Posted: 5/2/2009 3:08:31 PM EDT
| Have you made one? How well does it work? Pics? |
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No need to be a smartass, a bike can get you 3 times as far as foot travel; with less exertion to boot.
for a BOB (bug out bike) though for me it will be more a a "get me home" bike. You want a mountain bike, it can go on terrain that other bikes can't. Get a hardtail with front shocks. I have a trek 4300 that I've had 5 years (didn't use it much for 3 of those years), lately I've been riding the heck out of it on offroad bike trails. I'm putting a rear rack on it (made by trek) that will hold 50 pounds of gear; I plan on getting some 2600-3000cubic inch pannier bags for survival gear, a couple of frame mounted bags for spare parts (chain, inner tubes, pump, and tools), and finally I will get this  : M4-gery scabbard for my M4gery or 20" if it will fit. The scabbard will be lashed to the rear rack.
I probably won't have 50 pounds of gear on the rack What I think will go on the bike: -3 to 4days food -tent/hammock, sleeping mat, and sleeping bag (these can be bungied on top of the rear rack) -M4gery and spare ammo (if I feel I need to bug out with a long arm, and I may just have a case to carry it broken down and hidden). -spare batteries for lights/radio -spare undies and socks -wood saw (folding) and folding shovel -fuel for camp stove and camp stove (MST whisperlite international) -sawyer water filter and filter bag -flares -water bottles and bags Then I'll go "lite" on the pack. I'll load my eagle AIII with the following -1 to 2 days food and some snacks -Katadyn hiker water filter -fire tender -navigation gear (navigation compass, GPS, maps) -rain gear (pants and top) -100oz camel back -trauma/first aid kit (the tactical response kit plus some other things) -spare socks -bug spray -Yaesu VX-5r 2m/70cm/6m FM transceiver (and a spare battery) -long wire antenna for the VX-5r (so I can get better reception of SW and AM/FM broadcasts) This is just a 20 foot wire with an alligator clip soldered on one end -Binoculars -hygiene items (tooth brush, toothpaste, 2 disposable razors, a mini bottle of shaving cream, hand sanitizing gel, washcloth, fingernail clippers) -one roll of tiolet paper in a ziplock bag I'm sure I'm missing some things but that's the gist of it. I do have a low profile chest rig that holds 6 AR mags, and I'll fit that in somewhere (I don't want o be wearing it) I will also have some very essential gear in my pockets/on my belt. |
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You can carry a ton o' stuff via bike or trike. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b353/vic303/caronbike.jpg BWAHAHA you about got my coffee with that one; right click and save. He may have ten bux of metal in that load depending on the scrap market. |
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prepping to move the 22-400 gang requires more than just a bike http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/PA22-400/CIMG0199.jpg Nice Prophet! Come SHTF I'm jumping on this: 
There are local trails that I could get "lost" on with the bike much more quickly than with a vehicle. I also know some good places that can't be reached by a vehicle, which makes the bike nice. Can make 20 miles a day easy. No need for gas, and this bike isn't going to break on me. |
| Yep, I will echo most everyone else. We have a Felt (mine) and two Haro's (wife and daughters) and we ride regularly. Tacoma first but we would not hesitate to bug on our bikes! Get the absolute best bike you can buy. I would go for Felt, Haro, or Specialized and would go for 1-2 models above the entry level if you are planning anything serious. |
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I took a picture of this one outside of a McDonalds.
Posted it here but only got a few responses. Looks like a cheaper trailer, better ones are available. Years ago I was serious into riding. Had a custom built road bike. I would make a 100 mile ride every Sunday and around 10-20 miles a day the rest of the week. Beats the hell out of walking. 
