Are You Ready To Escape? Making Sure Your Bugout Bike Is As Prepared As you Are
The average cyclist rides at a speed of between approximately 12 MPH (‘19.8 km/h) and 16 MPH (25.6 km/h) according to data from Strava: cycling is clearly a good option in an emergency situation when you need to move quickly.
A bicycle is, therefore, a logical part of your bugout kit. So how do you choose your bike, and how do you transform it from an ordinary bicycle into a fully-prepared bugout bike?
Choosing your bicycle
Your existing bike will be fine no matter what type it is, but if you’re buying a bike specifically for the purpose of creating a bugout vehicle, a mountain bike will be best, as it will cope with a variety of rugged terrains, and it will be easy to add a trailer, frame packs and panniers. The ideal frame for a bugout bike will be strong and light. The material most commonly used in bike manufacturing is carbon steel, but this is heavy, so search for a lighter alternative if you can.
Chromoly steel is a good option: molybdenum gives the material strength, while chromium helps the metal resist corrosion. Corrosion resistance is important to consider because, while bicycle maintenance is relatively straightforward, you need your bike to withstand unpredictable environments.
There are many economic benefits associated with cycling, and this is important to consider too: you will need maintenance to be low-cost and something you can handle yourself in the event of a catastrophe. For this reason, avoid a frame made from carbon fiber: while it’s strong, it can be difficult to repair if something goes wrong. Other good alternatives are aluminium and titanium.
Kitting out your bugout bicycle
A strong, light frame is important, but it’s only the first part of the equation. A successful bugout bike needs to be ready to go as soon as disaster strikes, so you’ll need it equipped with accessories to carry your gear. Bolt panniers to the frame and attach frame-mounted bags into the main triangle of your ride with Velcro straps. You can also attach a rigid rack to the seat post for extra capacity.
You’ll need lights. These can be battery operated, but your best option will be solar powered lights, which you won’t need to worry about powering from other sources or those powered by generator hubs. Instead, the rotation of your wheels can produce the electrical current to power the lights.
A generator hub can also be used to charge other items, such as your cellphone, which is a valuable extra in an emergency scenario. You can also attach a light survival trailer, but be mindful of the fact that these can struggle with rough terrain: if you can carry everything you need without a trailer, your bike will be much more adaptable and effective as a survival tool.
Preparing your maintenance kit
As well as your standard bugout kit, incorporating a bike into your survival plan means you’ll need to pack extras: it’s imperative that you can repair your bike if you need to. Learn in advance how to repair a flat tire, replace worn brakes and fix a broken chain. You should carry inner tube patches, replacement parts and a set of reliable screwdrivers and alan wrenches. These will be useful for carpentry and homestead maintenance too.
You may have already considered the value of a bike in your survival strategy, but make sure it’s as prepared as you are. Opt for a light, corrosion-resistance frame, and equip your ride with as much storage space as possible. Pack it with your standard bugout kit and essential maintenance supplies, and you’ll be ready to ride away from danger immediately.
After getting a flat while rolling over a piece of metal, I changed my tires to Armadillo tires. They are more resistant to punctures than regular tires. I still carry a patch kit just in case.
Good idea. As a cyclist often far from support, I do also make sure to carry a spare tube. Patch kits are smaller, but a bad valve stem or spontaneous blowout (it’s happened to me) can completely ruin your day.
I find that a single wheeled trailer like my BOB (Beast of Burden) Yak follows my bicycle anywhere I can fit my handlebars through. Very low center of gravity and an amazing amount of stuff can be carried in the Yak model. I’ve carried 5 gallon buckets of garden soil that way all over my very often steep hillside property. When bike camping very easy to carry all my camping gear and often used to haul 5 gallon buckets of water to the campsite.