Posted: 11/5/2008 3:42:14 PM EDT
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I had some spare time today, and I was thinking about farfal's post about how out most important survival item is our body. So I opened up the garage and tuned up my old bicycle.
The tires needed some air, and one of the shifters didn't seem to have any effect on pulling the cables. Once I ruled out the cables stretching and just needing an adjustment I resorted to what I consider a very important survival skill/philosophy, "If it's already broken, you might as well try and fix it, it can't get any worse". So I took the shifter apart, it's one of those push/pull type that mount under the handlebar. There was a part that was supposed to be spring loaded, but when I moved it against the spring it didn't spring back into place. I little gun oil and it was springing back into place. Long story short, it is good as new. Total cost: Nothing. Well now that I had a working bike I went for a long bike ride, boy I don't remember my legs burning so bad in a long time. When I finally got home again I felt really good all over. I had more energy than when I left, I could tell all the muscles in my back, shoulders, and arms got a good work out too. So, go dust off the bike in the garage, give it a little love and you've have a nice SHTF transportation option, and it just might keep you from dying from what I believe is the number one cause of death in the USA, no it's not zombies, but heart disease. |
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there are some things that can be talked about and typed about untill your blue in the face and your fingers fall off.
Until you actualy do it, you never will know the why's the whats and the reason behind it all. glad you got out there, it is more than what some folks do! |
| I have been into bicycle camping for a number of years. I have equipment for self-contained camping. When I watch TV during evacuations, and see the grid lock, I like to think I could just ride right by the traffic on a fully loaded bike. Whether I could really do it is another matter. |
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Quoted:
I've been thinking about my Mtn. bike as "alternative" transportation lately. Does anyone know of a source for bike trailers, preferably gravel road capable ones? Get the single wheeled trailers, called a BOB. They are the Noveske of bike trailers, all others are crap comparatively. The two-wheeled type are OK if you are biking on roads and paths with a lot of room where you can be slow and watchful of the trailer, but once you try a single-wheeled trailer you'll hate the two wheeled type forever. http://www.bobgear.com/trailers/ |
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Quoted:
I have been into bicycle camping for a number of years. I have equipment for self-contained camping. When I watch TV during evacuations, and see the grid lock, I like to think I could just ride right by the traffic on a fully loaded bike. Whether I could really do it is another matter. This is my plan as well, I spent nearly 3 years commuting 95% of the time on a bike, in fact my coldest commute was 3 degrees (F) in Northern New Mexico. It's pretty easy when you have the clothes for it. Now I can drive to work with no traffic in 25 minutes. I can take the bus in about 1 3/4 hours. I can use the bike to get to a better bus and get to work in 50min Or I can ride the entire way in 1hr 20 minutes (a little slower on the mountain bike) I've also tried several routes to test for ridability, road conditions, traffic, speed and safety. I'm 100% convinced that in the event of an emergency I'd be walking home if I had driven that day, but I'd be sitting very nicely if I'd been on the bike that day. I really miss living 5-10 miles from work. That was a nice ride every day, but now I have a terrible 20 mile trip with pretty poor bike access. Sad to say I've gone for 5000 miles/year on the bike to a few hundred. And I'm fat now too...... |
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Funny you mention it, running a couple of businesses my chic and I haven't had a day off in weeks. We decided Sunday was it. I pulled the bikes out of storage, mine hadn't been ridden in at least 5 years.
Funny the battery in the trip computer still was good... It was installed in 1999 (!) New tires and oil on the chains, adj the shifters and we did about 11 miles through central Austin's hills. It was cool, a very different experience than my usual truck or motorcycle. We had a great time, stopped at a few places for beverages and food, and noticed just how fun it is in good weather to bike around. Now back to business... both bikes need cargo capabilities, locks, and I need a few spare parts for the repair kit (derailer spring on one was toast). All in all, it's a hell of a nice way to get up from the 2-3 mph on foot to a decent 15mph on the bike. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I've been thinking about my Mtn. bike as "alternative" transportation lately. Does anyone know of a source for bike trailers, preferably gravel road capable ones? Get the single wheeled trailers, called a BOB. They are the Noveske of bike trailers, all others are crap comparatively. The two-wheeled type are OK if you are biking on roads and paths with a lot of room where you can be slow and watchful of the trailer, but once you try a single-wheeled trailer you'll hate the two wheeled type forever. http://www.bobgear.com/trailers/ I have a couple of trailers from here. My trailers were preowned when I bought them but they work well. I have done a bit of offroading with them. |