Good bikes and playa dust

diode · Post by **diode** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 1:48 pm

I'm contemplating bringing a fairly new ride to the playa this year as part of my transport system.

I'm wondering if the playa dust by itself is death for bikes. There's plenty of machinery out there that seems to survive the week no problem. I'm thinking an overhaul after the event would clear dust out of bearing surfaces. A good wash down would take care of the rest.

I notice my playa bikes from past events seem to have a propensity to rust more rapidly than I would expect. Of course, sitting outside covered in playa dust probably doesn't help much.

All the bikes I've brought to the burn in the past were junk, but even after sitting around a year they all have been useable the very next year albeit looking pretty used up.

I'm a little concerned that the playa might wreak some long-term damage on a fairly new bike that would reduce it's lifespan. Scars and paint damage I'm not worried about, or at least some damage there is acceptable.

Any factoids on this subject?

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 4:37 pm

Per the many other such threads on bikes, cars, electronic equipment, and the human body, there is virtually no way to keep the "playa dust" out of every nook & cranny. It will coat surfaces you might be able to see & wash down easily with mild soap, as well as surfaces that would require a complete breakdown to access. I'd say if you're stuck on bringing it, if it cost more than half a week's wages, and if you want to keep it in as-new condition as long as possible, just give it the best washdown you can before taking it back to the shop to repack all the bearings, replace all cables, etc. -- if only to keep the mechanic from grousing at you for douching it with alkaline mud. Just tell them you were biking in the Bermuda Dodecahedron and were overtaken by a freak mudwave.

MrChevere · Post by **MrChevere** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 7:57 pm

I don't know about a new bike but I took an old one that was working fine. I thought I wsahed it off pretty well but now it needs a new drive train. It was probably soon to wear out but the week on the playa hastened it along.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 8:49 pm

I bring stuff like generators, bikes, etc. to the playa where they get pretty trashed. If you completely disassemble everything, hose it, and drown it in WD-40, then reassemble it, it'll be fine. If you don't thoroghly cleanse and oil everything, it will rust. Even if it's made of glass or plastic. Playa dust is amazing...

Stormy · Post by **Stormy** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:52 am

You might be better off buying a used bike at a garage sale. As long as a bike has inflated tires and pedals-- you're set. Brakes aren't even all that important if you're going 5 miles per hour.

Silver 2 · Post by **Silver 2** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 10:14 am

I am something of a part time bike nut, i.e., a friend's bike got stolen so I built her one from the misc. parts (including frame) that I had laying around.

I would never take even one of my junkers out to the Playa, note, my current mountian bike junker is the same bike (with mods) that I used to race with. The amount of time and effort it would take to clean and rebuild the thing would be much more expensive than buying one from a yard sale or one of the 59.99 bikes from K-mart.

I am however bringing one of my better saddles to put on whatever I end up with.

Tancorix · Post by **Tancorix** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 10:24 am

It cost me $90 to have my mountain bike cleaned for the past two years, and the guy doing it cussed up a blue streak over that dang playa dust. Yet the more I told him about the event the more interested he became and this year he's going.

jbelson · Post by **jbelson** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 10:56 am

It's a bike. Bikes were meant to be used and to get dirty.

If your so concerned about a bike and playa dust, wiat till you get a mouthfull.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 11:57 am

I've been bringing the same simple, decent but now somewhat outdated bike for the last 3 years. It hasn't shown any signs of decay other than cracking tires, which may have happened anyway due to its age.

The only thing that will really rust is exposed steel. Besides the chain and a few other bits, your bike shouldn't have too much of that. Nicer bikes often have aluminum sprockets, rims, etc. Any steel used for the frame, etc should have a nice thick coat of paint on it. Repaint any worn section. If there are any unused bolt holes leading into the frame, put a bolt in them to keep the dust out.

Clean and grease it real good when you get home.

The biggest danger to a bike is that it will be lost or stolen, so lock it up or metally prepare yourself to go home without it.

notwearingpants · Post by **notwearingpants** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 12:25 pm

I have an older roadbike I would like to bring, but should I be worried about the thin tires? Do I need a mountain bike?
This will be my first time at BM so I'm not sure if this is a problem or not.

