riding.

Ron · Post by **Ron** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 6:19 pm

I'm a little bit of a biking enthusiast (my bicycle was my only transportation for about six years) and do my own work on my bikes. For that reason, I don't bring my nice bikes to the playa. The dust is corrosive and I don't want to have to soak and clean every bit o' metal on the bike (chain, wires, de-railers, and so on) or watch 'em rot to pieces when I get home. I have got a playa clunker (my old warrior bike that's taken me all over) and after about four years of visiting BRC it is in wonderfully horrible shape.

So if you're energetic enough to do the needed cleaning to avoid playa rot, or if you don't care about it happening to your nice new bike, then bring it. Otherwise I'd leave it at home. But I'm lazy. :)

Ron

EB · Post by EB » Thu Jul 27, 2006 6:38 pm

I found a bike on Target's web site for $99.

http://tinyurl.com/pfyr9

I have two CostCo beater mountain bikes that'll be making their third trip to the playa this year. Since I bought them especially for the event, I have no emotional attachment and so later, post-event, when I'm in my garage and I see what the playa is doing to the chain, derailers, etc, it's with more of a detached scientific "holy-shit-that-playa-soil-is-some-fucked-up-shit" point of view.

My reaction would be WAAAAY different if these were my "real world" bikes.

That said, WD-40 is your friend.

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 7:35 pm

Louise's steering locked on the playa last year. The header (? - is that it?) had corroded inside the tube from however many years on the playa. We took it to the bike corral or whatever where they all wear orange or maybe just one guy did, and they took it apart, a bearing fell out, and it worked again.

I know the oustide stuff gets eaten up from the playa, but I'd never thought about stuff I thought was sealed inside the tubing.

Post by **mdmf007** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 8:48 pm

I brought a great GT Carbon fiber bike out last year. - Had to replace all the bearings and chain still that only cost 80 bucks. So the decision is yours.

Also Playa dust is like talcum powder it gets everywhere. This year I am bringing a walmart special and a 6 dollar chain and lock.

later

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:06 pm

Don't bring it since you can get a beater for cheap. I got one for $40 and then added $20 in stuff on it, which include a big ass seat so my big ass does not hurt. I would prefer it not get stolen, but if it does, I am out $80. Good news is that I don't have to haul it home if it gets stolen.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:01 pm

I bring my Bike-E recumbent. Sure, it means a couple hours of de-Playafication after the return to Defaultia, but it's comfortable. And decorated. I tried a beater bike one year and was miserable.

BTW, you can secure your bike without a bike rack by locking the back wheel to the frame with one of those U-shaped kryptonite bike locks. Can't really go anywhere with the drive-wheel immobilized and what's the point of pinching a bike you have to carry all over the place?

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:38 pm

I'm not too worried about the playa dust. The bike in question has a sealed gear box in the rear wheel so no deraileaur and I'm comfortable taking it apart for cleaning when I get home. There's very little steel on the thing anyway. Mostly I'm worried about theft and worrying about worrying about theft. Or getting run over, or something.

Davoid · Post by **Davoid** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 11:05 pm

If you don't care about cleaning, then just bring a lock. Probably doesn't have to be a heavy fucker, just effective enough to prevent a ride-away.

The question then becomes: do I want the responsibility of a key on my person, or the responsibility of remembering a combination at all times during a highly distracting week?

If it's nice, don't ever, ever, leave it unlocked. Even if you're 15 feet away from it and sober. Yes, that does sound like I'm speaking from experience, doesn't it?

Ultimately, if you have some extra cash, get a beater, get it tuned, & get it comfy. Then you can clean that one afterward, and use it for the next 5 burns.

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:06 am

Word combo lock. Uses letters not numbers, so you get to remeber a word, not a number.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:28 am

I use a lot of those locks where you can set the combo yourself to a number you're not as likely to forget at 3 am in various states of mind. Master makes some good self-set stuff that will keep all but the seriously determined from taking off with it. I've also picked up two small cable locks....the locks are able to fit in a pocket and the cable is thin...yet it's still steel cable and it's enough to keep one of the ravers from taking off on your bike. And those locks also let you set the combo.

As for lights....el-wire it, order bunches of glow bracelets and stuff from Henri the Blinky Guy and tie those on, consider wrapping the frame in black light reactive thin ribbon from an Arts and Crafts store, and consider buying a Petzl Tikka headlamp to use and off you go. The Tikka can be wrapped around handlebars as a substitute headlight too. (I love Tikkas so much I own 3 of them and plan to buy another).

If you really want to be a troublemaker you can always put a small $20 marine grade strobelight on the bike...then there's no excuse for art cars not to see you. It won't endear you to anyone walking behind you that looks your way...but it works wonders for keeping the art cars off ya.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:31 pm

Kinetic IV wrote:I use a lot of those locks where you can set the combo yourself to a number you're not as likely to forget at 3 am in various states of mind. Master makes some good self-set stuff that will keep all but the seriously determined from taking off with it. I've also picked up two small cable locks....the locks are able to fit in a pocket and the cable is thin...yet it's still steel cable and it's enough to keep one of the ravers from taking off on your bike. And those locks also let you set the combo.

And write combo to lock with magic marker on your foot - maybe one on each toenail. If you forget it, it's written there. And if you don't remember where you wrote it, you're too f***ed up to ride anyway.

bb

misfit · Post by **misfit** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:59 pm

[quote]If it does vanish, don't even bother reporting it to a BRC Ranger. [/quote]

harsh words..... your bike, your responsibility...

craigslist.org ,,, plenty of good playa bikes for free or under $30. .