Will my bike make me miserable on the playa? :(

chairbite · Post by **chairbite** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 5:24 pm

So I just got a hybrid Specialized Crossroads.
The front tire is thin like a road bike and the back tire is the thicker hybrid tire.
Will this be ok for the playa or do I need to get a mountain bike?

Thanks for your help.
-Micah

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 5:29 pm

Get a mountain bike with highway, not knobby, tires. If the playa is soft (it's supposed to be this year) the skinny front will plow and make riding miserable.

Wider is better.

bb

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 5:50 pm

Do you know the dimensions of the tires? What are the widths, particularly.

EB · Post by EB » Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:12 pm

I bought a cheapo ten-speed one year in reno on the way out to the playa in my rental car.

The bike was in perfect working condition but I couldn't ride it fifty feet on the playa.

It made me miserable. I finally had to shoot it out on the back forty.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:11 pm

Will a 2.5 tire work on the playa? Some times you can mount that size on skinny rims.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:24 pm

The wider the tire the better... especially after the week goes on and the playa gets churned up and silty in places.

Davoid · Post by **Davoid** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 1:05 am

EB wrote:I bought a cheapo ten-speed one year in reno on the way out to the playa in my rental car....

My buddies did the same thing in 2001, when it was especially crusty dusty out there. I ended up borrowing one after my nicey ride got snatched, and it was actually not as bad as I thought it'd be. Maybe 'cause I've spent lots of time on bikes, maybe 'cause it was better than nothing.

Your hybrid will be better than nothing, too, but better still is to get a thicker tire for the front wheel. You won't be able to put a mountain bike tire on that rim, but something thicker will fit. (take that to the "sounds dirty" thread)

dj_john69 · Post by **dj_john69** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 6:32 pm

Personally, i'd recommend you buying a used mountain bike off of craigslist or from a flea market or garage sale or a thrift shop

You new bike wont be as fun on the Playa as it would in the city. Small tires are the worst to use out on the Playa.

Plus, people have been known to borrow bikes without your knowledge. You don't want to lose you new bike.

Buy a used mountain bike for sure.

~John

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:03 pm

Get a broader seat of your bike as one of those prostate hammer seats. The playa surface is generally uneven (thought it might be a little more even than in past years since the city will be in a location different than it has been over the past 5 or 6 years. One of those hard assed racing seats is going to hammer your 'taint till you cry.

Hoolie · Post by **Hoolie** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:04 pm

Tire pressure is important too. When you're riding off-road, lower tire pressure gives you better traction in the loose dirt. If you are using skinny tires (or wide tires for that matter) on the playa and feeling a bit squirrelly, try letting some air out of them. But don't go too low, otherwise you might get a pinch flat.

Hoolie · Post by **Hoolie** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:15 pm

Oh, and if you have road bike size wheels (700c) look into cyclocross tires. These are basically off-road tires for road bikes.

Post by **Eric** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:45 pm

"beach cruisers" are also good bikes for BRC- like the classic Schwinns. They have wide balloon tires, and look great.

You can find them used on Craigslist & such. I paid a bit more for mine then I would normally spend on a playa bike, but I plan on using it for a few years.

As always: Lock Your Bike

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:59 pm

Mr Mullen's bike tips:

1) Get a bike with fat tires
2) Get a bike with a fat seat. Your ass will hurt toward the end of the week.
3) Lock your bike no matter where every you go.
4) Put lights on your bike. Getting plowed by some other dumb ass without lights on his bike sucks.

thejohnstamos · Post by **thejohnstamos** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:37 am

What is the smallest tire you recommend. I'm freaking out a bit about the bike i got! I can always get another one but would rather not.

- I know very little about bikes!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:47 am

thejohnstamos wrote:What is the smallest tire you recommend. I'm freaking out a bit about the bike i got! I can always get another one but would rather not.

- I know very little about bikes!

/
As I said: You should be able to put 2.5 inch tire on your rims. Make it street tires. Off road knob tires tend to plow sand. Riding on the playa takes a slighty diffent skill. You steer more than lean into a corner. The surface dust will not hold you in a lean. You are asked to peddel much slower. People are walking all over the place. AND I hate bikes that buzz me from behind. Might think of putting a stick in there spokes.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:55 am

Stretch your hamstrings everyday.
I fooked up my back really bad my first year cuase i rode the bike 8 hours a day and my hamstrings were so tight it pulled my spine out of alignment and pressed on my sciatic nerve. Easily prevented by lying on your back and pulling your foot over your head for a few minutes each side. (Theres lots of other hamstring stretches, that works best for me).
The hamstring is the longests tendon in the body, I have to really take care of mine or they put the hurt on meh!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:05 am

New handel bars this year. There bull horn and set just above my waist. So the hands are up but not that much. Last year they were lower. My hands would go to sleep from carring part of my weight

I have a spilt seat(two pads) ajustable to my fat butt. It looks strange but they are cover when I sit down

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:48 am

I have those solid tires on mine, and tho they ride a bit hard I don't worry about flats. Never.

Also I put extra padding OVER my gel seat. Jus' because. Now if I can find a good gel seat in bright obnoxious Yellow...

And, of course, remember the 2 "L"'s..

LIGHTS and LOCKS!!!

Don't forget to LIGHT UP your bike so you don't end up a hood ornament, and have a cheap combo lock to LOCK it so it's waiting for you.

A pubic service announcement from bb.

Rockdad · Post by **Rockdad** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:51 pm

Bay Bridge Sue wrote:I have those solid tires on mine, and tho they ride a bit hard I don't worry about flats. Never.

.

LOL Saw those at the store those big yellow ones!What happens when you lock those tires up on pavement? get a flat spot?

thump de thump de thump de thump

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 4:29 pm

Rockdad wrote: LOL Saw those at the store those big yellow ones!What happens when you lock those tires up on pavement? get a flat spot?

Pavement? PAVEMENT??!! ***WHAT*** PAVEMENT!?!?!?

We're on the PLAYA!!! We don' need no steenking pavement!!!

Oooohhh... you are SOOOOO fucking doomed. I'm glad you'll be close!

With love that only an Apokiliptikan can dispense...
(thumpa thumpa thumpa)
bb

jamiman · Post by **jamiman** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:26 pm

any advice for a first time on aquiring a bike locally
would be much appreciated.

for logistic reasons too boring too explain i
can't bring one, gotta try my luck there.

newbiewankanoobie

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:20 pm

Bay Bridge Sue wrote:I have those solid tires on mine

Is that like a CARTOON bike?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:07 am

jamiman wrote:any advice for a first time on aquiring a bike locally
would be much appreciated.

for logistic reasons too boring too explain i
can't bring one, gotta try my luck there.

Very late in the game for this. Yahoo search out reno and sparks thrift stores--be warned that prices go up for that week--and shop when you hit reno. Alternately, buy a cheapish one at a big store (I won't mention the names, they are a litany of EVIL) and donate it to the guy in Gerlach on the way out. He may be out there with his trailor of bikes to buy for $40, on the way in, but if he's not, you'll be bikeless for the event.

Will my bike make me miserable on the playa? :(

Will my bike make me miserable on the playa? :(

need a bike !

Re: need a bike !