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I bicycled across in 1985 and scariest part was there was no public transport on regular roads. What if the bicycle breaks down? There was no bicycle shops and

I bicycled across in 1985 and scariest part was there was no public transport on regular roads. What if the bicycle breaks down? There was no bicycle shops and bicyclists either, except on top of cars. Where they drive to use the bicycle? No idea.

batch12 2y ago
> Where they drive to use the bicycle? No idea. Depends on the type of bike. Sometimes parks and trails.
- shiroiushi 2y ago
  Back in 1985, when mountain bikes were brand-new and not really established? I have no idea. These days, if it's serious mountain bikes, they're driving to places with wilderness trails to ride on. If it's road bikes, they might be driving to "rail trails", sections of old railroads that have been converted into long multi-use trails that are popular with cyclists because they're generally flat and straight and go through some interesting scenery.
lucb1e 2y ago
Dutch person here. This seems odd to me, why would a bicycle irrepairably break down without notice? If you have a patch kit and know how to put the chain back on, the only "prevents me from riding" risk I can think of is it literally breaking apart under you, which isn't something I've heard happen. The gears breaking would be a serious nuisance but you can still get to the next town And wouldn't it be the same no matter what mode of transport you choose? What if the plane breaks down¹? What if you break an ankle while walking a long distance? What if your horse walks away? You'll always have to rely on aid from others pretty much no matter what happens to your mode of transportation If you're going to be in a place where you're alone, like when hiking, the advice I heard is to tell someone where you're going and when you're checking in. I guess the same goes if you don't expect to receive aid from passing cars? ¹ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_safety#/media/File:Number_of_fatalities_from_airliners_hull-loss_accidents_per_year.svg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_safety#/media/File:Nu... Compare ~1000 fatalities per year from "hull-loss accidents" in the 80s compared to it being pretty much unheard of today
- timonoko 2y ago
  "Next town" in rural America may mean 100 km walk. You clearly do not understand what bicycling 6000 km unaided and heavy load means. Everything breaks down constantly. Chains and sprockets last only 2000 km, unless you constantly rotate 3 chains. I bought new tyres 3 times. And then I had a problem with 622mm rim, there was only "700C" type racing tyres in Wallmarts. And I also broke back axle, because Samsung-type axle was not yet invented. Luckily Minneapolis had America's one good bicycle shop. And at the end and I started loosing spokes. I had spares, but you need certain heavy tools to remove screw-on sprocket. Getting new spokes of certain size is impossible anywhere in America. Probably mail-order from China.
  - VeejayRampay 2y ago
    they absolutely last way longer than 2000km, unless you never maintain them
    - timonoko 2y ago
      True sort-of, but then sprockets are ruined for good and new chain does not fit. That is why had three chains and I rotated them weekly. And then if you throw the oldest chain away after 10000 km, the sprockets will last 30 years. This is how some had done the world on one cassette.
- Gigachad 2y ago
  If you're doing ultra long distances, you've got the possibility of literally everything breaking. You'd be riding more in the single trip than most cyclists ride in a year. If the derailleur snaps off while you are 100km from anything, you're fucked unless you happened to pack a spare one and all the tools required to swap it.
  - aziaziazi 2y ago
    Bike mechanist here. If your going ultra long distance chances are prepared more than bare minimum and got a good multitool with you [0] and spare links. So let’s do it: 1. Cut the chain using a chain drifts (can be small, sometimes included in kits) 2. Detach the speeds cable and remove the derailleur (hex key, included in kits). 3. Measure minimum possible chain length, cut it. 4. Close the chain with a missing link (get a couple spare ones, they’re cheap and small) In fact many MTB enjoyers got a chain drifts and missing links with them even for a 2h ride : chains are at higher risk when crushed again rocks and trees. > why would a bicycle break down without notice Accident aside, you literally feel the bike parts wearing, or at least when they approach endlife. There’s also regular quick checks you could perform on your bike to keep the macanist away. 0 https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/tools https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/tools
PaulDavisThe1st 2y ago
Americans are a friendly crowd and lots of them drive pickup trucks.
- timonoko 2y ago
  Well. America is the only place in the world where I was told to "move on" with a gunpoint. In Texas they told they always "procecute trespassers", but local sheriff decided I was not tresspassing, I was camping too close to railroad, so it was government property.
  - PaulDavisThe1st 2y ago
    The country contains multitudes.

