1st time burner traveling by bike

lo-poo · Post by **lo-poo** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 3:40 pm

Traveling with a friend to burning man by bicycle.

Heading out from Corvallis Oregon a couple weeks before burning man and taking the scenic route to BRC. Not really sure what to expect but am excited to get immersed in the culture after the relative solitude of being on the bike. After it is all over I plan to ride back home.

If anyone has any tips for people riding to burning man let me know.

Also would love to meet other local burners and hopefully find someone gracious enough to haul a small amount of supplies for me.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 3:52 pm

Welcome!

There are a number of threads concerning this.

Highway 447 is narrow and without shoulders. Generally considered remarkable unsafe. Coming from the north, you may encounter less traffic, perhaps not. How will you transport enough water? No way you can bring enough on a bike. Who is your back-up? Read a few of the old threads, there's some good advice. Most of it is directed toward burners thinking of biking in from Reno, but it still holds true. Hope this helps, not trying to be a downer, just trying to give you as much info as possible.

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... ht=cycling

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... ht=cycling

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... ht=cycling

lo-poo · Post by **lo-poo** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 11:50 am

AntiM--

Thanks for all the info. I have heard that 447 is not a fun place to ride so we will be avoiding that at all costs. We will be heading up hwy 445 thru Sutcliffe on the West side of Pyramid lake. Then taking a right on Surprise Valley Rd to Smoke Creek Rd intersecting with hwy 447 just north of Gerlach. It is gavel and will be slow going but will be a lot safer and more scenic.

We still need to find some Oregon folks that will haul some supplies for us mostly water and food. Looked at the ride share list and it appears they haven't been updated for 2010. Do they get updated or should I just post there?

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:14 pm

The rideshare board will be up and running soon. Also, Share Resources forum has unofficial rideshare/hauling requests and offers now and then. Hang around eplaya and make connections, that's the way things often get done. Also try Tribe.

Sounds like your route will be far better than 447!

Token · Post by **Token** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 5:02 pm

This kind of adventure is very doable. You already have the most critical item lined up; a travel buddy. After that it is a matter of some logistics.

Gerlach has a post office and you can mail yourself a package or few general delivery or hold-for-pickup or somesuch. Mind the hours of operation.

Empire has a general store. Nice folks. You can likely arrange for them to hold some water for you if you call and ask nice.

There is also a laundromat at the Gerlach Shell station.

Once you are in Gerlach, it will be easy to gather your needed supplies that you can't fit on a bike and hitch a ride in.

Of course, this could be your plan B if you find some folks to bring in your gear but they flake.

Good luck and keep us posted on your journey.

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 7:46 pm

lo-poo wrote:AntiM--

Thanks for all the info. I have heard that 447 is not a fun place to ride so we will be avoiding that at all costs. We will be heading up hwy 445 thru Sutcliffe on the West side of Pyramid lake. Then taking a right on Surprise Valley Rd to Smoke Creek Rd intersecting with hwy 447 just north of Gerlach. It is gavel and will be slow going but will be a lot safer and more scenic.

Dude, that is some scenic route! Is it your intention to go about 200 miles out of the way...that is, travel from Corvallis way to the south to Sutcliffe, then come back to the north, up west side of Pyramid Lake, then over to Gerlach? Yikes! Good man!

much2naughty2 · Post by **much2naughty2** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 1:55 am

Traveling those roads on a bike. Might I suggest life insurance as a priority.

Jackass · Post by **Jackass** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 4:10 am

Perhaps funeral arrangements and a nice burial plot, thats pretty much desolate no mans land out that way!! Nice in a vehicle, potentially deadly on bike or foot.

Post by **Elderberry** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 4:20 pm

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

JK