GigaBuist
Member
Somewhere in here in the past few weeks I mentioned I was going to do an experiment of sorts.. so here's the results.
The goal was to "Bug Out" on a bike, a mountain bike. I run with a rather adventerous bunch, and just a few weeks before Katrina somebody got the idea to go on a long bike trip. As none of are cyclists, I was skeptical, but in the aftermath of Katrina I figured I'd give it a go and see what could be done.
The goal was a 120 mile bike trip in 2 days over bike trails. My goal was 120 miles over bike trails carrying everything I'd need to survive such a trip.
I'll spare you the climatic details up front: I didn't make it. I bailed at 85 miles and called for a ride. I'll explain how that happend.
I nabbed a MOLLE pack off the 'net in the week before the trip, as well as an 11 oz Katydyn backpack water filter. I figured the ALICE pack would be a bad idea, and I think I might be right there -- the MOLLE gave me the ability to stow up to 2 liters of water bottles on handy side pockets as well as a 50 oz Camel Bak in the lower back compartment very nicely. I couldn't have done that with the ALICE.
I loaded up, conservatively, with what I figured the bare essentials would be. About 3 days worth the MREs assuming 2 meals per day, tossing in a few extra goodies from other stuff that I had partially consumed in the week leading up to this, giving me a surplus of high carb, high calorie MRE snack food. On top of that I took an army surplus poncho, about 50 foot of parachord, a 50 piece 1st Aid kit, good compass, 4 light sticks, 3 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of boxers, and 2 extra t-shirts. A good sturdy folding CRKT knife is always with me, so that went, as well as a sharpening stone in the pack. Had a good camping lighter too.
All told I had about a 40 pound pack. I weigh 140 pounds -- not exactly optimal, but I was optimistic.
Now, if you'll notice the one piece of gear I didn't talk about yet was my bike. That was a problem -- I didn't give any thought to it. I picked up a very simple Huffy mountain bike from a local sports shop that was having a clearance sale for $100. The MOLLE pack and Katadyn filter cost as much as the bike did.
Bad idea.
About 22 miles into the trip I was lagging horribly behind the other guys I was with. They figured it was because of my overzealous packing, so another guy took my pack. I was still falling behind. We switched bikes then. At that point I could keep up, but I was fatigued from the 22 miles on the old bike. We rode for 8 miles that way and the other guy confirmed what was pretty obvious: That cheap Huffy was about 2 times harder to push than his bike.
Lesson learned: If you wanna bug out on a bike get a good bike!
So, 30 miles into the trip we switched back. I got back on my own bike with my pack and waved good bye to the group. I'll see you in 25 miles! Yes, they left me behind, but we weren't ever more than 10 miles from a real town, and I -was- fitted out for survival, so there wasn't much to worry about.
I finally got into town an hour after them. Exhausted as could be, mind you, what with pushing 55 miles on trails (sometimes very soft and covered in horse pooh) on a cheap bike. But -- I made it. Took 10 hours, but I made it. Considering my Bug Out On Bike scenario in real life would mean a 40 mile trip I figured I had met my real world goals.
We got a hotel (nobody else was down with the idea of hauling a sleeping bag and tent with them) that night and the next morning I went to Wal Mart to pick up a better bike. I found one, about 100% better, and it made the return trip easier, but I was still exhausted from the previous day, so I canned it about 30 miles from home.
It was a good learning experience... one being that the amount of gear I had on me only really came into play when doing an incline. Major differences there -- but if you can just step off the bike and walk the incline you're going to conserve energy.
Another one was that given my body make-up (skinny guy that doesn't burn up reserves) needs to suck down calories constantly. Not an issue for most people, but I reminded myself that it is for me. When I'm hauling around 3 days worth the food on my back I -must- eat constantly or suffer performance problems. There's a trade off there.
Primary lesson: if you wanna bug out on a bike you need a GOOD BIKE! I hadn't biked in so long I forgot how much difference they made. Stupid, stupid mistake, but I made it. Live and learn, eh?
