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Today's JRS is dedicated to that stalwart steed of steel (or aluminum or titanium or whatever) -- the BIKE. First-time Burners might be wondering why we dedicate an entire JRS to bikes, but veterans know how absolutely critical a trusty bike is on the playa.
Black Rock City is a vast open space. You're really REALLY going to want to have a bike to get around and explore, cuz like we said: VAST. Burning Man is very much a bike-oriented culture ... in fact, Black Rock City has more bikes per capita than any city in the WORLD. Cool, huh?
Here are the key things to remember (let's call 'em the 3 L's):
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LIGHT YOUR BIKE. There's gonna be 65,000+ people out there. If you can't be seen in the dark, people are going to run into you. And that's a great way to ruin your Burn (let's face it, the medical tent is kind of a downer). Plus creative lighting makes it easier for you to find your bike amongst the hoards of parked bikes.
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LOCK YOUR BIKE. Whether it happens by accident or intention, walking out of a theme camp to find your bike missing sucks, especially when your friends still have theirs and you're stuck walking.
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LABEL YOUR BIKE. Mark your bike with some identifying information, like your camp name and address, so if it does go missing, a thoughtful participant can reunite you with your beloved wheels.
So yes, this is us, loving you up with the beta to make your biking at the Burn better. Get a bike, get it playa ready, reuse or dispose of it properly after the event, and have fun out there!
The Man burns in 29 days!
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What Kind of Bike Should You Bring to Burning Man?
For the easiest cycling on the playa surface, the ideal bicycle is a beach cruiser with fat tires or a mountain bike. Thin 10-speed or road bike tires can make for some tough travel. They're just not playa-friendly.
Your bike should be in good enough shape to survive and ride smoothly, but the playa turns any bike into a rustbucket in short order, so don't bring your multi-thousand dollar mountain bike if you don't plan on having it destroyed, or doing some serious cleaning and restoration work on it after the event. Or you're just a masochist.
Many participants (this Rabbit included) have a dedicated "playa bike" that's used exclusively for Burning Man ... just sayin'.
The best information about bikes at Burning Man — including recommended bikes, how to maintain them, how to be safe and keep them from being stolen — can be found in your Survival Guide (which you've read, right? Right).
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Light Your Bike, or DIE
It's super freakin' dangerous to ride around on an unlit bike at night. Dangerous for you, and for those around you. So come on, get some lights and put them on your bike. And we're not talking about weak-kneed pansy lights either ... get good ones that you can see from afar. A headlight and a taillight are key, too.
There's a lot of people running around on playa at night, and guess what? If your bike isn't lit, THEY CAN'T SEE YOU. Riding an unlit bike is just asking to get whacked, and nursing a broken collarbone is a less-than-ideal way to spend your Burn. Without a headlight, you might not see that dude sleeping (read: speed bump) on the open playa. And, it's a lot easier to find your bike amongst others if you light it uniquely.
If you fail to light your bike, and you hear somebody screaming "DARKWAD!!" they're probably talking to you.
So please, if you take just one thing away from this JRS, it's this: light your bike. Or DIE. [Cue the doom-like music.]
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Can I Still Get a Bike Close to Burning Man?
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A few of our favorite bike shops in Reno still have bikes, in case you're flying in or don't want to lug one from home...
Black Rock Bicycles
7875 North Virginia Street, Reno
Black Rock Bicycles has cruisers still available. They also have accessories, including lighting, el-wire kits, baskets, car racks, bells, locks, baskets, trailers, tubes and decor. Customers can ship their other supplies to them 30 days prior to Burning Man, have them stored without charge, and pick them up along with their bike on their way to the playa. They'll also ship your supplies back to you after the Burn for the cost of the shipping (items must be boxed and ready to ship). Visit their website for reservations and more info.
Reno Bike Project
541 East Fourth Street, Reno
Operated by Burners, Reno Bike Project is an invaluable community non-profit seeking to make Reno and the world a more bike-friendly place. It's also a great place to get a well-cared-for and affordable recycled bike, and they repair bikes and carry accessories like el-wire kits, baskets, racks, bells and backup supplies. Finally, you can also donate your bike back to them after Burning Man for recycling. NOTE: You cannot reserve a bike over the phone. You will have to visit the shop in-person to purchase a bike. More info on their website.