Bad cell phone pic through tinted windows. |
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I took a picture of this one outside of a McDonalds. Posted it here but only got a few responses. Looks like a cheaper trailer, better ones are available. snip . Beats the hell out of walking. http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq140/wsmith70/IMG00312.jpg Bad cell phone pic through tinted windows. There are really only 3 or 4 responses to a BObike thread 1 smartass wheelbarrow comments 2 the vc did it, just load up teh bike and push it 3 get teh saddle bags(paniers) 4 get teh trailer you got all 4 in your thread and I think all 4 are here now. Quoted:
Wow riding that rig up even a modest hill must be murder. Put the same load on your back and hike up that same hill 
You can see the hill climbing gear set in that pic 
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I have a road touring bike with front and rear racks, front and rear panniers. I have camping equipment and have ridden unsupported two and three week tours. All I would need to add to the list of equipment I have is extra food, since I doubt if I could buy it along the way, and add what ever firearms for self defense and food gathering.
I have thought about developing a setup to carry in the trunk of my car to work daily in the event of a major attack, like an EMP attack, where I would then have to get home (20 mi.) unsupported. |
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prepping to move the 22-400 gang requires more than just a bike http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/PA22-400/CIMG0199.jpg Nice Prophet! Come SHTF I'm jumping on this: http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/Supafreak_711/pbpic2011731.jpg There are local trails that I could get "lost" on with the bike much more quickly than with a vehicle. I also know some good places that can't be reached by a vehicle, which makes the bike nice. Can make 20 miles a day easy. No need for gas, and this bike isn't going to break on me. No cleats? Hardwarz |
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A bike might have some merit for a sole survivor trying to get out of an urban area during SHTF.
Everyone knows that the roads will be gridlocked. If you are on your own, you can pedal your way on sidewalks, paths, parks, and even between cars that are at a standstill. The bike would certainly beat walking and if you are trying to get outta dodge before the Bio Cloud hits, and the roads are jammed, the bike is a possibility. Note: knowing all the possible bike routes will be of key importance. Also, protecting yourself will be key, all those other people are going to decide they want your bike after hoofing a mile or three. |
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A bike might have some merit for a sole survivor trying to get out of an urban area during SHTF. Everyone knows that the roads will be gridlocked. If you are on your own, you can pedal your way on sidewalks, paths, parks, and even between cars that are at a standstill. The bike would certainly beat walking and if you are trying to get outta dodge before the Bio Cloud hits, and the roads are jammed, the bike is a possibility. Note: knowing all the possible bike routes will be of key importance. Also, protecting yourself will be key, all those other people are going to decide they want your bike after hoofing a mile or three. +1 on above. Seems that if you have to bug-out on a bike you're probably better off bugging in. But as a get-home vehicle if you work in an urban area, then it may do when nothing else will. Just make sure your carry weapon is VERY accessible, 'cause if it comes down to this you're gonna' need it badly! 
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You should look into cyclocross bikes. They are essentially road bikes with mountain bike tires, there is a little more to them but you get the point. This would allow you to go off road with no problems and you would be a little quicker on the street. Or just a regular mountain bike with narrower tires. |
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prepping to move the 22-400 gang requires more than just a bike http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/PA22-400/CIMG0199.jpg Nice Prophet! Come SHTF I'm jumping on this: http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/Supafreak_711/pbpic2011731.jpg There are local trails that I could get "lost" on with the bike much more quickly than with a vehicle. I also know some good places that can't be reached by a vehicle, which makes the bike nice. Can make 20 miles a day easy. No need for gas, and this bike isn't going to break on me. No cleats? Hardwarz No desire to have my feet locked into anything. The bike probably sees more downhill/freeride than it was made for, and I like having the mobility. To each his own, but not cleats for me. |
If you're into the idea, check out http://www.worksman.com/. They are made in the U.S.A., heavy duty, and they have a photo from the sandbox on their home page right now 
My only bike (and default SHTF/BOBike) is a Kona Smoke commuter with Specialized Armadillo (Kevlar reinforced) tires. When I first saw this thread, I thought it was about motorcycles, and was going to post a link to Hayes Motorcycles for those who have not found them yet 
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schwinn 21-speed mountain bike, which is my top priority for the summer. i went with a solid frame instead of a suspension to keep the mechanical complexity to a minimum. have already mounted the mtn rack to provide a base for the rear saddlebag-type arrangement––BOB on one side and a full MWC on the other will balance almost perfectly. since my BOB is an eberlestock, i also have the rifle scabbard taken care of with this arrangement. adding the front fork bags as pictured a couple of posts ago, and replacing the brakes and cabling.
