Playa Conditions vs Bicycles

BigCock · Post by **BigCock** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:06 am

Friends that went to 4th of Juplaya last weekend said the surface is very dry due to lack of rain in the winter. Could be bad news for bicycles, like in 2001, not to mention dusty.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:33 am

So bring giant clown shoes, less likely to get stolen unless you fall asleep in the Cafe.

JezebelinHell · Post by **JezebelinHell** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:54 am

My bike has gotten stolen every year, usually by Wednesday, and I never miss it. I find that I see more stuff and talk to more people when I'm on foot. The only reason I bring one is to bike out to deep playa to check out art, and even that isn't all that hard to do on foot.

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:03 pm

JezebelinHell wrote:My bike has gotten stolen every year, usually by Wednesday, and I never miss it. I find that I see more stuff and talk to more people when I'm on foot. The only reason I bring one is to bike out to deep playa to check out art, and even that isn't all that hard to do on foot.

Ok, I'll ask the dumb question that I'm pretty sure I already know the answer to.

Do you bother to lock it up?

Badger

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:04 pm

BigCock wrote:Friends that went to 4th of Juplaya last weekend said the surface is very dry due to lack of rain in the winter. Could be bad news for bicycles, like in 2001, not to mention dusty.

Dusty at burning man? The hell you say!

Badger

Marscrumbs · Post by **Marscrumbs** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:25 pm

I own a bright yellow bike and each year I worry somebody will mistake it for a freebie bike. But I still own it.I never lock my bikes but don't get too far from them either.

JezebelinHell · Post by **JezebelinHell** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:09 pm

Obviously I'm not locking my bikes if they're getting stolen. It's always from center camp, too. If I don't bring a lock this year I think I'll avoid parking outside of center camp.

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:40 pm

The bike I used last year was a road find on I80 near Lockwood. Around June of 07 somebody was moving and did'nt have some things tied down including two bikes. One was totaled and the one one I kept the kickstand and goose neck got bent and the seat got some road rash. Tires are great. With a can of green Crylon and a few touch ups, it's the perfect burner bike without any way cool extremes. To lock it all I did was put a cable through the front wheel. No lock! I'll use it this year and if someone takes it they needed it more than me and its no big deal. But with all the bikes lying around the playa un-attended, why take one from the rack at center camp? I think the more decorated and unique a bike is and the cheaper a bike is, the less chance it'll be borowed. Today I just rinsed off the playa dust from last year and oiled the chain.

Post by **mdmf007** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:49 pm

Jez - This year, I am going to gift you a bike lock.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:57 pm

I think dressed up bikes get stolen because of that.

Snow tires on bikes will go through the deep drifts.
Yes, they make them, wide.

gaminwench · Post by **gaminwench** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:38 pm

I put a BIG FLAG on my bike, along with other decor - nice bike, 7 years, never taken...(knocking wood)....if it disappeared, anyone from my block could identify it and bring it home.....

**burn** · Post by **burn** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:01 pm

ok, Big Cock,
(heh heh, I enjoy saying that out loud! Big Cock Big Cock)

Are you alluding that there is soft deep dirt that bikes will sink into?

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:42 pm

Was on the playa for the solstice late June. One place was so soft the car sunk to the frame and when we got out everyone sunk to their knees. We did get the car out.

Tiahaar · Post by **Tiahaar** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:02 pm

EspressoDude wrote: the car sunk to the frame and when we got out everyone sunk to their knees.

Oh no, quickdust!!!

Post by **mdmf007** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:35 am

Getting unstuck on playa is difficult. we have used 1 mile long cables before to pull people out, cause we cant get close ourselves!

Cassidy · Post by **Cassidy** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:16 am

Last year the dust-dunes were really bad. I went through a dune so deep that it completely stopped my bike and threw me over the handlebars like a rocket. My head went so deep into the dune that my friends had to dig me out before I choked. I was deaf for almost a day and it took six and 1/2 months for me to get all the playa dust out of my ears.

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:37 am

Actually it was over towards the railroad tracks, dry on top, but oh so wet underneath. A small Subaru AWD with 5 people. Luckily the driver didn't step on the gas when we got stuck, just stopped. We were able to push the car backwards as the people went deeper.

Then over to Frog Pond for clean-up..

And some big dust dunes were spotted also. Probably about an acre or so and 5 to 6 feet high.

Post by **mdmf007** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 11:18 am

I have spent many hours in frog Pond, and Black rock, and Double hot pools. Makes a smile come to my face to think of them.

Yeah your right - I have seen pools on the north side covered with so much flating dust that they look solid. Especially when your blasting along in a truck at 60 MPH.

can ruin a whole weekend

Playa Conditions vs Bicycles

Playa Conditions vs Bicycles

Re: Playa Conditions vs Bicycles

Yellow bike