Having a bicycle at Burning Man is crucial, if not essential, to your overall enjoyment and experience within Black Rock City. Given the rapid growth and expansion of the city in recent years, a pedal-powered means of navigation is a prudent, high-priority item when you’re packing.
But what kind of bike to bring?
Crummy Is Cool
Do NOT bring a “good” bike to the event. Dig: the desert will reduce a valuable bike to a rust bucket posthaste. If you must use quality wheels, it’s wise to set aside some coin and time to have it serviced upon returning home–it’ll need the TLC. The playa is notoriously corrosive on unprotected metal, particularly after it rains. At the very least, take along some chain oil for spot lubrication. For improved traction and handling, wider tires generally work out better than road bike tires.
Wondering where to get a bike, or where you can get one fixed up? Try these local shops.
Shine a Light
Wondering where to get a bike, or where you can get one fixed up? Try these local shops.
Affixing a light of some kind to your bike is a critical element for safe travel after dark, especially on certain pedestrian-heavy streets outlining the city. Even on the open playa, where the occasional “dream weaver” may be unexpectedly ambling (or ensconced), a proper beacon could prevent serious injury to either yourself or an unsuspecting playa peregrinator.
Movin’ to the Groovin’
Help keep BRC beautiful: Decorate, adorn and bedeck your bike with the city’s most prized asset–your imagination. Turn your bike into transportational sculpture or just plain get wacky widdit! This is also a crafty way to avoid unwanted bicycle appropriation. By enhancing or fashioning your own unique two-wheeler, you will greatly reduce the likelihood of its undue disappearance, or will make it more swiftly identifiable and returnable.
Looking for more information on e-Bikes? You can find it HERE.
Looking for more information on e-Bikes? You can find it HERE.
Bike Repair
Make sure that you or someone in your camp has the proper tools to fix and adjust your bike including allen keys, wrenches, and tools to change out a tire tube. If you have trouble fixing your bike yourself, there are many theme camps that provide bike repair in BRC. Check the WhatWhereWhen guide, Playa Info, or public kiosks in plazas for information about where to find them.
Remember that bike repair theme camps are Burners giving these services – don’t take them for granted and show your appreciation! It’s always great if you have spare tubes, parts, or equipment to offer since they may not have exactly what you need. And know that most are there to help with basic issues and they may not be able to fix very specialized parts/needs (including the needs of e-bikes).
Rack the Masses
If you’re planning a Theme Camp and figure on attracting a crowd, plan to make a bike rack as a courtesy to your neighbors and passers-by. Randomly strewn bikes in a concentrated area make for tricky, ankle-twisting avenues. Our reigning Duke of Construction for the Center Camp Café Racks provides this Bike Rack Construction Manual, featuring drawings, material list, and a step-by-step assembly procedure.
Read “Tips for Riding a Reliable Playa Bike All Week Long” for additional information and tips about successfully bringing a bicycle to BRC.
Read “Tips for Riding a Reliable Playa Bike All Week Long” for additional information and tips about successfully bringing a bicycle to BRC.
If You Stop It, Lock It
Unfortunately, even Burning Man isn’t safe from common — though no less contemptible — thievery, and bikes are an easy target. In the past, a good many bikes have been filched from around the bathrooms. (And you thought just the lines and the odor were bad!) It’s sad, trite, but true–Bring a lock and use it whenever you stop. A good tip: When not in use, secure your bike to your car using a steel cable, running the cable through the tow hook loops on either the front or rear frame bar.
Love ‘Em… and Please Don’t Leave ‘Em
Leave no trace. A bike is a BIG trace. Somehow it’s become a common myth (playa legend, perhaps?) that it’s perfectly acceptable to leave your bike behind upon striking your camp. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you pack it in, pack it out!