mbucatini

I posted this in the BMX forum, but probably should have posted it here first:

I am going to my first Burning Man at the end of this summer and will want a bike that I can use on the playa. I thought it might be fun to pick up an inexpensive used BMX bike and trick it out a bit on the cheap. My question: is it possible to extend the seatpost and bars to make a 20" BMX fit an adult (I'm 5'11"). Any suggestions are welcome.

mastershake916

Google zoobomb, do what they do, but use a 20" bike.
Personally, I'd go with a fat banana seat and a sissy-bar and some apes with a 4-bolt stem.

moai

Make sure you have fat tires, as skinny ones dig int the playa too much, and if it rains--which this year it looks like it will--you can't ride at all.

StephenH

Floyd

I did one like in the previous post and also extended the handlebar stem to be comfortable...with the seat post extended it put the seat over the back tire so too easy to pull a wheelie, however it is ridable.............so yes it is possible, in my humble 2-cent opinion.

StephenH

https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/bik/1220005826.html

Blais

Another thing to do, if you are welding inclined, is to make a mini-tall bike out of 2 tiny frames. I just built one for a buddy (pics soon) where the pilot sits on the upper frame but uses the cranks on the lower frame. It's pretty fun, a little wierd to get used to but that comes with the territory

geo8rge

Just remember that while flat it is rough terrain, and you will be riding at night wo steetlights or defined roads. You might want foam hand grips and a sprung saddle. EL wire: https://www.elwire.com/

smittie61984

Walmart OCC chopper bike FTW!!! You can probalby find them used on craigslist for super cheap too. Grab an airbrush and some drugged up artist (should be plenty at BM) and go to town on that bad boy.

I've never peddled a OCC Chopper bike but my buddy and I plan to get a couple of used ones and use them in a sprint triathlon at the end of the year. We are going to wear white t-shirts with rolled up cigarettes and one of those fake cigarettes that puff smoke and cruise around the island with motorcycle spiked helmets. It'll be on St. Simons Island in Georgia and is a flat island for easy riding. We just want to goof off in that one.

However we plan to change the gearing if it's really heavy or too easy.

Makai

i think crappy old beach cruisers are the bike to have at burning man. definitely only need single speed whatever you bring...

laura*

Whatever bike you get, make sure that the wheel hubs and bottom bracket are sealed. If they aren't sealed, playa dust will get into the bearings, and by the end of the week your hubs will seize up.

mastershake916

That's why you pack everything with tons of grease, marine grease, thick nasty marine grease.

jeph

+1 on the EL wire, check out coolneon.com. Make your self visiable at night at the open playa is pretty crazy w/ the art cars. I liked the idea of making a tall bike someone else posted. but if the playa turns to moondust your kinda screwed, make sure you have fat tires, it can get like riding in beach sand. Also, that dust is alkaline, so any exposed steel will rust up and Aluminum will oxidize. I would base any bike you take to be cheap and somewhat disposable.

I haven't been in a few years but i was told last year the playa became unrideable.

Also, fur is cool. Maybe like a bunny rabbit.

Have fun, it's a great time.