Cycling to Burning Man

Leoz4 · Post by **Leoz4** » Wed May 06, 2009 3:29 pm

Sometime this spring I will embark upon a one year bicycling journey throughout the USA, working as I go, volunteering where I can. I plan to write a book about the adventure, maybe do something online as well. We are living in some interesting times and I want to document them. Plus I'm living in my storage unit which is getting old. This will be my first Burning Man and I'm looking forward to it. I'm thinking that at a certain point it would be safer for me to hook up with some transport. There is only so much in the way of supplies one can carry on a bicycle plus I'm not going to mess with the desert. I'm an experienced and savvy cyclist and have been commuting by bike for nearly 20yrs. That last leg through the desert would be dangerous. I'm still working out my itinerary so I'm not sure from which direction I will be travelling from. Other then I will be leaving the Pacific NW and heading to the SF Bay area. So I'm open to suggestions. I hear there are some Seattle Burners offering to transport supplies. Any other options out there?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed May 06, 2009 4:03 pm

There will be a ride board here later.

Post by **Elderberry** » Wed May 06, 2009 4:47 pm

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

JK

Post by **mdmf007** » Thu May 07, 2009 10:41 am

Leoz -

Sounds like fun. Living in a storage unit is more common than people think. I read a basic how to type of article years and years ago about tips that make life possible and quite comfortable on one light bulb outlet. To be honest, i would rather hear about li

Northern Nevada can be deadly, we have found more than one body off of Jungo road dead due to dehydration and a car breaking down. So play it safe.

good luck,

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Thu May 07, 2009 1:15 pm

It's been done before. In 2007 a Burner I know rode his recumbent bike from Seattle to the BRC...I think it took him about 7-8 days. He camped and moteled along the way. Upon arrival he had the benefit of his camp mates having arrived ahead of him, set up camp...so it wasn't like he showed up exhausted, dirty, hungry with no place to go.

The most arid part of the ride is the approx 87 miles from Cedarville to BRC...not exactly Death Valley, and doable by someone in reasonable bike shape. If you're coming down from the Northwest, the route has plenty of roadside camping, water, food, shelter...except for the last 87 miles. And then you roll into Gerlach to refresh and resupply.

If it was me, I'd make damn sure to hook up with someone or a group to camp with on arrival. Unless you're pulling an extra big bike trailer, you won't be able to supply yourself with the required water and food for the event...that is if your plan is to stay for all 8 days.

xismim · Post by **xismim** » Wed May 20, 2009 9:41 pm

That sounds fun! gluck!

Also: read Snow Crash if you haven't already. It may inspire you.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu May 21, 2009 6:47 pm

Or it may not. I haven't read everything by Stephenson, but the only thing I would recommend by him is Cryptomnicron. And that only for people who enjoy looooong novels. But it is very fine. But I'm still really mad at him for The Confusion so that it overshadows the fact that Cryptomnicron is well worth reading.

Horace · Post by **Horace** » Fri May 22, 2009 6:13 am

Hi! Welcome and good luck on your journey.

I think I'll recommend finding a safe place in Reno to stash your bike and hooking up to get a ride. Otherwise, the desert will kill your bicycle.

Here and there · Post by **Here and there** » Wed May 27, 2009 1:08 pm

Leoz4 wrote:Any other options out there?

Loop back from the Bay Area, and take a northern route through Montana, bypassing the deserts to the south? Not personally familiar with the region, but in photos it looked a lot more hospitable. You'd miss Colorado, which is a shame, but you might be able to go through South Dakota and Minnesota. From there, you can go northward, going through Michigan's upper peninsula, or southward, past Chicago.

Again, you might want to go north, this time for the scenery and so that you don't bust a wheel in one of Chicago's many potholes. From there, around the bend down to Detroit, go say "hi" to a bunch of burners in that area and from there, it should be a straight shot to New York.

As for carrying stuff - have a bank account and a credit or debit card? Maybe buying food along the way would be easier than hauling it? Just carry a tent, water, and maybe two day's dried rations, just in case you don't find a town for a while? What do you think?

I've never done this, so I'm just guessing.

Leoz4 · Post by **Leoz4** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:56 pm

It looks like I will not be able to leave Orcas Island until the fall which means I won't be able to make it to Burning Man this year. I'm still short when it comes to the money thing and this year has been brutal in that regard. The year long bicycle adventure is still on though and since I'm heading south maybe the weather won't be as harsh. If I can I'll still try to make the documentary but that is up in the air at the moment. I'll still write a book and document the times. I want to thank everyone who posted and gave me such good advice. Meanwhile there are adventures to look forward to and Burning Man next year. Thanks for all the advice support.

Cycling to Burning Man

Cycling to Burning Man

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Bicycle Journey