The bug out bicycle (long)

[lee n. field]

You can hoist a bike over a fence if you need to. You can push it.

And you can abandon it without the financial pain of abandoning a car.

I used to ride a bicycle everywhere, until I realized just how dangerous it is.

The world is full of idiots in cars, some malicious, most just oblivious in air conditioned, road hypnotized comfort.

I have tires with kevlar in them, rubber liners, and slime-filled tubes.

Back about 15 years ago I rode with kevlar belt tires (27x1.25, not fat tire) for a while. Those were the only tires I ever wore out. Most others ended up getting too cut up from road glass.

 

[MillCreek]

NemA, when I carry on the bike, it is in my handlebar bag, and when I go off the bike it is in a fanny pack. When I ride, I wear either shorts or tights and a bicycling jersey, so I don't have a belt on. My concerns over using an open-topped holster would be retention, especially if you crashed, and your pistol goes skittering across five lanes of traffic, or makes a graceful arc into the blackberry bushes on the side of the road.

Also, noting that you are still in Washington, and have not yet moved down to Oregon as you mentioned, I would also be concerned about flashing the pistol when leaning forward, unless you had a very long tail shirt. Of note, Washington essentially prohibits open carry, except for some narrowly drawn circumstances. So if you are leaning forward, someone down in Olympia (perhaps more than in other areas of the state) may call 911 to report 'a man with a gun on a bicycle'. You may well end up with a citation, depending on which LEO gets the call.

 

[rick_reno]

I carry mine in a handlebar bag too.

 

[roo_ster]

Tough Entry-Level Bike

Howdy:

A few cyclists 'round here.

I was wondering if any of ya'll knew of a multi-purpose* entry-level bike that was tough & simple. The Wally-world bikes look like hunks of shinola, even to my untrained eye. Somebody recommended a Giant Iguana a while back, but that is too pricey ($500) for such an item, now that I'm married.

I haven't been less than 200 lbs since I was a child, so something solid is in order, I'd expect. Also, I am not afraid of something heavier than most would desire.

I am not afraid of used bikes, if I can learn what to look for.


* Trail, road, kid-trailer-pulling, potential bug-out-bike. Not thinking downhill racing.

 

[AStone]

carrying on a bike

JamisJockey, Rick_Reno & Millcreek, thanks for suggestions.

I usually bike in street clothes (it's a transporter for me, rather than exercise machine), so i would have a belt, but I hadn't considered at all the crash potential. I can just see my pistol bouncing under a moving bus.

As for fanny packs, yeah, I could use the one i have: Mountainsmith Day lumber pack. It goes everywhere with me anyway - walk, bike or drive.

Just for the record, I actually have lived in Oregon for about 4 years, but I did come here after leaving Olympia. (Sorry if I misled you on that one.) Still, points taken about carrying on a bike. It's a bit bold in any state, even if more legal here (with appropriate CCW permit) than in WA.

NemA~

 

[riverdog]

jfruser,
I recommend looking for a used steel frame "TREK" or "Specialized" mountain bike. The Specialized Rockhoppers and Stumpjumpers used to have steel frames IIRC, they're all aluminum now and require a shock absorber type suspension to take the shock. Same with TREK.

 

[MillCreek]

If you can still find one, there used to be a holster called the Active Body Holster, which was essentially a wide strip of neoprene that secured like a belt around the waist and had a holster sewn into it, also of neoprene. It was just perfect for wearing under a jersey while cycling, since it was waterproof and held the pistol/revolver very tightly with no jiggling or shifting about. It was specifically marketed to cyclists, joggers and motorcyclists. Although the company is still in business (www.politesociety.com), they no longer list this holster in their product list.

Failing that, I have seen at WallyWorld, Target and the like a neoprene pouch on a belt designed to carry a CD-player or MP3 device. I bet a small auto or revolver could fit in one of those. Tune Belt is the name of the brand I see most commonly, and as a matter of fact, I see that www.tunebelt.com lists a number of different models.

And +1 on the MountainSmith packs. I have several and think they make fine equipment. I have discovered through the years that living up here in the Pacific NW, I can carry all day long in one of my REI, EMS, JanSport or MountainSmith fanny packs and no one gives it a second glance. My 'tactical black' Bianchi or Galco fanny packs do get the occasional glance, however. Perhaps it is the extra mags sticking out or something...

 

[NMshooter]

Check out the Wilderness Safepacker.

