Just remembered an old European Cold War prep. A lot of Europeans kept a bicycle, spare bicycle tires and tools as well as a case of whisky, just in case they had to “bug out” ahead of the advancing Russians if TSHTF.
I’m thinking that its probably a good idea to have the old touring bicycle, complete with basket or paniers, dusted off and ready if the Bird Flu SHTF. Its good exercise and a gas-less travel method. The only problems are security for yourself and of course everyone will want your bicycle.
Bolt cutters take up a lot less room in a city apartment : )
If there’s a police presence, will bolt cutters be seen as burglar tools?
I bought a Trek Navigator bike this fall and a Burley Cargo Trailer to go with it. The countryside in my area is flat enough to make biking practical. Next week I buy tools, extra innertubes, and a basic bike repair manual. I realized that a bike was a must when my car was in the shop for a week earlier this year. Walking to the grocery store was fine, but walking back again with a few bags of groceries was not fun.
Jane – at 17:46
Obviously one would have to be very careful. BTW, my Dutch friends claim that it only takes having your bike stolen twice to turn you into a thief. LOL.
By the time I am ready to ditch my preps and my abode, I am figuring things must be really bad and I don’t think the cops are going to notice or care about me “borrowing” a bike. ; )
Just don’t “borrow” mine ;→. My first one, a Raleigh hybrid, was stolen a couple of years ago, and I don’t think I’ll ever get over being outraged! I loved that bike, and I’d had it for fifteen years.
I don’t figure I’m going anywhere during the middle of an outbreak. By the time a first wave has come and gone
I grimly expect that there will be bikes - and other useful things - without owners by the time a wave has come and gone.
InKy – at 18:03
“I grimly expect that there will be bikes - and other useful things - without owners by the time a wave has come and gone.”
Though I have never stolen anything in my life, I sadly agree with you and that is why I purchased the bolt cutters.
P.S. Your bike is safe, Inky. I wouldn’t dream of taking it. : )
I can see it now: Inky’s bike with a big sign on it reading “ANONYMOUS: THIS IS INKY’S BIKE!” LOL
LOL Texas Rose. LOL!
What if we all tried that sign? ;-)
“ANONYMOUS: THIS IS INKY’S BIKE!”
(anonymous would be amazed how many bicycles Inky needs.)
Inky could be a modern day Pony Express, except on a bike. That’s why there would be a need for so many bikes.
HI-HO, HUFFY! AWAAAAAYYYY!
(I’m being silly tonight)
I’m kind of counting on my horses if I things deteriorate to the point where there is no gas and autos are impractical. I also have a rifle scabbard. >;) We also have four wheelers and several hundred gallons of gas.
I just got another dual suspension mountain bike. Very tough this this new one. The other two already have small 2 stroke petrol motors and are fast, comfortable and economical. These may not be much use during an actual pandemic, but are fun right now and could end up being transportation after. We plan on horses one day too.
I’ve always loved horses. Just you wait - I’ll barter toilet paper and beans and those darned beet seeds in my AAOOB Foods bucket of seeds for a pretty dapple grey mare who lives a few miles up the road. Just look for a placard around her neck, “THIS IS INKY’S HORSE.”
I just returned from spending five days at Interbike (international bicycle trade show). Lots of interesting new products—check Revopower, a small motor inside of a front wheel for a bicycle—gets 200 mpg and goes 20 mph (just under the limit to get a license for it.)
Walrus
What’s a “paniers”?
I want one of those things like the oriental’s have… where you sit, and somebody or something pulls you aroung! Like… all these grandkids of mine! That oughta keep ‘em busy!
We do have bikes. And making sure there is “fixing stuff” for them is a really good suggestion!
EnoughAlready – at 01:37
Panniers = “side bags” that hang on the back rack or front fork of a bike. See example at
http://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/
I am already set up for the bike-transportation-system and ride around 250 miles a week; being in shape will help to get uphill when the pandemic hits :). I am not saying ride as much as I do, but being able to ride your bike over longer distances will help! And, get a good comfy saddle, that’s key. If you don’t know how to fix your bike, including things like your chain or bottom bracket, I’d recommend to take a weekend course (ask your local bike store). The one thing I am still looking to get is a used bike trailor to pull larger amounts of water etc., if needed. Craigslist is the place to go for used bike stuff. Every state has it’s own site, here is the one for my area http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/co Going out for a ride here in a couple minutes, the snow melted of the roads, blue sky and sunny out there.
One of the best things ever created for bikes is the solid innertubes. No air/bike pump required. They may be expensive to start with (abt $20 each at Wal-mart) but well worth the price long term. They are the best way to go if you live in an area with lots of thorns and such around that can puncture a tire. They should go on everyone’s prep list if they plan to keep a bike around for transportation.
Yup, I have a bike as well that could be used if need be.