batch12 2y ago

> Where they drive to use the bicycle? No idea. Depends on the type of bike. Sometimes parks and trails.

shiroiushi 2y ago
Back in 1985, when mountain bikes were brand-new and not really established? I have no idea. These days, if it's serious mountain bikes, they're driving to places with wilderness trails to ride on. If it's road bikes, they might be driving to "rail trails", sections of old railroads that have been converted into long multi-use trails that are popular with cyclists because they're generally flat and straight and go through some interesting scenery.

lucb1e 2y ago

Dutch person here. This seems odd to me, why would a bicycle irrepairably break down without notice? If you have a patch kit and know how to put the chain back on, the only "prevents me from riding" risk I can think of is it literally breaking apart under you, which isn't something I've heard happen. The gears breaking would be a serious nuisance but you can still get to the next town And wouldn't it be the same no matter what mode of transport you choose? What if the plane breaks down¹? What if you break an ankle while walking a long distance? What if your horse walks away? You'll always have to rely on aid from others pretty much no matter what happens to your mode of transportation If you're going to be in a place where you're alone, like when hiking, the advice I heard is to tell someone where you're going and when you're checking in. I guess the same goes if you don't expect to receive aid from passing cars? ¹ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_safety#/media/File:Number_of_fatalities_from_airliners_hull-loss_accidents_per_year.svg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_safety#/media/File:Nu... Compare ~1000 fatalities per year from "hull-loss accidents" in the 80s compared to it being pretty much unheard of today

timonoko 2y ago
"Next town" in rural America may mean 100 km walk. You clearly do not understand what bicycling 6000 km unaided and heavy load means. Everything breaks down constantly. Chains and sprockets last only 2000 km, unless you constantly rotate 3 chains. I bought new tyres 3 times. And then I had a problem with 622mm rim, there was only "700C" type racing tyres in Wallmarts. And I also broke back axle, because Samsung-type axle was not yet invented. Luckily Minneapolis had America's one good bicycle shop. And at the end and I started loosing spokes. I had spares, but you need certain heavy tools to remove screw-on sprocket. Getting new spokes of certain size is impossible anywhere in America. Probably mail-order from China.
- VeejayRampay 2y ago
  they absolutely last way longer than 2000km, unless you never maintain them
  - timonoko 2y ago
    True sort-of, but then sprockets are ruined for good and new chain does not fit. That is why had three chains and I rotated them weekly. And then if you throw the oldest chain away after 10000 km, the sprockets will last 30 years. This is how some had done the world on one cassette.
Gigachad 2y ago
If you're doing ultra long distances, you've got the possibility of literally everything breaking. You'd be riding more in the single trip than most cyclists ride in a year. If the derailleur snaps off while you are 100km from anything, you're fucked unless you happened to pack a spare one and all the tools required to swap it.
- aziaziazi 2y ago
  Bike mechanist here. If your going ultra long distance chances are prepared more than bare minimum and got a good multitool with you [0] and spare links. So let’s do it: 1. Cut the chain using a chain drifts (can be small, sometimes included in kits) 2. Detach the speeds cable and remove the derailleur (hex key, included in kits). 3. Measure minimum possible chain length, cut it. 4. Close the chain with a missing link (get a couple spare ones, they’re cheap and small) In fact many MTB enjoyers got a chain drifts and missing links with them even for a 2h ride : chains are at higher risk when crushed again rocks and trees. > why would a bicycle break down without notice Accident aside, you literally feel the bike parts wearing, or at least when they approach endlife. There’s also regular quick checks you could perform on your bike to keep the macanist away. 0 https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/tools https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/tools

PaulDavisThe1st 2y ago

Americans are a friendly crowd and lots of them drive pickup trucks.

timonoko 2y ago
Well. America is the only place in the world where I was told to "move on" with a gunpoint. In Texas they told they always "procecute trespassers", but local sheriff decided I was not tresspassing, I was camping too close to railroad, so it was government property.
- PaulDavisThe1st 2y ago
  The country contains multitudes.