“What kind of a bike should I bring to Burning Man?”

1. Bring A “Decent” Bike to Burning Man  – I know that a lot of people recommend bringing a “junk bike”,  but the quality of your burn is hugely affected by the reliability and comfort of your transportation.  So try to bring a dependable, efficient bike that fits you well and one that is in good working order . Single speed beach cruisers with balloon tires or a mountain bike if you already have one work the best at Black Rock City. If you are coming from a distance and can’t bring a bike then you can rent a good quality bike in Reno.

2. Bring A Lock – Even though this is Burning Man – unlocked bikes have a way of going somewhere else. Lock your bike, even in your own camp.  An inexpensive combination “word lock” works the best.  Try to have a few extra cheap locks for your camp as people tend to loose them. More detail.

3. Light your Bike & Yourself – Make it easy for other bike riders, walkers, Art Cars to SEE you at night! Also bike lights are awesome and amazing.

It is really shockingly dark on the playa at night – so you can not be too “lit up” at Burning Man!

4. Have spare tubes and a bike pump in your camp. If you get a flat either fix it in camp or bring it to a bike repair camp like the Bike Gods shop to fix it. How to fix a flat.

5. A comfortable saddle is a must and a seat cover is a nice thing to have when the hot sun is beating down. A black vinyl or leather seat gets really hot out in the desert. The most comfortable saddle for the playa.

6. Have some lube for your chain.  The alkaline playa dust is hell on chains. You might need to lube the chain every day to keep your bike running smooth and quiet.  We recommend a wax based chain lubricant like White Lightning or Rock N Roll found at bike shops.  How to properly lubricate your chain.

7.  Make sure your bike has a kickstand. You will need something on the end of the “leg” of the kickstand to keep it from sinking into the desert.  A lot of people will put a small slice in a tennis ball and slip it on the end of a stock kickstand to keep it from digging into the soft playa. Some brands of kickstands have a wider rubber piece that fits on the end of the “leg” – this works too.

8. Wide bike tires work better on the playa . Tires that are 2″ wider or wider are best. A standard beach cruiser tire is perfect.  Best tires for the playa article.

9. A basket or rack on your bike is terribly handy for carrying your stuff or getting ice back to camp.  At Black Rock City your bike is like a pickup truck and you will use it for everything.

10.  Decorate your bike so that it stands out from the others.  It will help you to always recognize it in a crowd of bikes plus it’s just cool! Unique lights and flashing lights will help you find your bike when you are out at night too.