significant considerations: -CoG as low as possible -high spoke count rims -robust shift mechanism/mechanical simplicity -spares/tools mounted on the bike itself -possibility of outriggers (don't laugh, but i've looked for heavy duty training wheels to aid loaded stability) -weight considerations -routing considerations––the bike gives more options in most cases, but a heavy load will limit you severely if offroad is called for. -ability to dump the bike in a hurry, without spending 10min unstrapping gear from the frame. some people have talked about a bike trailer, but i'm suspicious of them. until i get a chance to play with one, i'm sticking with the most simple arrangement possible. |
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schwinn 21-speed mountain bike, which is my top priority for the summer. i went with a solid frame instead of a suspension to keep the mechanical complexity to a minimum. have already mounted the mtn rack to provide a base for the rear saddlebag-type arrangement––BOB on one side and a full MWC on the other will balance almost perfectly. since my BOB is an eberlestock, i also have the rifle scabbard taken care of with this arrangement. adding the front fork bags as pictured a couple of posts ago, and replacing the brakes and cabling. significant considerations: -CoG as low as possible -high spoke count rims -robust shift mechanism/mechanical simplicity -spares/tools mounted on the bike itself -possibility of outriggers (don't laugh, but i've looked for heavy duty training wheels to aid loaded stability) -weight considerations -routing considerations––the bike gives more options in most cases, but a heavy load will limit you severely if offroad is called for. -ability to dump the bike in a hurry, without spending 10min unstrapping gear from the frame. some people have talked about a bike trailer, but i'm suspicious of them. until i get a chance to play with one, i'm sticking with the most simple arrangement possible. Adult training wheels? WUT? Link? I can tow my trailer anywhere a wheelchair can roll; as far as though doors and gates. The handling of my bike really doesn't change with the trailer; uphill gets slower, and downhill gets faster though. I really don't see why you would fear the mobility of a trailer, yet consider outriggers worth the cost. |
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schwinn 21-speed mountain bike, which is my top priority for the summer. i went with a solid frame instead of a suspension to keep the mechanical complexity to a minimum. have already mounted the mtn rack to provide a base for the rear saddlebag-type arrangement––BOB on one side and a full MWC on the other will balance almost perfectly. since my BOB is an eberlestock, i also have the rifle scabbard taken care of with this arrangement. adding the front fork bags as pictured a couple of posts ago, and replacing the brakes and cabling. significant considerations: -CoG as low as possible -high spoke count rims -robust shift mechanism/mechanical simplicity -spares/tools mounted on the bike itself -possibility of outriggers (don't laugh, but i've looked for heavy duty training wheels to aid loaded stability) -weight considerations -routing considerations––the bike gives more options in most cases, but a heavy load will limit you severely if offroad is called for. -ability to dump the bike in a hurry, without spending 10min unstrapping gear from the frame. some people have talked about a bike trailer, but i'm suspicious of them. until i get a chance to play with one, i'm sticking with the most simple arrangement possible. Adult training wheels? WUT? Link? I can tow my trailer anywhere a wheelchair can roll; as far as though doors and gates. The handling of my bike really doesn't change with the trailer; uphill gets slower, and downhill gets faster though. I really don't see why you would fear the mobility of a trailer, yet consider outriggers worth the cost. don't fear a trailer, just suspicious of it until i get a chance to ride with one. as for the outriggers, i've tlaked to a couple of guys who ride asian-style trikes, and they absolutely love them for stuff hauling. according to them, the cost in mobility is more than made up for by energy savings, comfort, and convenience. |
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In all seriousness, it is a feasible idea. I did some interweb searching, and found this site. http://www.motoredbikes.com/index.php They are a group of people who put motors on bikes. It could be an economical way to cover some serious distance. Incorperate a mountain bike with a motor, and a little trailer, and viola. The cool thing is the prices on the kits. Couldn't hurt, and they look kind of fun.
