Ranger Man has a guest written post today, offered up by Geology Joe, a SHTFblog SHTF homie. Say it with me now, “G” to the “ology” - “JOE!”
Yooooooo JOE!
Take it away . . . .
SCENARIO:
It has been four weeks now since the gasoline stopped. The remaining fuel is so expensive that traveling, transportation and doing errands is unreasonable or impossible. How will you get around? How will you get to the farm stand to pick up food or get to your friend’s place? How will you get to your new job as a farm hand?
PROBLEM:
The prevalance of automobiles in our current society has led to urban sprawl. Our homes, neighborhoods and communities are beyond walking distance. Since it is unlikely that you have either a horse and/or the resources to keep one, the best solution is . . .
SOLUTION:
A BICYCLE
I am by no means Lance Armstrong, but I can travel the 5 miles to town ANY day of the year, in occassionally less than 20 minutes (usually 24 minutes), at an average speed of somewhere near 20mph. Two hours will get me about 30 miles. You can do it, too. Think of everything within 15 miles of your house. What do your neighbors have to offer that you may need post-SHTF? Vice-versa.
Travel by bicycle is fast, effective and gas free. Add a bike trailer and haul up to 100 pounds or more. Travel to the local farm . . . come back with 20 pounds of potatoes, half a deer, and a bag of apples in one trip.
What about maintenance? The mechanics of a bicycle are the most simple of all machines, requiring little previous knowledge of minor repairs. I was able to assemble a good, well-tuned bike from 3 yard sale jobbies. I will get hundres of miles from this ride.
You can do it, too.
SUGGESTIONS:
People are constantly throwing away or selling bicycles for cheap. Hunt yard sales. Keep an eye out in trash.- Ideally look for the same brand for each: Schwinn, Next, Trek, Peugot, Univega, Ross, it’s not totally necessary, but it helps.
- Mountain bikes tend to be a dime a dozen right now. The 90’s were a boom in the industry. Right now those bikes are getting unused in someone’s basement or garage.
- Search yard sales for a ‘kid trailer’ for conversion.
- Fix one up.
- Paint it flat black.
- Add an AR-15 holster.
- Patrol the night.
- Geology Joe
Scope his latest, I Am Legend related blog post: http://geologyjoe.blogspot.com/2008/01/invited.html
Do YOU have writing worthy of a SHTFblog post?
Send it along today: ranger @ shtfblog.com
6 responses so far ↓
1 barbara // Jan 6, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Hi Joe,
I’am just coming over to check out your guest blog and your post.
All of this has not fallen on deaf ears…
I’am not a car person and never will. Yet, we have one old car at home that is used for transporting things and for our Dad, who is almost 80.
Myself, I don’t drive and rely a lot on:
1) My legs
2) Mass transit
I would take a bike, but the cars are so numerous and bike lanes much less numerous here in France. And drivers are sometimes rotten with bikers here.
I know, something has to give with the dependance on fossil fuels. It won’t continue forever.I’am sure that the excellent geologist that you are Joe, could tell as much more on the geological slant on fossil fuels.
Take care
2 DW // Jan 6, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Nice post!
Thank you.
3 ryan // Jan 6, 2008 at 11:55 pm
I really think that baring some sort of disaster or enormous war we will not run out of oil in a day. It will get more expensive over time and eventually it will probably be rationed and or less available. I think peak oil will be much more of a slow slide. Hopefuly the decline in production will be slow enough that alternatives (few and not really practicle as of now) bear fruit. Assuming you do not live farther then 15 or 20 miles from the places you need to go regularly a bike is a very good potential mode of transportation especially with a trailer. Each member of the family should have one and a few trailers in the garage aren’t a bad thing either. Bike camping could be real fun and great practice also.
4 vlad // Jan 7, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Airfree bicycle tires of polyurethane microfoam have no air tube, and cannot go flat or blow out. I use them on five bikes.
Felix Wong like them, too.
http://tinyurl.com/29lm6y
5 Ponce // Jan 7, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Got myself 2 scooters for $2,400 and three bikes for around $700.00……. still have to buy spare chains and tires for the bikes……. oh yeah, for a long time I have been using a engine on the front tire to go up hill, 110 miles to the gallon.
6 vlad // Jan 8, 2008 at 8:27 pm
trail gator child bike towbar
http://www.trail-gator.com/
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