I also think that as stated earlyer there well be stuff, houses, cars with no owners any more. So one thing in my car kit and home kit is a small crow bar and lengeth of hose for reappropriating gas supplies.
All though travel may not be an option.
Another avid cyclist here.I’ve got a road bike and a mountain bike. My road bike is set up indoors now on my trainer which will provide me with lots of cardio workouts. I plan to use my cheap mountain bike for transportation &/or towing things. If you aren’t use to this type of exercise you may want to put in a few hours a week now whether that’s an indoor cycling class or out on the road.
One’s bicycle on a stand can also be used to charge batteries. See my book here online at Fluwikie for ways to do that.
Will, thank you. That’s a great idea. I’ve downloaded the book to learn how.
I recall that the VC used to move tremendous amounts of materiel using bicyles. Field improvised panniers I have seen fabricated from plastic waste baskets and parachute cord.
Does anyone have a recommendation for bike trailers?
Also, what about electric or gas assistance? I have seen little gas motors and also some motor-generator bike units for bikes but know little about them. Can anyone point me in a good direction?
And as far as someone stealing my bike, I keep it inside the house, and I have a krytonite cable lock for the rare occasions I go out. Bolt cutters won’t do it.
If TSHTF, I would view an attempt to take my bike as the folks in the old West viewed stealing a man’s horse, and would react in a similar fashion, as I would to any lethal threat. I have no scabbard, but my serious social rifle has a sling…..I like to keep my arms at hand.
Can’t speak for the police, but *I* would ask some very pointed questions of anyone I found prowling my place with bolt cutters. Reminds me of signs I saw on TV during the aftermath of Katrina and Rita, not to mention the King riots in LA - “You loot, we shoot”. I strongly suggest that potential thieves might want to keep that in mind, as I am sure that I’m not the only person who saw those signs…..
LMWatBullRun – at 08:51
Among avid cyclists (uprights and recumbents) the “beast of burden” (“BOB”) trailers have an excellent reputation. I have not used one. See their website at
http://www.bobtrailers.com/trailers/
Thanks, Dennis, cool product and I see they have a dealer right near me. Will go and check that out. Never thought of something like that, was thinking along the lines of a 2-wheeled cart. Neat!
Any thoughts or ideas on adding a little power? I realize this may be repugnant to purists, but my knees aren’t as young as they used to be……
Another good one is the Burley Cargo Trailer. I haven’t assembled mine yet, but these get very good reviews as workhorse trailers and can carry 100 lbs. There are also cargo trailers from Chariot, but I don’t know much about these. I chose the Burley because I wanted the stability of a two-wheel trailer.
LMWatBullRun – at 09:12
I agree, BOB Trailers are nice-looking. An alternative might be a used (garage sale?) child-transport trailer (the 2-wheeled kind you refer to). If one would hold 70–80 pounds, you might be able to fit two 5-gallon bottles of water under the zippered canopy. Surely you could fit at least one…
I am not snobbish about using power on a bicycle, though I do commute to work by pure pedal power, unless it is snowing or raining (a pre-dawn ride at 9°F is quite exhilarating <grin>). I do have concerns about motors that use a small wheel in contact with the bike’s tire … the wear on the tire tread would seem to be troublesome. “BionX” makes a hub drive motor that is well-respected. I have talked online to several recumbent tricycle owners who use it and they are satisfied. Again, I have no personal experience with any motor drive. See BionX web site at
http://www.bionx.ca/index.php?id=main&module=default&page_id=31&language=en
What is the most reliable, small (not mini) dirt bike (motorized) available? (And it won’t break the bank).
InKy – at 17:35 - I’ll be stealing a horse.
Medical Maven - Just a suggestion - repeat that question in a new thread so that it isn’t missed by potentially knowledgeable folks who might not visit the bicycle thread.
InKy – at 17:35 - I’ll be stealing a horse.
Then in that case, Inky, is it ok now if I “borrow” your bike?
anonymous - It’s not okay if Wolf has stolen my horse.
I have gas motors on 2 mountain bikes and have found them to be very good. They drive a ring on the spokes via a belt, so no wear on tyres. 220 mpg or better and can do 20 mph or better. they came form Golden Eagle Bike Engines in USA. Cost is about $600 plus the cost of the bike.
as noted above, check out Revopower for a motorized front wheel. This guy was one of my husband’s clients. The wheel just drops into the front fork and the fuel bottle sits in the water bottle cage. It runs very well, and is also very stable. I am going to retrofit one to my old mountain bike.
Will – at 07:44
I too, during the snowy winter, have my roadbike set up for training purposes. I haven’t thought about using my own power to produce energy :) Thank you for the info.
Jefiner – at 08:54
I had not seen/heard of Revopower before. Fascinating design. Thanks.
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