 

[Jay Kominek]

I recommend looking for a used steel frame "TREK" or "Specialized" mountain bike. The Specialized Rockhoppers and Stumpjumpers used to have steel frames IIRC, they're all aluminum now and require a shock absorber type suspension to take the shock. Same with TREK.

Trek still makes a steel-frame, the 820. It has front suspension. MSRP is $240. I expect it can be found even cheaper than that, new.

 

[RyanM]

If you can still find one, there used to be a holster called the Active Body Holster, which was essentially a wide strip of neoprene that secured like a belt around the waist and had a holster sewn into it, also of neoprene. It was just perfect for wearing under a jersey while cycling, since it was waterproof and held the pistol/revolver very tightly with no jiggling or shifting about.

Sounds like a belly-band. Kangaroo Industries makes a belly-band/shoulder holster hybrid type thing, for a very reasonable price. You can read a review here.

 

[AStone]

Outbacks

I'd like to live in Australia.
I can't even imagine the size of the outback there.

Closest to AUS that i've experienced is the Great Basin desert of NA,
extending from roughly south central OR through far eastern CA & NV,
a bit into UT, and touching N NM.

Big. Open. Dry.

That's a place i could enjoy bugging out to.
I do so as often as possible even now.

The mountain ranges in there are beyond imagination
(check out the eastern scarpment of Steens Mt )
& there are biking roads not occupied by total idiots.

 

[nextjoe]

Sounds to me like the handlebar bag is the way to go. I think this is one of those situations where off-body carry makes a lot of sense; having the gun on your hip when you fall seems like a good way to make the fall even less fun. Broken pelvis, maybe?

 

[riverdog]

Trek still makes a steel-frame, the 820. It has front suspension.

Don't know how I missed that one. They make the Cruiser Classic Steel also.

 

[marley]

Always buy a bike from a bike shop. Some of the shops in college towns sell used ones. I once had a cop ask me if he should buy a huffy. I asked him if he would trust his life to a lorcin, a jennings or some other pos. Huffys are assembled by people at walmart. These people are not too bright as has been described in other threads. Why would trust them with your life. I then asked if he wanted to be riding down hill on something like that. Just like good guns good bikes are the way to go. Anything that you buy at a mass merchant is just a toy not a tool. Ask a shop to show you the difference in a huffy and a real bike. I ride a Bianchi veloce on the road and a giant off road and around town. Good bikes are also cost effective. I ride 3 days a week average and don't ride in the crap ( sand and gravel) on the far right of the road. I don't get a lot of flats. I carry in a fanny pack. It is the only time that I use one. Not many places to hide anything when in lyrca. I rarely spend over 60 dollars a year on my bikes. Most people here spend more than that every time they go shooting. I can shoot that in one day at an IDPA match + fees. Patrick YMMV

 

[AStone]

Always buy a bike from a bike shop.

Sage advice. +1.

For those who care about quality, the only time it should be otherwise is if you know enough to build your own (which I don't). Then, one could buy frames mail order (like a frame from Surly, for example).

Otherwise, bike shops are the way to go.

 

[rwc]

a question for you and others about the hydration systems like camelbacs. How do you clean them, especially once they get a bit... um, slimmy inside?

I've used them a lot for the last 8 years or so and all I ever do is empty them out when I get home (including all the water in the hose), hang them upside down over my sink and let them dry. You may have to jiggle it a bit, rotate it the next day, or pull the plastic material apart to ensure it is fully dry. If you dry them completely after every use they will not get funky. If you ignore them, well... that leads to -

Also, if you are out in cold weather a neoprene tube cover is necessary. The dedicated winter models that include a bite valve cover and sometimes an insulated bladder cover, are even better.

 

[NMshooter]

Bumping this one back to the top.

 

[JamisJockey]

+1 on RWC.
I also rinse mine out with very hot water and dishsoap. Pull the mouthpiece off, hang to air dry. No funk no gunk.
If you're in a hurry to use it, and think its icky, you can throw a couple denture cleaner tablets into the bladder, fill with water, allow to sit for a half an hour or so. Rinse with very hot water.

For $240, a bike with a front suspension isn't really worth it. You don't get a great front suspension, but treks are great bikes.
http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Mountain/Hardtail/Steel/820/index.php
If you put very many miles on it, YOU WILL HAVE TO START FIXING AND REPLACING IT. Spend more money if you're going to ride it more than a few times a month.