The goal was to "Bug Out" on a bike, a mountain bike. I run with a rather adventerous bunch, and just a few weeks before Katrina somebody got the idea to go on a long bike trip. As none of are cyclists, I was skeptical, but in the aftermath of Katrina I figured I'd give it a go and see what could be done.
The goal was a 120 mile bike trip in 2 days over bike trails. My goal was 120 miles over bike trails carrying everything I'd need to survive such a trip.
I'll spare you the climatic details up front: I didn't make it. I bailed at 85 miles and called for a ride. I'll explain how that happend.
I nabbed a MOLLE pack off the 'net in the week before the trip, as well as an 11 oz Katydyn backpack water filter. I figured the ALICE pack would be a bad idea, and I think I might be right there -- the MOLLE gave me the ability to stow up to 2 liters of water bottles on handy side pockets as well as a 50 oz Camel Bak in the lower back compartment very nicely. I couldn't have done that with the ALICE.
I loaded up, conservatively, with what I figured the bare essentials would be. About 3 days worth the MREs assuming 2 meals per day, tossing in a few extra goodies from other stuff that I had partially consumed in the week leading up to this, giving me a surplus of high carb, high calorie MRE snack food. On top of that I took an army surplus poncho, about 50 foot of parachord, a 50 piece 1st Aid kit, good compass, 4 light sticks, 3 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of boxers, and 2 extra t-shirts. A good sturdy folding CRKT knife is always with me, so that went, as well as a sharpening stone in the pack. Had a good camping lighter too.
All told I had about a 40 pound pack. I weigh 140 pounds -- not exactly optimal, but I was optimistic.
Now, if you'll notice the one piece of gear I didn't talk about yet was my bike. That was a problem -- I didn't give any thought to it. I picked up a very simple Huffy mountain bike from a local sports shop that was having a clearance sale for $100. The MOLLE pack and Katadyn filter cost as much as the bike did.
Bad idea.
About 22 miles into the trip I was lagging horribly behind the other guys I was with. They figured it was because of my overzealous packing, so another guy took my pack. I was still falling behind. We switched bikes then. At that point I could keep up, but I was fatigued from the 22 miles on the old bike. We rode for 8 miles that way and the other guy confirmed what was pretty obvious: That cheap Huffy was about 2 times harder to push than his bike.
Lesson learned: If you wanna bug out on a bike get a good bike!
So, 30 miles into the trip we switched back. I got back on my own bike with my pack and waved good bye to the group. I'll see you in 25 miles! Yes, they left me behind, but we weren't ever more than 10 miles from a real town, and I -was- fitted out for survival, so there wasn't much to worry about.
I finally got into town an hour after them. Exhausted as could be, mind you, what with pushing 55 miles on trails (sometimes very soft and covered in horse pooh) on a cheap bike. But -- I made it. Took 10 hours, but I made it. Considering my Bug Out On Bike scenario in real life would mean a 40 mile trip I figured I had met my real world goals.
We got a hotel (nobody else was down with the idea of hauling a sleeping bag and tent with them) that night and the next morning I went to Wal Mart to pick up a better bike. I found one, about 100% better, and it made the return trip easier, but I was still exhausted from the previous day, so I canned it about 30 miles from home.
It was a good learning experience... one being that the amount of gear I had on me only really came into play when doing an incline. Major differences there -- but if you can just step off the bike and walk the incline you're going to conserve energy.
Another one was that given my body make-up (skinny guy that doesn't burn up reserves) needs to suck down calories constantly. Not an issue for most people, but I reminded myself that it is for me. When I'm hauling around 3 days worth the food on my back I -must- eat constantly or suffer performance problems. There's a trade off there.
Primary lesson: if you wanna bug out on a bike you need a GOOD BIKE! I hadn't biked in so long I forgot how much difference they made. Stupid, stupid mistake, but I made it. Live and learn, eh?