Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:30 pm Post subject: Re: [Transportation] Bicycles
I just bought my first bike in many years last night. Been commuting to work on a friend's bike for the last few months. Only been hit by one car since I've had it .
Got a well used Trek mountain bike. Dirty as hell, but the components seem to be pretty good, plus it's made in the USA, which I always appreciate. Rode it to work today and it was faster than the hybrid bike I've been riding, even though it has knobby tires. Still getting used to the grip shifters.
What are some essential spare parts? Obviously tubes, tires, rims, chains. Brake parts? How about tools?
Last edited by Loki on Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:31 pm; edited 1 time in total
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:36 am Post subject: Re: [Transportation] Bicycles
I personally think that the bicycle is one of the greatest things ever to come into being. I have been riding for more than 35 years, recreationally, to work, to do errands, and I would have *NO* problem with a bike-oriented world, with cars something kids read about in history books.
However, I wanted to throw a couple of ideas out that I've been thinking about...
bikes require a lot in order to be effective. like roads. roads take lots of energy and machinery to build and maintain..I mean, roads in the sense we know them now.
true, you can ride a bike over lots of terrain, but that efficiency we all like on a bike is best gotten over a halfway decent road.
Ride on gravel and not only does the ride become less efficient, but you start to throw grit and mud into the drive train, which compounds the maintenence needed to keep that aspect of a bike in top shape.
And speaking of those parts...it takes serious energy and machinery to make chains, cogs, and tires, wheels, tubes...
Even if you go iwth the simple 1-speed cruiser (a great design!) parts do wear out as another poster pointed out.
So, I wonder how long we could look toward bikes as the/an answer?
Also, if we're to move toward more local living/working/sourcing of food, how necessary woud a bike BE, if we can just walk to everywhere we need anyway?
I would love to see bike usage and manufacture continue indefinitely, but if we're talking about systems and infrastructures failing or going away, then that has to include things necessary to keep the bicycle going, as well.
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 9:25 am Post subject: Re: [Transportation] Bicycles
I have a few folding Dahon's minis and some mountain bikes. Hope I can get a few gallons of gas each week on ration to run an ATV, if not then bikes and feet. My local is not bike friendly ..too many hills.
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:04 am Post subject: Re: [Transportation] Bicycles
mos6507 wrote:
zeke wrote:
So, I wonder how long we could look toward bikes as the/an answer?
Not a single part of a bike couldn't (in theory) be made without fossil fuel input.
well that's encouraging...you have poked into this subject? I don't mean to sound silly but would blacksmithy be the way? or would it be done by re-machining existing industrial leftovers into gears, wheels, etc.?
Joined: Aug 03, 2007 Posts: 3771 Location: Boston Suburbs
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:35 pm Post subject: Re: [Transportation] Bicycles
zeke wrote:
well that's encouraging...you have poked into this subject? I don't mean to sound silly but would blacksmithy be the way? or would it be done by re-machining existing industrial leftovers into gears, wheels, etc.?
I'm not sure you could make a bike via blacksmithing. Seems like the work requires too much precision. But I'm just saying that the kinds of things trotted out as being only feasible with oil are doable with bio substitutes or recycling (like rubber and plastic). I'm not saying they will scale well enough to serve 6 billion people, just that it's technically possible. People tend to have binary thinking, that all oil products go away with peak oil. Truly important oil products that can not be substituted for other materials will eventually be created from vegetable oils when the time comes.
Joined: Aug 07, 2005 Posts: 302 Location: Columbia, MO
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: [Transportation] Bicycles
My experience is that bicycles are a grand sight less reliable than motorized transportation. Seems I'm always replacing chains, tires, brakes, etc. Why can't they come up with a chain that lasts longer than 1000 miles? Most people don't ride that in years - I do that in about three months. It will make it very annoying for people to switch over.
Plus they are difficult to work on. Seemingly by design.-
I'd rather have 5 or 10 extra pounds into a bicycle that can last 20,000 miles without major maintenance, then being nickled and dimed to death.
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:22 pm Post subject: Re: [Transportation] Bicycles
I put 3,000 miles on my road bike this summer and the chain is fine.
Tubes and tires are the main cost for me.
As far as parts go...I never toss away any part I replace. I keep it around...most parts are just left overs from upgrades....so the parts are still working.
It seems like if the fuel goes to make the parts, I can always build something up. I have a few nice frames sitting around as well as a good stock of wheels.
Learn bikes! Keepem' tuned and they will go for a long time!
cb _________________ President Bush: “There’s no question about it. Wall Street got drunk—that’s one of the reasons I asked you to turn off the TV cameras. It got drunk, and now it’s got a hangover."
Would a bicycle without chains be a better idea for a post peak world? For example, the Dynamic Bicycles Runabout? I'm thinking of mitigating potential maintenance issues.
I bought a new Schwinn Skyliner last fall, a sort of street-trail version of a mountain bike. Medium heavy, with 26" x 1.95 semi-knobbies. My object was enough bike to carry some load besides my 160 lbs.. Has 21 speeds, with about 12 really useful, an asset in hilly south Indiana, and allows the possibility of a trailer.
Our shop has a tubing bender and a Tig welder, so I'll probably make my own trailer, designed to haul about 60 lbs. and keep it low to the ground.
We have a brand new 2 lane highway in front of the house with wide shoulders that make it practical to go 4 1/2 miles to town, even for an old fart in only fair condition.
While I was at the store I got an extra pair of tires and tubes, a spare chain and chain breaker tool, frame pump, patch kit, light tool set, a basket and a light. I think I should get spare parts for the twist grip shifter, and a set of cogs and derailleurs, since they can be a problem. Only have a few miles on it, and I refuse to ride in bad weather (don't need to go anywhere that bad), but so far I like it. I rode some off and on for a long time, but didn't have the roads for it till lately. Great for running around the rural neighborhood! _________________ Local fix-it guy..
cb _________________ President Bush: “There’s no question about it. Wall Street got drunk—that’s one of the reasons I asked you to turn off the TV cameras. It got drunk, and now it’s got a hangover."
cb _________________ President Bush: “There’s no question about it. Wall Street got drunk—that’s one of the reasons I asked you to turn off the TV cameras. It got drunk, and now it’s got a hangover."
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