Having a bicycle at Burning Man is crucial, if not essential, to your overall enjoyment and experience within Black Rock City (BRC). 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.
Shine a Light
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.
Bringing an e-bike?
Make sure you’ve read the DMV’s rules on personal transport vehicles (PTVs). If it’s not on their list, it’s not allowed in Black Rock City.
Rent, Buy, and Return Bikes Locally
These companies have proven themselves to be reliable partners for getting a bike and for rehoming bikes post-playa.
Reno Bike Project
635 E 4th street, Reno NV*
Reno Bike Project (RBP) sells recycled bikes intended for the playa starting at $100. These bikes have at least one gear, one brake, and tight bearing surfaces. RBP also offers a full range of accessories and services, including last minute repairs for people rolling through Reno and bike assembly for people who want to ship their bike to Reno. You can reserve your playa bike online starting in the Spring, and they accept bike donations post-event at their shop. RBP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community bicycle shop and resource for the Truckee Meadows area committed to creating a nationally recognized, cycling-friendly community through education, cooperation and advocacy. Sales from Burning Man bikes support programs such as the community bike shop, youth riding and programs, and more.
*Reno Bike Project has two locations, but all playa gear sales will be conducted at 635 E. 4th Street.
Black Rock Bicycles
7875 North Virginia Street, Reno NV
Operated by Burners, Black Rock Bicycles has bikes for rent and purchase. They also have accessories, including lighting, el-wire kits, baskets, car racks, bells, locks, baskets, trailers, tubes and decor. Black Rock Bicycles has started a new program that will allow you to store your bike in an enclosed storage area for an entire year. You can buy a new bike from them, art it up, personalize it, ride it during the Burn, return it, have it cleaned and put in their storage.
Black Rock Bicycles has only one location in Reno, NV.
Kiwanis Bike Program
5305 Mill Street, Reno NV
Our friends at the Kiwanis Bike Program sell affordable used bicycles starting at $80 and accessories, including lights, baskets, car racks, locks, and bells. You can reserve your bike online at www.kiwanisbikes.org. Bikes are available for walk-in purchase at their Reno location. These are first come, first serve, as long as supplies last. You can also donate your bike to them post-event at the same location.
If you return your bike to Kiwanis, they’ll refurbish and reuse it for kids or recycle it for the playa! All funds support bike repair and riding education, and bike donations for schools and youth programs in the Reno area. Purchase and reserve a bike now while supply lasts.
Bike rentals on playa are not permitted
Starting in 2023, theme camps that offer fee-based bike rentals will not be permitted to provide any rental services on playa. These camps will need to coordinate and complete all bike rentals, pick-ups, and drop-offs outside of Black Rock City.
Over the last decade, three bike repair camps (Playa Bike Repair, Hammer and Cyclery, and Soup Kitchen/Art Bike Relief) began renting bikes off-playa and delivering them to Burners on-playa. Many participants have come to depend on the convenience of renting bikes that are delivered in Black Rock City. We recognize that these camps provided a valuable alternative to disposing of a newly purchased bike if unable to transport it all the way home.
There are a number of areas we are in the process of evaluating and taking action to correct, including increased reliance on the Outside Services program. Many of these activities challenge our Principles of Radical Self-reliance and Decommodification, so as we continue our Cultural Course Correcting and Cultural Direction Setting efforts, we are actively working to limit paid conveniences in Black Rock City. This work is ongoing.
Bike rentals have been and will continue to be available in Reno and Nixon, and we recommend that participants who previously took advantage of on-playa pickup explore these alternatives. We also strongly stand by our Leaving No Trace Principle and expect that every participant who brings a bike into Black Rock City will take that bike home with them or donate it to one of these approved locations.
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.
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!