3 ms·

> why are bicycles nonexistant on post-apocalyptic stories? Couple reasons by my guess: * Bikes aren't cool. Cars are cool, horses are cool. Bikes, trikes, sco

> why are bicycles nonexistant on post-apocalyptic stories? Couple reasons by my guess: * Bikes aren't cool. Cars are cool, horses are cool. Bikes, trikes, scooters, etc., aren't cool, and don't provide much besides efficiency. * Terrain - as you say, roads are an issue and require maintenance. Trees drop some branches on the road? A car could push it (maybe), horse could walk over it, while a bike has to be carried. Not much fun, and probably makes up for the efficiency you get from riding it. * Carrying stuff. Hauling things in a car? Easy. Horse? Easy. Bike? Hope you have a backpack, and you're probably still capped at ~40 pounds. And the more weight you have, the worse a time you'll have on rough terrain or falling.

Symbiote 6y ago
• Car companies have a much higher marketing budget, and will sponsor their cars appearing in mass-market films. • Good luck getting your car around a fallen tree. A bicycle is far better in this situation. In what situation would you risk serious damage to a car by driving into a tree?! • Bicycles used for transport (as opposed to sport/exercise) have a rack over the rear wheel, which can support two or three pannier bags. On a flat journey, it's easy to carry 20kg+ of goods this way.
JoeAltmaier 6y ago
The cargo issue is real. A backpack or shoulder pack is about it on a bike. Maybe baskets on the back for light stuff (straw, pots).
- Symbiote 6y ago
  > Maybe baskets on the back for light stuff (straw, pots). I get the impression half the comments on here are from people who've never actually used a bicycle. The children seen here on mum's bike weigh more than some straw and pots: https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2019/02/urban-iki-by-ogk-rear-bike-seat_203265-f9e706b.jpg?quality=90&resize=960%2C640 https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/... So does this woman sitting on the rear rack: https://arnejj.org/wp-content/uploads/Foto_Bruntlett_Building-the-Cycling-City.jpg https://arnejj.org/wp-content/uploads/Foto_Bruntlett_Buildin... This girl carried her dad for 1,200km, and my guess is the Indian roads aren't as smooth as I'm used to: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/cycling/i-was-determined-says-girl-who-cycled-injured-dad-across-india/articleshow/76039359.cms https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/cycli... But maybe you meant baskets like this: https://previews.123rf.com/images/cataplines/cataplines1204/cataplines120400019/13402340-all-around-asia-you-will-find-bicycles-overloaded-with-too-much-cargo-and-just-simple-baskets.jpg https://previews.123rf.com/images/cataplines/cataplines1204/... Or like this: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIXaZeJWcAEcxrF?format=jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIXaZeJWcAEcxrF?format=jpg&name=... Carrying weight in pannier bags on the rear rack is much preferable to wearing it on a backpack.
  - JoeAltmaier 6y ago
    How about, on a dirt track? With hard tires? and maybe no chain (fixie)?

Symbiote 6y ago

• Car companies have a much higher marketing budget, and will sponsor their cars appearing in mass-market films. • Good luck getting your car around a fallen tree. A bicycle is far better in this situation. In what situation would you risk serious damage to a car by driving into a tree?! • Bicycles used for transport (as opposed to sport/exercise) have a rack over the rear wheel, which can support two or three pannier bags. On a flat journey, it's easy to carry 20kg+ of goods this way.

JoeAltmaier 6y ago

The cargo issue is real. A backpack or shoulder pack is about it on a bike. Maybe baskets on the back for light stuff (straw, pots).

Symbiote 6y ago
> Maybe baskets on the back for light stuff (straw, pots). I get the impression half the comments on here are from people who've never actually used a bicycle. The children seen here on mum's bike weigh more than some straw and pots: https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2019/02/urban-iki-by-ogk-rear-bike-seat_203265-f9e706b.jpg?quality=90&resize=960%2C640 https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/... So does this woman sitting on the rear rack: https://arnejj.org/wp-content/uploads/Foto_Bruntlett_Building-the-Cycling-City.jpg https://arnejj.org/wp-content/uploads/Foto_Bruntlett_Buildin... This girl carried her dad for 1,200km, and my guess is the Indian roads aren't as smooth as I'm used to: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/cycling/i-was-determined-says-girl-who-cycled-injured-dad-across-india/articleshow/76039359.cms https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/cycli... But maybe you meant baskets like this: https://previews.123rf.com/images/cataplines/cataplines1204/cataplines120400019/13402340-all-around-asia-you-will-find-bicycles-overloaded-with-too-much-cargo-and-just-simple-baskets.jpg https://previews.123rf.com/images/cataplines/cataplines1204/... Or like this: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIXaZeJWcAEcxrF?format=jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIXaZeJWcAEcxrF?format=jpg&name=... Carrying weight in pannier bags on the rear rack is much preferable to wearing it on a backpack.
- JoeAltmaier 6y ago
  How about, on a dirt track? With hard tires? and maybe no chain (fixie)?