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Burning Man's Community Bikes Program
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Burning Man's Community Bike program offers bicycles available for anyone who needs a one-way ride. Community Bikes are easy to spot because they are painted BRIGHT GREEN, with no visible brand and/or the words "YELLOW BIKE" painted on the frame. The only way this program works is if everybody adheres to the guidelines, which are:
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Community Bikes are for temporary use by anyone without immediate access to their own bike. This is not YOUR loaner bike for the week. Bike rides are only a one-way, temporary guarantee.
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Community Bikes are meant for short trips. Grab a community bike, make your trek, and then drop it off where you found it, or leave it in an obvious public place. Do not keep a community bike in your camp.
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If a Community Bike breaks while you're using it, use Radical Self-Reliance to get it repaired for the next person. Check with Playa Info at Center Camp for a repair camp if you can't do it yourself.
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NEVER LOCK A COMMUNITY BIKE. Burning Man's bike team will cut any locks from Community Bikes. Don't bring a Community Bike into your tent or RV, and don't take it home when you leave the playa.
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Community Bikes should be treated with respect, as if it was your own. Be nice to the bike. Don't trash it, vandalize it or part it out! It's a shared community resource. And don't forget personal hygiene ... pants are required while riding a Community Bike.
We heart the Community Bike program. Let's keep it working. Here's a blog post about it, if you want to share it with your friends.
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Don't Want Your Bike Stolen? OK Then ...
If you don't want your bike stolen on the playa, then always lock it up wherever you leave it. Rocket science, right? The unfortunate reality is that bicycles get stolen (or "borrowed without asking") because they're unlocked.
The only bikes that should NEVER be locked are GREEN Community Bikes.
Here's a handy tip: Sharpie your name and camp address on the frame of your bike, and maybe some kind soul will have the presence of mind to return it to you ("stealing" tends to be of a spontaneous and ultimately temporary nature more often than not). We'd guess the odds of that happening are actually pretty good: the great majority of Burners are good peeps.
Burning Man is not responsible if your bike gets stolen. We're supposed to say that, we think? Either way, we're not.
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Bike Repair on Playa
The key concept when it comes to bike repair on playa is (say it with us) SELF-RELIANCE. You should bring everything you need to service your own bike, including basic tools, a bike pump and extra innertubes or a patch kit.
There is at least one bike repair camp on playa, but (and maybe this is petty), we're not going to tell you where they are, lest they become your first resort and get swamped. They should be your last resort. Anyway, they provide NO parts, ONLY tools. If you really need 'em, you can find 'em.
So, again: self-reliance. Key concept.
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Got a Big Theme Camp? Provide Bike Racks!
If your theme camp is planning on attracting the masses, do everybody a favor and provide some bike racks! Strewn bikes can present a public safety hazard, considering how hard it is for Rangers and emergency service personnel to respond quickly to a situation when they have to wend their way through a thicket of tossed bikes.
Here, we'll help you out. Learn how to build simple and effective bike racks. Yep.
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Where to Dispose of Your Bike (Hint: Not at Burning Man)
The absolute least cool thing you do with your bike at the end of the event is to leave it on the playa. WAY UNCOOL, as it means our hardworking crews are forced to deal with it. And that mountain of work on top of all else that they do really, really sucks. Also, Leave No Trace, amirite?
If you really don't want that bike anymore, that's ok. But please recycle it in Reno, Sparks, or Cedarville as part of the Exodus Trash and Recycling Network (EXTRA). All those bikes will be donated to bike programs in the region in support of kids in need.
Find the participating EXTRA locations, hours, and details on how the program works (what you can and can't dump, etc.).
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We were listening to ...
OK so we were all over the place. Listening to the incomparable Django Reinhardt and the incomparable (albeit in an entirely different direction) Space Cowboys.
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If this email is not as beautiful as it should be, view it in your browser.
Burning Man • PO Box 884688 SF, CA 94188
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