Bikes!!!

[bpenzarella]

So, I totally missed out on renting a bike from one of the local Reno bike shops...raaaaawr!
Are there anymore options for renting a bike? Will they rent out a few on the playa or are they only supplying quick, one time bike rides??

[Mrpatatomoto]

There's probably more threads on this than anything else. Use the search function. But yes, there are "yellow bikes" you just have to find them.

[BoyScoutGirl]

...Will they rent out a few on the playa...??

Um, no commerce on the playa (except for ice, coffee, and RV tank servicing). If you're looking to rent, make your arrangements off-playa.

Make sure it has wide tires and working brakes.

[BBadger]

You can sometimes find bikes for sale on the way to the event for about $50 each. Probably depends on how early you arrive.

There is no bike rental at BM in a formal sense. However, there are sometimes yellow community bikes around at BM. Good luck getting one as they are often hoarded by assholes, and you should not hoard them either.

[Mrpatatomoto]

Another option is check Reno's craigslist and see if any are cheap bikes that you can buy and donate when you leave.

[stevefarris24]

There is no bike rental at BM in a formal sense. However, there are sometimes yellow community bikes around at BM. Good luck getting one as they are often hoarded by assholes, and you should not hoard them either.

And I've HAD IT with people hoarding them. I'm bringing bolt cutters this year for any douchebag who locks one of those bikes up!

[theCryptofishist]

There is no bike rental at BM in a formal sense. However, there are sometimes yellow community bikes around at BM. Good luck getting one as they are often hoarded by assholes, and you should not hoard them either.

And I've HAD IT with people hoarding them. I'm bringing bolt cutters this year for any douchebag who locks one of those bikes up!

Yes!

[lemur]

i like it when people put a bunch of shit on the bike ..like hang a bunch of crap off it like their bag and water bottle and some other shit.. because most people arent quite dickish enough to take the bike... which means that i can actually use the bike as intended..

i neatly pile up their shit intended to 'save' the bike in a pile where the bike 'was' and ride off with the fucker. (usually next to their friends bikes)



i use them as intended.. one way rides.. when im done i park it out in the open, or before i take my butt off the seat ask a few folks around my destination if they want it..

this 'claiming' of the bike by attaching some saree and a fanniback to the handlebars is bullshit.

people who hoard bikes is bullshit

people who 'save' a bike for a friend is bullshit.



oh uhm i guess this little rant should go in the dead horse thread...

oh and uhh.. sorry if i stranded you at the showers way back there away from the city.... it might be a dick move but hey, you knew that someone might want that bike when you got on it.. i only did it that one time

[lemur]

oh and uhh.. these are what yellow bikes look like:



they say "YELLOW BIKE" in red paint on the chain guard (if its still there) and have a tag on the neck that says shit about its use/etc (if its still there)

[Elliot]

I've always thought of the Yellow Bikes as somebody's art project -- great fun but not necessarily practical. This year I have been asked to help repair them -- not sure how that will go.

That said, I highly recommend lending out bicycles on a small scale -- for those of us who have the transportation capacity, storage capacity, and repair ability.

This began my first year, when a total stranger asked to borrow a bicycle on the first day. She wanted it for an hour or two, to find her friends, but I had brought a couple of spares so I told her to use it so long as she liked. By week's end I had forgotten about it. Then she returned it. I was astonished. (File under "Eye-Opening Burning Man Experiences.")

My "customers" are always delighted, and I always wind up with more bicycles than I started with -- from repair-customers who gift their bicycle to the loaner fleet at the end of the week. A wonderful BRC "community activity".

[oneshowatatime]

If the playa is as soft this year as what I'm hearing, is it worth bringing a bike to BRC? That may sound stupid, but I've only been the past 2 years and the playa has been in good condition. Has there ever been a year when the playa was so soft it was kinda useless to try riding a bike, or is it always just kinda "patchy"--soft in some areas and hard packed in others? Curious to hear thoughts from some more seasoned burners...

Can't wait to get dusty with yall!

[portaplaya]

There is no bike rental at BM in a formal sense. However, there are sometimes yellow community bikes around at BM. Good luck getting one as they are often hoarded by assholes, and you should not hoard them either.

And I've HAD IT with people hoarding them. I'm bringing bolt cutters this year for any douchebag who locks one of those bikes up!

Just report it to the Rangers. They will contact the support team for the Yellow Bikes. From the one encounter I saw, heated words and threats to evict from the event result.
By rumor, I heard that spray painting a Yellow Bike a different color resulted in law enforcement action.

[Elliot]

If the playa is as soft this year as what I'm hearing, is it worth bringing a bike to BRC? That may sound stupid, but I've only been the past 2 years and the playa has been in good condition. Has there ever been a year when the playa was so soft it was kinda useless to try riding a bike, or is it always just kinda "patchy"--soft in some areas and hard packed in others? Curious to hear thoughts from some more seasoned burners...

The years become a bit of a blur, but I think it was either 2008 or 2009 when the surface was quite bad, and some spots almost impassable. But you should expect to come across a few soft spots, and a few dunes, any year.
I've done some walking in BRC. It's perfectly doable. And even preferable for some activities, like exploring Esplanade in the evening, or exploring your own neighborhood. But I would bring the bike this year as always. I expect you'll get at least some use out of it.