Thanks

mtbeer · Post by **mtbeer** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 4:32 pm

Thin road tires will not cut it, don't expect the playa to be hardpack. Try to find a cheap mountain bike with at least 2"(wide) tires. The tires don't have to be super knobby, you should even be fine with slicks as long as they are wide enough.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 5:21 pm

I don't think it's really that critical, but you could always slap on a set of cruiser tires. If I was gonna bring a road bike, I'd probably swap on a set of handlebars that allowed a more upright cruising position, and a nice fat seat. And a basket or rack of some sort is mandatory for a good Playa bike. EL Wire is optional...

Actually, lights of some sort, like blinky L.E.D.s and such, are a very good idea both so we can see you and so you can find your bike.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 5:22 pm

And I've seen people riding on the Playa with NO tires...

Stormy · Post by **Stormy** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 5:26 pm

mtbeer wrote:Thin road tires will not cut it, don't expect the playa to be hardpack. Try to find a cheap mountain bike with at least 2"(wide) tires. The tires don't have to be super knobby, you should even be fine with slicks as long as they are wide enough.

2000 was dusty and powdery and no one that I know had trouble with thin bike tires.

Chrysto · Post by **Chrysto** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 6:09 pm

Um does anyone remember a moterized lazyboy halfway absorbed by the wet then dry desert??? WAD DA YA MEAN POWDERY??? In any event I would recomend bigger tires. When the playa is dry its a pretty smooth ride no matter what tires you have. When its wet (insert ominous music here) It doesn't matter what tires you have....you gettin stuck sucka but, I felt I was getting farther tward camp with bigger tires in the muddddd

MrChevere · Post by **MrChevere** » Sun Aug 08, 2004 10:56 am

having a kickstand is a very good thing. otherwise you have to just have to lay it in the dirt or turn it upside down. i didn't see any bike racks.

birdbrain · Post by **birdbrain** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:30 pm

Hi! Hearing about all the stuff playa dust can do to bikes makes me wonder what it could do to my vehicle. I like the quote " become one with the dust" BUT I am concerned about my glory of Detroit(lite truck) which there's no way I can replace/fix if too much gets messed up. It bothers me to think about "worrisome stuff" like this but I am concerned. Thoughts/ Ideas, anyone?

birdbrain · Post by **birdbrain** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:30 pm

Hi! Hearing about all the stuff playa dust can do to bikes makes me wonder what it could do to my vehicle. I like the quote " become one with the dust" BUT I am concerned about my glory of Detroit(lite truck) which there's no way I can replace/fix if too much gets messed up. It bothers me to think about "worrisome stuff" like this but I am concerned. Thoughts/ Ideas, anyone?

Hotspur · Post by **Hotspur** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 11:52 pm

Last year, road tired were fine.

But everybody seems to think that the playa is going to be a lot softer this year.

Angel Ben · Post by **Angel Ben** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 8:58 am

I'm going to have a non-knobby tired bike meeting me out there. I don't have the time or resources to arrange to have the tires changed, so I'll just have to make do.

I know I can let a bit of air out of the tires to give them more traction, but are there any other tricks I can try? Maybe wrapping a light chain or heavy wire (coathangers) around the tires?

sparkletarte · Post by **sparkletarte** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:30 am

Maybe wrapping a light chain or heavy wire (coathangers) around the tires?

NOOO, this would get caught up in your brakes, not good, not to mention probably pinching the rubber and trashing your tires. Letting air out adds A LOT to traction, although it will make it slightly harder to pedal. I'm sure non-knobbies will be fine as long as they aren't road tires, which are very skinny. Of course, I've never been, but I do ride a lot. I'm bringing my old coaster with thinnish tires (around 1.75").

You could always find out the wheel size and bring out tires to change them out there. Or you could bring some small screws, remove the tires, put in the screws so the pointed end sticks out, and replace. That's a lot of work though, better just to bring new tires.

Most cross country mountain bike tires are around 1.9"- they can go a lot of places so that would be fine. Even my coaster bike tires are close to that. As long as you don't have super slick road racing tires I'm sure you'll be good.

Start riding your bike around now to get your bum toughened up!

Good bikes and playa dust

Good bikes and playa dust

Thin tires?

2000 was dusty and powdery and no one that I know had troubl

bikes/transportation/rack&ruin

bikes/transportation/rack&ruin

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