RangerScott

I posted this message in the General Forum... I was told I should come here, due to all the experts here in long distance cycling.

Ok, assume the following: there is a state of emergency, gas is $10/gal, whatever... the darkness has come. I need to get home (to my Mom's). It's ~180 miles away. FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!!! I'm thinking of using a bike to get home; I estimate it would take ~4-5 days. I'm thinking of getting a Dahon Jack. $500 is about my limit with respect to cost. I would like to get a folding bike (I have very little room to store stuff). Ideas??? Any way to make a bike more "failsafe" (ie puncture-proof tires)???

Update: According to the folks in the general forum, I should get a very simple, single speed, steel, caliper brakes, bigger tires bike. Also, they say it should only take 1-2 days (I'll figure on 3-4 to account for detours and evasions).

Fine, any advice on brand/model??? I got a Camelbak backpack, any idea on how to attach it to the bike??? Don't worry, I will get panniers too. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Scott

AndrewP

Get a used hybrid or road bike with quill stem. This type of stem is easy to turn sideways, then the bike takes very little room to store. 28 or 32 mm wide tires roll fast without sacrificing comfort, and ones with kevlar belts are much less prone to flats. Unless you are very fit you should get gears for changing conditions - hills, head or tail winds, or tiredness. Lycra shorts make distance riding much easier than cotton pants.

kayakboy

I agree with getting a hybrid bike. That is a fancy word for a middle of the road bike. They are made for road riding, and can handle bumpy terrain because they are set up for comfort. The most imporntant thing to ensure a pleasureable trip is make sure the bike fits. Generally, it is good to have the handlebars at least as high as the seat, Otherwise you will be bent over the bike and will put too much strain on your writs.

If you want a folding bike, get one. Search for information, the web will tell you enough to make an educated guess.
You should wear the camlebak, or take out the bladder and hold it in your panniers. Good luck, This will be a great, Have fun persuing it.

kayakboy

https://ucycle.com/bikes/item.php?nam...d7&cat=folding
https://ucycle.com/bikes/item.php?nam...ir&cat=folding
Just found these two, you definatly want gears. You should be able to find one localy to test ride, Price is right.

treebound 

This is depressing, Y2K-round2?
Not sure where in the world you're located, but if "the darkness" has indeed fallen I'm thinking you'll be a bit exposed riding a bicycle.

Here in the northern hemisphere the days are getting longer, the snow and ice appears to finally be starting the big melt, birds are starting to appear. My advice would be to get out for a few walks and start getting into shape while you're shopping around. Head to a local bike shop and start looking at bikes. Just tell the sales people that you're not ready to buy but just want to start getting familiar with what the different bike styles offer. Also ask if they offer any basic instruction on bike maintenance such as fixing a flat and adjusting your brakes and other bike components. You're shopping will be time well spent as you learn and become more aware of the current offerings. Then, later this year, once you've got a bike, you can start riding it and slowly increasing your mileage as you learn how far you can go in a few hours to a few days. Maybe by the end of summer you could do a test run to your mom's place over a long weekend. Head there on a Thursday/Friday, rest up Saturday, head back Sunday/Monday.

Just a thought. I'm more concerned with $4/gallon gas than I am about $10/gallon gas, and I have other concerns beside this darkness thing such as what I'm going to have for dinner tomorrow. Cycling is supposed to be fun, enjoy the daylight.

Fueled by Boh

when the apocalypse comes i wouldn't want to be on a folding bike. how can you look cool tooling around post apocalyptic america on a folding bike? think the road by cormac mccarthy fused with quicksilver (feat. kevin bacon) and a dash of mad max. you'll pretty much have to pick a tribe to belong to... i could elaborate but i won't. perhaps each forum will divide into competing factions! what fun.

Thasiet

When the darkness finally comes the freak bike tribe is going don the dog collars and eat the folding bikers for lunch, so I wouldn't enlist with them. Come to think of it, your mom might try to eat you too. Nothing like a good old apocalypse to activate that insect instinct in the very back of our brainstems.