[theCryptofishist]

Both 2008 and 2009 stank if you were dependent on wheels to get around. I don't want to tell anyone how frustrated I am already contemplating the reports on the playa surface.

[portaplaya]

There is still time to get those boots and shoes broken in...

[Lonesomebri]

I remember the year I borrowed the yellow/green/community bikes for transport.........then I saw the bike riding shirt-cocker.........

[Canoe]

brakes.jpg

[BBadger]

I remember the year I borrowed the yellow/green/community bikes for transport.........then I saw the bike riding shirt-cocker.........

I imagine the reaction was like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuboJiAUMd8&feature=player_detailpage#t=95s

[BraveNewWorld]

My bike plan is to just grab a cheap one from Walmart and then donate it afterwards. I think you can buy a cheap one for $60 bucks or so and then clean it up a bit and pass it off to a kid who doesn't have a bike.

Does anyone know if the people who supply the yellow loaner bikes accept used bikes at the end of the event to use for next year? I will definitely clean it up as best I can before donating it.

[portaplaya]

My bike plan is to just grab a cheap one from Walmart and then donate it afterwards. I think you can buy a cheap one for $60 bucks or so and then clean it up a bit and pass it off to a kid who doesn't have a bike.

Does anyone know if the people who supply the yellow loaner bikes accept used bikes at the end of the event to use for next year? I will definitely clean it up as best I can before donating it.

The Yellow Bike team does not accept donated bikes. All of their bikes are the same make and model so they can use the same parts for repair and can easily be identified if repainted.

[Elliot]

My bike plan is to just grab a cheap one from Walmart and then donate it afterwards. I think you can buy a cheap one for $60 bucks or so and then clean it up a bit and pass it off to a kid who doesn't have a bike.

Yes, probably not much over $60,-. A couple of years ago someone gave me a Walmart "Roadmaster" bicycle that still had the price tag on it; $59,95.
And if you wish, I'm happy to accept unwanted bicycles at my Bicycle Repair And Loan Service for use as a loaner next year, or some other use. You don't need to clean it. I know it seems tacky to post this, but some folks have said I did them a favor by removing a bicycle they could not take with them on the air plane, so hopefully I did not offend anyone just now. I expect to be around 5:00 and H, in a big Blue Bird bus with a white front and a big awning over it, until Tuesday.

[BraveNewWorld]

My bike plan is to just grab a cheap one from Walmart and then donate it afterwards. I think you can buy a cheap one for $60 bucks or so and then clean it up a bit and pass it off to a kid who doesn't have a bike.

Yes, probably not much over $60,-. A couple of years ago someone gave me a Walmart "Roadmaster" bicycle that still had the price tag on it; $59,95.
And if you wish, I'm happy to accept unwanted bicycles at my Bicycle Repair And Loan Service for use as a loaner next year, or some other use. You don't need to clean it. I know it seems tacky to post this, but some folks have said I did them a favor by removing a bicycle they could not take with them on the air plane, so hopefully I did not offend anyone just now. I expect to be around 5:00 and H, in a big Blue Bird bus with a white front and a big awning over it, until Tuesday.

Doesn't seem tacky to me! I will write down your info and keep it in mind for donating my bike. Thank you, Elliot!

[Elliot]

Wondermuss! Your bicycle would have three or four possible uses:
1. Loaner next year.
2. Gifted to a burner whose own bicycle is beyond repair.
3. Gifted locally here in Clearlake -- a very poor community.
4. Parted out to repair other bicycles, and perhaps some of the parts would be used for a larger pedal vehicle.

[BraveNewWorld]

Wondermuss! Your bicycle would have three or four possible uses:
1. Loaner next year.
2. Gifted to a burner whose own bicycle is beyond repair.
3. Gifted locally here in Clearlake -- a very poor community.
4. Parted out to repair other bicycles, and perhaps some of the parts would be used for a larger pedal vehicle.

Excellent! Glad you responded to my post! Expect a gently-used WalMart bike at the end of the event

[waynerd]

I'm thinking of stopping here on the way in, buying a bike for $55 and then donating it back after the burn. My only worry is that they won't have any left. Anyone else heard of them?

http://www.renobikeproject.com/stuff-we-do/burning-man-bikes/

[Marscrumbs]

Makes me sad seeing how trashed the yellow bikes are by week's end. I had to use them as my bike got stolen last year on thursday. Tragedy of the commons.

[lucky.bastard]

last year i bought one online at walmart and picked it up in reno... worked perfect..., maybe to late at this point but i'd give it a try.., they seemed to have a few available in the store when i got there (i think they know what kinda shit we are going to need by this point).... funny thing was it was a green beach cruiser that someone thought i had stolen from the yellow bikes... gave me a little attitude

[Canoe]

... funny thing was it was a green beach cruiser that someone thought i had stolen from the yellow bikes... gave me a little attitude

The donor frame for my bike project has a green front half and a yellow rear suspension cage. Just asking for trouble. Time for some paint.

[MacGlenver]

phpBB [video]

[BAS]

I stopped by the Freewheel Community Bike Shop and talked to them about constructing some of my projects there, so I have at least some progress to report.