Bicycles At Burning Man

RideTHISbike · Post by **RideTHISbike** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:43 pm

Robbi at Burning Man suggested I come here to the Discussion Board regarding questions on bicycles at Burning Man.

I am a bicycling advocate from New Orleans. Last year, another cyclist contacted me looking for a bike to bring to Burning Man. He gave me some brief info about the event and told me he was flying into Reno & renting a car. Since he wasn't looking to set a speed record cycling around Black Rock City, I suggested a cheap, single speed bike that would fold up and fit in a suitcase.

Based upon what I've read about the event, I would like to attend this summer and plan on bringing a bike. To those of you that have attended Burning Man, what do you think: is a light, cheap, single speed folding bike the right choice?

Respectfully,
Larry Lagarde
http://ridethisbike.com/
Urging bicycling for recreation, commuting, health and a better future.

stargeezer · Post by **stargeezer** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:09 pm

The first question I would have to ask is will it still fold up when you are on it??

Tiahaar · Post by **Tiahaar** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:15 pm

If the playa is hard like the last four years a folder will do ok, the bigger the wheels and fatter the tires the better and watch out for soft drifted playa areas. I roll my eyes but some of my campmates keep bringing old skinny tire tenspeeds and bmx bikes and seem to get around ok. I like wide smooth tread tires. Really really wide smooth tires heheheh.

OregonRed · Post by **OregonRed** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:22 pm

Of course, if it rains your bike becomes a very large paperweight... Or moop-weight. Not that rain happens often but...

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:27 am

I recommend using a tricycle.. with large smooth tires. Be sure to add lighting for night travel and feel free to make it look like a glowing fish or eyeball.

Cabana Springs · Post by **Cabana Springs** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:49 am

COMMERCE

Die you Nazi commerce pig!

BigCock · Post by **BigCock** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:55 am

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:55 pm

Smooth tires more important than width.
If it's not at least a three speed better hope the gearing is right.

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:09 pm

As a certified life-long bike nut, I have to say from experience, it is the WIDTH of the front tire, much more than any other factor, that determines compatibility with the playa. By the end of the week traffic turns the hard playa surface turns to powder. Just as you want the widest ski when skiing powder, you want to avoid narrow tires on the Playa because the front wheel will sink in and throw you off balance. The rear tire is not that crucial. For the playa go with 1.95 or larger. 2.25 is perfect, regardless whether its a slick or a knobby.

Also, avoid any petroleum based lubricant such as WD40, oil, KY Jelly, etc. Go with a wax-based or teflon lubricant. Clean the drive train thoroughly before the event and you will be just fine. Cheap and cool lighting effects can be had with a $9.99 Target bicycle generator and a string of LEDs strung in series with appropriately spec'd resistors, or just use some glow sticks or battery powered blinkies.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:29 pm

I had what amounted to knobby tires my first year.
Unstable and picks up all the dust.

There are dust puddles but you can avoid them.
A smooth tire is much less effort to peddle out there.
I was on a 1.75.
As long as it has a high profile for rough surfaces, it's okay.
Too wide slows you down and picks up more dust.
You need good air pressure.
Find where your comfort zone is.
1.95 doesn't sound bad.
You'll be sorry if you ride chunky tires.
Dramatically more comfortable on smooth tires.

misfit · Post by **misfit** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:24 am

pretty much just find a bike that your comfortable riding and you'll have a good time. if you bring a bike that you care about, wash it off as soon as you get home,,, playa dust can turn metal to rust very quickly.

stew · Post by **stew** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:21 pm

playa dust will turn metal to rust very quickly.

I brought a brand-new $100 bike to the playa last year. We stayed for five nights. When I unpacked it an wiped off the dust, it was rusty already. Also bring a rug and lubricant. I was cleaning our camp's bike chains after three days.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 6:01 pm

I spray the bike down with a 50/50 mix of WD40 and 10-40 wt before I go out, and the first thing I do when I get home is spray it down with Vinegar water, hose the heck out of it, and then once she's dry re-spray her with the oil mix. So far she's come back relatively unrusty 2 years now!!

Sus

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:38 pm

I wore a suit of armour in phoenix in 100+ heat and sweated into a lot. the only treatment it got was to be wiped down with olive oil once a week. 15 years later it still has no rust. The olive oil dries and forms a laquer. YMMV didn't have to deal with playa dust though.

Finnegan · Post by **Finnegan** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:59 pm

One speed cruisers are great! Nice wide tires, and fewer moving parts to be killed by the playa dust.

Post by **mdmf007** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 10:47 pm

most bikes built today are an alloy so corrosion shouldnt be a huge problem,

all the peripherals though - crank, pedals, wheels, bearings are more than likely steel, thats where I would worry