I figure y2k will result in an oil/gas crisis resembling but not limited to the 1973/74 scenario. Therefore as part of preps I want to get a bicycle. Any experts out there, can you provide a brand and model number of the 'best' for this purpose ? Should be: reliable, suitable for road or occasional off-road, good uphill, efficient, and reliable (not requiring extensive expert maintenance, not relying on fragile and scarce parts). Any suggestions on what extra/spare/replacement parts and gear to purchase very welcome also. Price is no object! I want to know what is the best for the above purpose.

Thanks,
Vronsky.

-- Count Vronsky (vronsky@anna.com), June 29, 1999

Answers

Until a real expert comes along:

DON'T get the cheapos at Kmart, Wallmart, Shopko - usually Huffy, they fall apart fast.

Recently got my daughter a $240 Scwinn Mountain Bike (adult, mens type)--- very nice, appears sturdy and fairly easy to fix/disassemble.

I think "Trek" bikes are very popular now, but expensive --- and I doubt you want the top of the line "racing" bikes". IMHO a fairly simple, but sturdy, bike is the best. I would rather have a couple moderately priced bikes than one expensive one --- in case of theft or breakdown.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), June 29, 1999.

You might want to check out the Smith & Wesson line of mountain bikes. They started making them for law enforcement, but now are available to the public. Made to take a beating.

-- Bob (bob@bob.bob), June 29, 1999.

Ive been cycling seriously for 25+ years and my advicem is a good mountain bike. I paid 3500 for my last road bike four years ago and probly ten thousand miles on it and expect another 40 k at least . You definately get what you pay for . You should expect to pay anywhere from 500 to 1000 for a good mountain bike. TREK is a very good brand, and it is made in Wisconsin. For the rode I am still biased towards Italian bikes but ther again trek makes very comparible bikes , and better in carbon fiber. They lead the industry in carbon fibre tech, includeing the aircraft industry. Look for models 850 and above

-- timfreeman (freeman@interx.net), June 29, 1999.

I bought a 1963 Schwinn three-wheeled bike with a big basket behind the back two wheels. Can carry a large laundrybasket size load, or a propane tank, pail full of ?, or groceries, etc. Only 2 speeds, but I live where it is very flat.

Modern ones also available, even sturdier. Used a lot for factory deliveries. Call a few bike shops, they will have catalogues.

-- seraphima (seraphima@aol.com), June 29, 1999.

Actually- I am in the market for a bike- my "racing bike" is useless here with dirt/gravel roads, and I need a mountain bike. any leads on a relatively cheap but sturdy one? I WAS going to buy the $99 specials at WalMart/Ames.......

-- farmer (hillsidefarm@drbs.net), June 29, 1999.

Biking is great. I'm buying up bikes a thrift shops and yard sales. Just bought a Scwinn Varsity for $10. Lots of rust, beat up old yellow paint. Absolutely perfect. If it gets bad who is going to want to ride around on a $3500 bike. You might be removed from the bike before you went very for down the street. Spent last fall in Cape Cod. Bought the worst looking bike I could find at a local thrift shop. Rode it every where, left it at the beach, the shops, in town, it looked so bad no one would steal it. Was there for over two months and it was never stollen. Get an old bike, a really old bike, buy some old cloths, some really old cloths, and if you have to bike next year ..... well you figure it out.

-- thinkIcan (thinkIcan@make.it), June 29, 1999.

Count,

You have an excellent idea. Just think of the decreased HAPs (Hazardous Air Pollutants) from inner cities if people would just get off their lazy ass and bike to work. You don't need insurance on a bike, you don't need gas, and very little maintenance. Most of the maintenace can be done on the road as well with a little two pound tool kit.

All over Japan people have been biking to work, etc. And crowded ciies like NY, LA etc. would be so much cleaner if people gace up cars and just took a bike. I lived in Manhattan for a while and trust me during the winter time the snow is brown from exhaust! (YUCK!)

I work at home so I eliminated one more driver off the road. But when I was a younger fellow I had no problems biking five miles one way to get to BOTH of my jobs. After an eight hour shift at the auto parts store I'd do another seven+ hours at a restaurant. I'd wind up biking twenty miles a day sometimes. Made me feel great! I bet I've never been in better shape since those days.

Biking is definatley the way to go and with the minaturazation (sp?) technology it's getting easier and easier to have an electric bike for short rides. IMHO definatley the wave of the future. Maybe it will make people stop and smell the roses more often when they are not zipping around at 80mph in thier cars.

-- (tedjennings@business.net), June 29, 1999.

I went with the cheapest TREK mountain-bike, the 800 Sport for $249. Love it, but those big nasty tires are rough when trying to go fast. The smoother tires on a road-bike (or hybrid) are better for the road. Still, I like those big nasty tires...

If it comes to Mad Maxx, though, a shiny new bike is a non-starter!

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous99.xxx), June 29, 1999.

When your everyday trip into town is an easy, breezy 2 miles downhill (whee! no problem!), but then 2 grueling miles straight uphill, thoughts of some form of motorization spring to mind. What are the best "assisted" bike models... the ones that require the absolute least amount of power for the amount of power they return?

-- Sara Nealy (keithn@aloha.net), June 29, 1999.

But, but, but...

What about those of us who have to deal with 2 feet of snow, ice, and freezing temps? Especially those of us who are older, not in incredible shape, etc...

I do have a Malinois puppy... "skijoring anyone"

Just a tired old "housemouse" here... waering her colander over her ski hat, as she tries to train her Malinois puppy to haul her 5 miles to the local market, which probably won't have anything useful when she finally gets there...

God bless all of you, and let's hope for the best as we prepare for the worst!

Jackie Joy.

-- housemouse (jgj@nevermind.net), June 29, 1999.

My husband bought one of the bikes with the automatic transmission. When it arrived, he rode it down the street about a block, hung it up in the garage where it has collected dust for a year. I bought my, three speed, $20.00 bike at a garage sale, and it is just fine for me. I could have bought an expensive bike like hubby's, but that's not my style. I'm more of the thinkIcan school of thought. I did buy extra tires and tubes later. We did all of this before we were aware of Y2K, just planned to go riding.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), June 29, 1999.

I have a Specialized Rockhopper that has had additional gearing put on for road use. I don't mountain bike per se but like having a rugged bike to go over rough roads and curbs. Get KEVLAR tires, they are virtually indestructible, as well as a spare tube and repair kit. Also panniers for packing. Also there is a product called Slime, that will prevent flats. Come to think of it, I think Slime is also available for cars as well.

-- Retro (retro50@agapeis.net), June 29, 1999.

Aren't there solid foam-rubber inserts which replace inner tubes for bikes? That to me, is the way to go! No more flats, just run the tires until the cord starts showing. Plus the foam insert holds heavier loads than an air-filled tube.

Now if I can only find some around here. Northeastern PA doesn't have as great a mountain biking community as Southern California, which is where I saw those insert products.

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), June 29, 1999.

I also have been riding for years. I have an old (14-15 years) Specialized expedition (heavy touring bike) that is great for road use. For what you want, I'd consider a mountain bike. I agree about not getting a cheap one...they don't last.

Get some decent bike maintenance tools and learn how to use them. Also get a few spare parts...tires, tubes, brake pads, brake cables, etc. Low cost, and they will keep you on the road.

For me, I may get a "Penny-farthing"...because I'm the

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), June 30, 1999.