Getting bikes there

Shawnamarie · Post by **Shawnamarie** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:52 pm

I wonder if this is really obvious to everyone but me...

I am going with a camp of 4-5 people and we are still debating on whether to take an RV or rent a minivan. Either way, how do we 4 or 5 bicycles down there? Will we need to buy a special bike rack to attach to the RV or van?

Even if we were to decide instead to try and find bikes in Reno, how are you all getting your bicycles from Reno to the burn?

Yes, this is my first time. :)

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:37 am

I've always been wary of bikeracks- we had one come off the top of our car on the highway when I was a kid. I've always had some extra gear that ends up on top of the car (an Element) and like to lay down some folded tarps and then stack the bike and scooter on top of that, lashing it to the cargo crossbars. Depending on what else is riding up there I'll sometimes throw a tarp over everything to reduce drag, but then you're vulnerable to the dreaded Tarp Flap.

skeetsh00ter · Post by **skeetsh00ter** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:49 am

ughh, the tarp flap...

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:07 am

Yeah, one year one of our bikes was on a back rack on a friend's car. They hadn't strapped all the bikes together and ended up dragging our bike down I-80. We trusted them, and they used bungee cords to hold the bikes on. Bungees are NOT good for securing loads which be traveling at highway speeds.

We have a trailer with a folding bike rack welded onto the back of the ramp, still only holds two or three bikes, and then you have to turn the handlebars or take off the pedals. Lots of ratchet straps, and bungees to keep the wheels from spinning in the wind. No tarp flap.

I'd think with an rv or van you could put them on top.

Shawnamarie · Post by **Shawnamarie** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:55 am

Any of the RV or van rental places I've looked at have said they don't allow anything to be mounted on top of the vehicle. Perhaps it's different with bikes, though. Or maybe this is just a case of 'what they don't know can't hurt them...'?

We considered renting a minivan or SUV and then hitching a trailer to it for bikes, carports, etc., but none of the car rental places that I've found allow you to tow anything.

I didn't realize it would be so tricky to figure this out.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:28 am

Generally, if I am taking a bike with me anyway, it either goes on the back or inside the vehicle. I haven't had any troubles with bike racks mounted on the back of a car. (Is there anything wrong with the front wheel spinning? As far as I can tell, it shouldn't hurt anything...?)

I think three is the most I have ever had experience with transporting, and that was a long time ago.

I'd think with an r.v. you would have room inside, but I don't have any experience with r.v.s.

B.

Zatoichi · Post by **Zatoichi** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:49 am

rent a van/truck/suv with a trailer hitch, cargo trailers are affordable to rent for a week. We did that in 2005 and fit all of our gear and 6 bikes

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 10:03 am

> Even if we were to decide instead to try and find bikes in Reno

I wouldn't bet my life on trying and finding bikes in Reno if you don't have them reserved before you get there. There are 10s of thousands of Burners doing just what you're planning on doing, and there are only several hundreds of bikes available.

Louise has a page on where to reserve bikes at
http://civilizedexplorer.pbwiki.com/CivExReno

Browse the pages or use the search box in the upper right corner (it says "search here").

PurpleKoosh · Post by **PurpleKoosh** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 11:18 am

robotland wrote:I've always been wary of bikeracks- we had one come off the top of our car on the highway when I was a kid. I've always had some extra gear that ends up on top of the car (an Element) and like to lay down some folded tarps and then stack the bike and scooter on top of that, lashing it to the cargo crossbars.

Thank you for reminding me that I need to price a cargo rack for my PT. 'cause there ain't no way my bike's fitting inside, whether or not I've got the rest of my camping crap in there with me.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:04 pm

There are bike racks that fit in receivers.
Best way I've seen.
Bungee cords can work fine but you have to do it right.
I towed a car and trailer from long island once with a rented car.

I wonder if I told the rental company?