Matt |
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I've never been a hard core bicyclist but I do ride my bike for exercise and have taken a couple long trips on it. Unless you are a kid, teen or young adult, you will need some conditioning to be able to ride more than 10 miles or so. If you are not in condition don't expect to do much more than that without being extremely tired and sore the next day.
If you intend to bug out on a bike you need to figure how far you intend to go and then figure out what you are capable of. I can ride 50 miles but will need 4-5 hours to recuperate. I would not be able to do that in the snow, high winds or heavy rain. The point is that one would have to have a strategy in which bugging out on a bike might be one option but not the only or primary one. |
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schwinn 21-speed mountain bike, which is my top priority for the summer. i went with a solid frame instead of a suspension to keep the mechanical complexity to a minimum. have already mounted the mtn rack to provide a base for the rear saddlebag-type arrangement––BOB on one side and a full MWC on the other will balance almost perfectly. since my BOB is an eberlestock, i also have the rifle scabbard taken care of with this arrangement. adding the front fork bags as pictured a couple of posts ago, and replacing the brakes and cabling. significant considerations: -CoG as low as possible -high spoke count rims -robust shift mechanism/mechanical simplicity -spares/tools mounted on the bike itself -possibility of outriggers (don't laugh, but i've looked for heavy duty training wheels to aid loaded stability) -weight considerations -routing considerations––the bike gives more options in most cases, but a heavy load will limit you severely if offroad is called for. -ability to dump the bike in a hurry, without spending 10min unstrapping gear from the frame. some people have talked about a bike trailer, but i'm suspicious of them. until i get a chance to play with one, i'm sticking with the most simple arrangement possible. I hope this doesn't crash their site, but: 
When toughness matters, Worksman Industrial Tricycles and Bicycles are the perfect vehicles for the job. Shown Above is a Worksman Mover Industrial Trike being used by The US Army. LINK
Is it just me, or does it look like it could use a pintle mount and an M240 
ETA check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_infantry |
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snip significant considerations: -CoG as low as possible -high spoke count rims -robust shift mechanism/mechanical simplicity -spares/tools mounted on the bike itself -possibility of outriggers (don't laugh, but i've looked for heavy duty training wheels to aid loaded stability) -weight considerations -routing considerations––the bike gives more options in most cases, but a heavy load will limit you severely if offroad is called for. -ability to dump the bike in a hurry, without spending 10min unstrapping gear from the frame. some people have talked about a bike trailer, but i'm suspicious of them. until i get a chance to play with one, i'm sticking with the most simple arrangement possible. Adult training wheels? WUT? Link? I can tow my trailer anywhere a wheelchair can roll; as far as though doors and gates. The handling of my bike really doesn't change with the trailer; uphill gets slower, and downhill gets faster though. I really don't see why you would fear the mobility of a trailer, yet consider outriggers worth the cost. don't fear a trailer, just suspicious of it until i get a chance to ride with one. as for the outriggers, i've tlaked to a couple of guys who ride asian-style trikes, and they absolutely love them for stuff hauling. according to them, the cost in mobility is more than made up for by energy savings, comfort, and convenience. The trailer allows the bike to handle just like a bike, but you can't bunny hop. I can lay my bike down on either side, and the trailer stays upright. The trailer doesn't change the CG of the bike because the load at the hitch is only a few pounds. My kids high center their training wheel bikes on pebbles, that is why I said "wut? Link?" Training wheels are such a drag that even the kids are glad to get off them. A trike is going to be more difficult to store (my trailers fold flat) and harder to carry on a car. ETA The trailer will not fit on a bike rack though, it needs to be inside the BOV or in a cargo box while being hauled. |