The things I did right and things I wish I did right

[Luigi]

Wow Ariel - you really ran out of water before you got to the gate?

First timers: do it right, do your research. I read ton's of eplaya posts and listened to my family, who were vets. Then I built a 6 ft stretch yurt, fig jam swamp cooler and packed lots of:
Water
Shade
And I Fixed up my trusty old Schwinn Bike.
Go for the basics. Second year out, I brought too much shit, now it's back to the basics.

Luigi / VW bus camp

[Captain Goddammit]

We need more write-ups like Ariellabella's.
That should help curb the overpopulation issue.
Those of you who have a clue how to do burning man without being a miserable suffering ill-prepared sparklepony, shhhhh.... don't tell these people....

[Luigi]

I though the same thing cap't. The more people know it sucks, the better. And it's good to know BM is not for everybody.

"Water is the driving force of all nature. " Leonardo da Vinci

[Jackass]

Very cool write up of a first-timers experience. When I read these stories, I travel back in my mind to burns past. What a warm, fuzzy, hard to swallow feeling... Lucky us

[BBadger]

Following up what was said years ago: I used a cruiser last year that someone let me borrow (my bike got destroyed on the way in) and it was actually very nice. So nice that I think I'll seek one out for this year.

[Jackass]

You just can't beat simplicity out there. The less moving parts, the better

[DoctorIknow]

Following up what was said years ago: I used a cruiser last year that someone let me borrow (my bike got destroyed on the way in) and it was actually very nice. So nice that I think I'll seek one out for this year.

Same here. I borrowed a cruiser in 2014 and as soon as I returned to defaultia, bought a new one for 2015. After 15 years of using "mountain style cheapos" out there, I was incredibly impressed how comfortable and practical the cruisers are. I don't miss the speed of a multi-geared bike, mostly as the playa has so many drifts now. I really don't miss the hunched over position of mountain bikes (although I might have stayed with them longer (saved $) if I'd seen their adaptation to high rise handlebars, as seen earlier in this thread....)

[Captain Goddammit]

You guys do know you can put whatever handlebars, tires, gears, and seats on whatever bike you want, right?
Having a cruiser doesn't mean it has to be single-speed. Having a mountain bike doesn't mean it has to have flat handlebars.

[BBadger]

Oh yeah, but since I was unimpressed by the cruiser(s) I had encountered, I was not inclined to invest any money into customizing them.

The mountain bike I had before the crash cost me like $30. It was actually pretty decent, had the real low gearing I liked, fit inside my car (unlike other bikes I had on hand), and was a real trooper the previous years. Overall, it worked pretty good. One year I tried upgrading to something somewhat better, but that sucked. Fortunately, we brought that old bike that year too and I was able to revert back to it. That same year I also tried a cruiser some other people brought, but it was so creaky and crappy that I had a bad impression of them and didn't want to invest anything into one.

Last year's experience with the cruiser was pretty good though, and since I don't have my old bike to fall back to I'll have to buy another bike anyway. I might also bring this other bike I previously couldn't fit in my car. I've resolved to get a hitch and a rack this year though, so my options are open.

[Captain Goddammit]

My playa bike of choice is one of the Mongoose fat-tire bikes with the 4" wide wheels & tires, with the handlebars and seat swapped for cruiser parts. Best of both worlds.

Not that I ever ride the thing though....

[motskyroonmatick]

My playa bike of choice is one of the Mongoose fat-tire bikes with the 4" wide wheels & tires, with the handlebars and seat swapped for cruiser parts. Best of both worlds.

Not that I ever ride the thing though....

I got myself one of those Mongoose multi speed fat tire bikes and that thing is the bomb! Makes any playa ride like the best hard pack playa ever. The only draw backs are you have to change the seat out for sure and the sandpaper disc brake pads are kind-of funny and have to be tinkered with so that you don't hear a grating sound all the time you ride. Handle bar switch is in order for this year to ease the aggressive stance.