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:13 pm

The crossbars on the Element cargo rack are relatively close together, so last year I created an extended platform by securely lashing a section of a curb-rescued futon frame to the bars and then securing my load to THAT. It gave me places to tuck folded tarps underneath everything, along with long weird stuff...(I had a bunch of cardboard tubes, which became a car-integrated shelter and were burned at week's end.) On top of it all was a green canvas groundcloth, which turned out NOT to be dyefast and started to dissolve in the punishing storms that I had to fight through on thursday and friday before the burn. My hands were green all week, and the car still has colorful spots in the doorjambs.
Ramble, ramble....
The first year I went out with tow mates, and we drove an Xterra with a back rack- It worked fine, BUT....It's important to consider how you pack, so that you won't have to get to anything in the wayback.

Hoolie · Post by **Hoolie** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:27 pm

My first year, I rented a minivan with 3 friends. We laid the 4 bikes flat on the roof and tied them securely to the roof rack. If the vehicle doesn't have a roof rack, I probably wouldn't try it, but I'm extra careful that way. It helps to remove the front wheels...and even the pedals if you know how to do it. This makes the load much flatter. It's also important to place something soft yet durable, like a moving blanket, between the bikes and the roof to prevent damage to the vehicle.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:28 pm

My receiver bike rack folds down so you can have access.
I bought a bike in reno last year.
To be avoided.
Reno is unprepared for burners, which is odd.

There is a fortune to be made by someone.
They told me camping season was over.

skeetsh00ter · Post by **skeetsh00ter** » Thu May 24, 2007 10:19 am

So for those of us who are flying to the west coast for the event, what are we supposed to do with our bikes afterwards? We (2 of us) haven't decided if we are just going to try and buy a cheap bike (wally-world/craigslist) or if we are going to give Black Rock Bikes a try. If we do end up purchasing them what do we do. Is there anywhere (between Reno and SF) that we could donate them. Does Black Rock bikes accept donations?

thanks for the help

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Fri May 25, 2007 10:16 am

Chip in and buy a utility trailer ($340 with s/handling from Harbor Freight) and pile the bikes (and other stuff) in that. Or, if you are coming from a metropolitan area with more than a few burners, pay $10 to a Burner to let you throw your bike on top of the heap on his or her trailer.

I found empty space on soneone else's trailer for one of my bikes, the other two (had a friend with me) rode on top of the car on a Thule roof rack I already had. Roof racks are great, BUT when hung over try not to drive through the motel carport!

Yo Skeetshooter... Good to see an Atlantan on the E-playa. I'm from there, but moved to Denver 7 years ago. What part of town are you in?

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Fri May 25, 2007 11:28 am

skeetsh00ter wrote:what are we supposed to do with our bikes afterwards?

Pack it in Pack it out.

That means you bring everything home with you. While there may be folks willing to take a bike off your hands you must be prepared to bring it home if you cannot gift it to someone.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri May 25, 2007 4:17 pm

I think he's asking for suggestions on how best to get it out of brc without just throwing it away.
Maybe the rental people would want it?
I ended up with one left by someone flying and it is in a warehouse in LA,
waiting for next year.

skeetsh00ter · Post by **skeetsh00ter** » Sat May 26, 2007 10:37 am

Yeah, i certainly wouldn't just leave it out on the playa nor do i want to throw it into a dumpster somewhere. I read somewhere about giving them to kids on indian reservations, i'm sure they would appreciate an almost new (slightly dusty) bike.

The more i think about it though the more appealing Black Rock Bicycles sounds. Just pick them up in Reno and drop them back off in Reno.

Another question. Anyone know off the top of their head how much it would cost to fed-ex a bike cross country?

Teo del Fuego, i lie when i say Atlanta. I'm really from the 'burbs north of atlanta. But it's always good to meet a fellow atlantan (pretty scarce on eplaya).