My recommendation: If you don't smoke dope, start. If you do, stop.

Machka 

Actually, I suggested you have a look in this site to see what touring cyclists ride, but post this thread in the Living Car Free site. The Living Car Free people would love a thread like this.

However, while you're here, and while it is still light ... have you ever consider doing a tour by bicycle?

BengeBoy 

[I am deleting my original text because of information posted below on the OP]

ryansexton

180 miles isn't that much to worry about. I clocked 125K in one day, and I started at 12:00, and had a backpack only, with a sweater and a bagel. I think you could do about the same in a day if you really wanted to. Also, my 125 in one day was unplanned, windy, and at the beginning of my long distance riding. Training helps, but any old ted can do it. I also could have went on longer, but I had no lights and it was dark.

gregw

I would recommend counseling, this type of doomsday worry is bad for your personal mental health.

TheBrick

The world ends a $10 a gallon? Well I should start worrying because fuel is only a few cents off that level in the uk..

staehpj1

+1 If this is a serious question, you need help.
Also I wouldn't shop ahead. When the apocalypse comes they may have a sale. Besides you can always walk.

Bizurke

If you're that worried about gas prices rising and ending the world I would suggest selling your car and buying a fleet of bikes. Then when the DARKNESS falls you can sell them or rent them for extremely high prices to people as you're getting out of town!

I sure hope this is not a serious question.. if so there may be some info here that may help you. And don't worry, the darkness is not behind that link ;-)

BengeBoy 

[i am deleting my original text here because of information posted below on the OP]

cmcanulty

Check out the folding forum

Machka 

Here are a couple questions for the OP ... what kind of bicycle do you have now? And how much do you currently ride it?

n4zou

https://www.gengas.nu/byggbes/index.shtml



I built one of these and installed it on a VW in the 1970's. (First oil embargo)
I've started building another one for my 1974 Ford truck. (Wood is cheaper than $10 gas)
Gasoline? I don't need no stinking Gasoline!

roughrider504

I think a Bakfiet would be an awesome bicycle in the post apocalypse world. You could stockpile the cargo area with food and ammunition and bolt a few gun racks to the side for your assortment of assault rifles and shotguns.

chipcom 

Don't forget a helmet!

Bacciagalupe

Yeah, I'm definitely afraid of The Darkness.





If you can't afford a bus ticket or enough gas to drive 180 miles in a major emergency, no bike is going to solve your problems.

jamawani 

Hire Tina Turner and Mel Gibson to give you a ride in their rig.
But make sure Mel hasn't been drinking. ;-)

vik 

That's my plan and why I have 6 bikes...lol..!.....

NoReg

I agree about the 10 dollar gas it was about what it is here now, in the UK when I was there in '76.

"No, I just keep a gun. If things really get that bad I figure we'll all be fighting for survival and all that will matter is how well you're armed and how well you shoot."

(Please note: he said it, not me)

Yeah but given the number of guns out there it might be a good idea to come up with a way of using them to power cars, cause there sure won't be a gun shortage any time soon.

wahoonc

Mass transit may not be operational, and if gas is even available? I was in Mobile, AL after Katrina...there were many days when gas was not available at any price. Bicycle worked just fine for getting around.

While I don't particularly buy the instant darkness theory, I do believe that the US petroleum system is very fragile and we are seldom more than a day away from disaster. All it would take is a refinery or two to go down, a pipeline to rupture, a couple of tankers to go missing or possibly a well placed terrorist attack and we would be unable to buy fuel at any costs. We do have occasional spot shortages in some locations. FWIW I never allow my work truck to get less than half full, so I can make it home from what ever jobsite I happen to be at. I also keep a bike in my truck at all times.

Also as a side note, I was in NC when Hurricane Fran rolled thru in Sept 07. The neighborhood I lived in was cut off from the surrounding area for a couple of days by downed trees and power lines. The only way in and out was by walking or cycling.

Bicycles are an excellent survival tool IMHO. Most people think of a massive 4x4 like a Hummer as the best form of survival transportation. I think not.

Aaron