bug out bicycle?

[fungusmunkey]

I think skater helmets are fine, and usually better quality than your standard bike helmet. The hard shell would probably make them last longer. With my helmets the exposed foam gets dinged up pretty bad.

In case you buy another, I like Giro over bell for comfort but that could just be my head shape.

[eugene]

The skater helmets were recommended by an good employee of a local bike shop who uses them for his own kids. They worked better for the kids because they don't hit the backs of the seats and trailer.

[jamoni]

It's a little rough going up hills, which is why I want a smaller front chainring. That will give me a lower gear ratio, and should help climbing ability. It means a lower top speed, but it's a commuter, not a racer.
Will probably end up putting front brakes on it. Skids too easily on that skinny tire.
I see no problem with skateboard helmets, from a safety standpoint. They do trap more heat and sweat, so there's that, but if it's cold out... so what?
Frontier seems to be a decent bike, based on reviews. Nothing special, and probably a little heavy for commuter use, but the price is right.

[velojym]

OK o I've never ridden a bike like that single speed how is it getting up hills?

Depending on the bike, it can be surprisingly good. Not as much weight, less drag from drivetrain components, you feel more solidly connected through to the ground... even more so with a fixie. I have one I built up as an airport "ramp rat" bike, and I've had it on a few hills I'd normally downshift on, but was able to cronk up fine with the rat.

The Schwinn Frontier is a decent entry-level mtn bike. I bought one for my sister, but she left it outside and I rescued it and cleaned it up, so it's in my basement right now, a loaner for friends who may want to ride with me yet are too short for my own bikes. For a bugout ride, I'd actually prefer a bike like this, with no suspension and with fairly stout components that are built for the average inexperienced rider rather than the uber-lightweight racer stuff. I love my XT mechs, though.

[jamoni]

Gah. The coaster brake hub is shot. The bearing races are worn out, so there is just a ton of friction in it. Looks like I'll have to rebuild the wheel with a new hub. I think I'll get a flip flop with freewheel on one side and fixed on the other.

[velojym]

Gah. The coaster brake hub is shot. The bearing races are worn out, so there is just a ton of friction in it. Looks like I'll have to rebuild the wheel with a new hub. I think I'll get a flip flop with freewheel on one side and fixed on the other.

Those are always fun. I think Nashbar has one o' those on sale purty reasonable right now.

[techmonkey]

Eh, it's actually aluminum. Inside a steel frame. Which is why it's stuck harder than if it was steel and welded in. I've used PB blaster, WD-40 - both sprayed from top and from inside one of the water bottle bolt holes.

Did you ever get this thing out? I was looking through some old machinist books, and I think I have an answer.
Basically, you fill the seat tube with grease, up to a couple inches below the top of the seat post. You turn down a long piece of solid stock so it is a snug sliding fit inside the seat post. You put the stock inside the seat post, and whack it with a mallet. This should pressurize the inside of the tube, transferring that pressure to the seat post, and popping it out!
And for Pete's sake, take video!

... I think there' too many holes in the tube. Almost positive there's a drainhole into the crank area. And no.. no progress, I've had tons of other projects I've been working on. Lack of funds to finish the build out has dampened my motiviation to work on it as well.

Try an internal pipe wrench to get it started.

[jamoni]

I've never seen one of those!
Thanks, Techmonkey. One more tool I have to justify to the wife. :/

[Gypsyblood]

If we ever have to bug out, we'll be going by trike/bike. Someone mentioned 100 miles a day and that is very realistic, but my family has agreed to 3x20mile intervals for 60 miles per day. That will give us plenty of time for breaks and to hang hammocks at the daily destination. Here's us having a picnic at Oxborough Hall. My bug-out trike is in the background. That's a Burley Nomad trailer, rated for 100 pounds of gear, on the back of my trike.

[mk_ultra]

Big fan of Bern helmets here . In fact I really need to buy a new one .

Wound up not picking up a new winter bike and just setting mine up for the season . Needed a new front fork to fit the studded 35s that we threw on . Since I have sealed hubs and bottom bracket , I am not too worried about snow and salt , though I will surely need a new chain by spring .

The new tires rock in the snow , but suck out loud on pavement , also the new fork and larger tires are throwing off the geometry of the bike in general so it is a bit more of a pig to ride . It will be nice to get my slicks back on in the spring .

So far , I have to say winter riding is fun . Definately a challenge , but it makes you feel like a badass.

[techmonkey]

I've never seen one of those!
Thanks, Techmonkey. One more tool I have to justify to the wife. :/

That's me, the guy who knows the oddball tools, or if I can't find it, I make it.