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat May 26, 2007 6:15 pm

Are you going to transformus?

skeetsh00ter · Post by **skeetsh00ter** » Sun May 27, 2007 8:30 am

I really wanted too, but i wasn't sure what my work situation was going to be this summer and didn't get a ticket. Now i guess the decisions has already been made for me since the final tier is sold out.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun May 27, 2007 2:17 pm

Transformus sells out really quick.
I logged in seconds after the second tier opened and when I was through, they were sold out and actually sold half the third tier by mistake.
About four minutes.

The third tier was by mail only.

fatcog · Post by **fatcog** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 12:02 am

Here's a quick quote from fedex to ship a bike in 5 days across the country.
http://www.fedex.com/ratefinder/standal ... ummaryPage

it's about $50.

A cheap hollywood bike rack (the F1-B) costs $50-60. and holds 3 bikes. Maybe a local LBS wouldn't mind making some money 'renting' one to you.

the F1-B will fit MOST cars. There might be a better one for you.
Cheap hitch racks are about $150 and can hold 4 or 5 bikes.

fatcog · Post by **fatcog** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 12:10 am

shawn marie- where are you travelling from?
Maybe there's someone local doing a bike or cargo shuttle run.

A minivan with 5 bikes and 5 passengers and 5 passengers worth of stuff is going to be pretty tight. A larger van might be more useful, like a 15 passneger church van or one of those new dodge euro type cargo vans that I see all over the place. An RV rental is going to require a hefty deposit- all the local RV places know where people with dreadlocks and fuzzy costumes go on labor day weekend.
at least with an RV you'll have room for 5 peopple to sleep and their stuff and bikes.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:11 am

What's wrong with walking?

Nobody wants your Burning Man bike. People leave hundreds of bikes behind as trash every year because they get completely mudded up or broken or stepped on or run over by art cars. DPW tosses most of them in the dumpsters. No bike shop wants your Burning Man bike. Many SF shops won't work on them. Only an idiot or a crook would rent bikes to burners, and nobody who cares about you or the event would sell bikes for Burning Man. Bikes end up being in the way everywhere, they're an eyesore everywhere, a DUI hazard, nobody bothers to use headlights, and the Rangers don't give a shit about enforcing anything re: bikes. Most annoying are the priss-pots who complain every year about their "stolen" bikes they lost because they were stoned or too stupid to lock up.

Bikes are the commuter car of Burning Man. Just think -- if you didn't have a bike, maybe you wouldn't be rushing around making pedestrians get out of your way, and you'd get to know your camp neighbors a little better.

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 12:02 pm

oh, rubbish. Riding a bike at night visiting as many serendipitous works of art in the Deep Playa is one of the most wonderful things I've done in the past two years. Without a bike, I could barely scratch the surface of the amazing stuff out there. Without a bike, I probably would not have wandered far enough to encounter the amazing camps and people I have met. There's no legitimate reason that a bike that fit in or on your car on the way to Burning Man should somehow not fit in or on the car for the trip back.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 4:57 pm

Looking around the net I found trikes that fold up to a 30 inch cube..

This year I'm putting a bike out as bait in the evenings.. A 50ft cable should do the trick.. Come sit with me and watch the sport..

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:04 pm

Don't forget to tart it up a bit.
That usually does it.

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:41 am

Swobo folsom - one speed, coaster brakes:
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/06/r ... bo_fo.html

More photos and video of how to stop a bike using the coaster brake. Looks ruggedly simple, ugly - perfect for the playa.

Post by **trilobyte** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:28 pm

Some searching online should be able to turn up Goodwill dropoff points in Reno, you could stop there on your way back to donate the bikes. Get a receipt, it's tax deductible!

~Trilo~

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:17 pm

trilobyte wrote:Some searching online should be able to turn up Goodwill dropoff points in Reno, you could stop there on your way back to donate the bikes. Get a receipt, it's tax deductible!

Good idea! If you go to Louise's page at
http://civilizedexplorer.pbwiki.com/renoSupplies
and search the page for
thrift
you'll get her list of thrift stores, some commercial, some by the Salvation Army, St. Vincent DePaul's, or the Reno Assistance League, among others.