[eugene]

If we ever have to bug out, we'll be going by trike/bike. Someone mentioned 100 miles a day and that is very realistic, but my family has agreed to 3x20mile intervals for 60 miles per day. That will give us plenty of time for breaks and to hang hammocks at the daily destination. Here's us having a picnic at Oxborough Hall. My bug-out trike is in the background. That's a Burley Nomad trailer, rated for 100 pounds of gear, on the back of my trike.

I've done a 20 mile ride with my family, that was with the kids being 2 and 4, older kids could probably do more. I'd start with 20 then work up to 20 then 30 then 33-35.

[jamoni]

So I bought some SUPER light aluminum cranks at the bike co-op. Probably dropped a pound of steel. I put those on, along with a 40 tooth chainring. I think I've got the gearing dialed in perfectly. I rode it to school today, and it was reasonably fast on the way there. I was able to get away from the lights pretty well, too. On the way home, it was geared low enough that I could get up the worst hill by standing up and mashing on it pretty good. Brakes worked surprisingly well. I only skidded once, even though the streets were wet. I'll probably add front brakes though.
Only two real issues: I still have to get the coaster brake dialed in. It's not adjusted right, so there's a big backpedal before it kicks in, No big deal. The other thing is that I didn't tighten the spokes enough, so the wheel got loose. It's at the bike shop now, getting done right.
Should pick it up tomorrow and have a fun commuter bike.

[jamoni]

Commuter bike has been fine all winter. Unfortunately my knees have not. I don't think they can hack the strain of mashing up the hills. So it's back to a geared bike. I'll be selling the single speed if anyone wants it. It's fast enough, and very fun to ride, just not what I need.

On the up shot, I've put together a decent lightweight rig for touring and hiking:
Here's my light touring bike, set up with my light hiking pack. It's not ultralight, since it tops out at more than 10 lbs, but not by much.



Here's the shelter and a little peek at some of my gear. I've added a couple things, notably an SOL Emergency Bivy, a rain suit, replaced the blanket with a "sleeping bag" (more like a sleeping bag liner made from some polypro blankets), and I've replaced the weird mess kit with a Sierra Cup. I also made up some stuff sacks for food and mess kit, and a compression sack for the sleeping bag.

Hopefully I'll make it out next weekend for a 2 nighter.

[jamoni]

Took my bike out, fully loaded, for a 20 mile shakedown. It went great! I had to tighten the seatpost because the leverage from the rack made it shift, but now it's rock solid. I also have some concerns about the saddle. I need a little more padding and a cutout for my taint. I think I'll use the one on the commuter. Other than that, no issues. The rolled up panniers were nice for picking up some stuff at the store.
I did a couple laps of Forest Park, and it was a blast to woosh past the guys in spandex and aero helmets on $2000 bikes. Light touring indeed!

[HKTackDriver]

I figured this thread was the right place to ask - does anyone have a suggestion for taking twins on a SINGLE bike? We can go with one on each of our bikes, but I trust my biking ability more than my wife.

[pkupmn98@hotmail.com]

I figured this thread was the right place to ask - does anyone have a suggestion for taking twins on a SINGLE bike? We can go with one on each of our bikes, but I trust my biking ability more than my wife.

Get a bike trailer that they both can fit in. My trailer from Wally World is rated for up to 100 lbs, and has 5 point harness' for 2 kiddos, or just one can ride in the middle. My daughter LOVES it!

[Tater Raider]

I figured this thread was the right place to ask - does anyone have a suggestion for taking twins on a SINGLE bike? We can go with one on each of our bikes, but I trust my biking ability more than my wife.

Get a bike trailer that they both can fit in. My trailer from Wally World is rated for up to 100 lbs, and has 5 point harness' for 2 kiddos, or just one can ride in the middle. My daughter LOVES it!

If you go this route, and it's a good route to go, the weight limit per child is about 50#.

[ForgeCorvus]

And when they get big enough to have their own bikes you can use it as a gear hauler

[Tater Raider]

Also you can do a trailer bicycle to help them transition from passenger to riding their own bike.

[M14fan]

Here is an interesting, versatile tool for hauling your gear with a bike and without. http://www.monowalker.com/ENG-produkt-fahrrad-lowrider.html

[eugene]

Yep, trailer bikes work well

[fungusmunkey]

Commuter bike has been fine all winter. Unfortunately my knees have not. I don't think they can hack the strain of mashing up the hills. So it's back to a geared bike. I'll be selling the single speed if anyone wants it. It's fast enough, and very fun to ride, just not what I need.

That is also the reason I have stopped riding single speeds. My old(ish) knees started aching from all of the dead starts, and I want to preserve them as long as possible. So back to gears it was for me!

[jamoni]

Sigh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O20J6I3c36U