DenverFIXED

so, this august i'm planning on going to burning man. for anyone who doesn't know, its a week long event in the middle of a nevada desert. you need a bike to get around. last year i 'borrowed' a bike that belonged to my parents, and, well, they weren't very happy. this environment is brutal on bikes, so i really don't want to take my vintage conversion.i've been thinking, this might give me the opportunity to build a fixed gear for bad weather. since they are so simple, a fixed gear seems like the perfect bike to take into such a harsh environment, but i'm hesitant to put money into a bike and then have it ruined in a week. anyone have any suggestions? should i just buy a piece of crap bike off craigslist? any constructive advice is appreciated!

the pope

I want to hear more about Burning Man. Was it worth the money to get in? Once in, can you camp anywhere? Oh, and get a cheapie. Isn't part of the deal to give it away when you're done? Or something.

DenverFIXED

It is most definitely worth the money to get in. The whole thing can be a bit pricey, but it is so worth it. Its kind of hard to explain how great it is, I'd suggest checking out the pictures at www.burningman.com . It is in a 5 square mile area, and within that area, there is a temporary city set up in a half circle form, complete with streets and everything. You can start your own theme camp and camp there, join someone elses, or set-up camp just about anywhere in the confines of the city.

You don't have to give away your bike, I don't know who I'd give it to anyways. Burning Man revolves around a gifting economy, so basically, don't bring money, just bring stuff to give to people (not barter). My bike wouldn't fall into that category, since I'd need it until the last day, and most people wouldn't want to take a crappy bike home with them anyways.

the pope

What do people 'gift' ?

hkmarks

clearly he thinks it is if he's going back. Your main worry should be whether you have reached a point in your life where you are willing to admit that you are a proto-yuppie yet.

the pope

Is that uncool, Fonzie?

Please advise.

Malph.

DenverFIXED

eh, various things. i stenciled a cool picture of a kid on a bike. i came home with: a really nice flashlight that a guy gave me because i forgot to bring one with me, a bunch of glow in the dark stuff that ravers seem to enjoy, a cowboy hat, a bad poem from a hippie and a bunch of small trinkets.

the pope

How long did you stay?

DenverFIXED

The whole week, monday through sunday, though some people who have real jobs tend to come later in the week.

dustinlikewhat

the real queston, how much e did you do?

the pope

This year, I must.

Assume many others on fixed gears or tall bikes?

DenverFIXED

not enough.

actually, i just drank a lot of water and ate well. its not a lot of fun to get messed up in the middle of a desert. the experience was surreal enough.

DenverFIXED

There were an awful lot of 'art bikes', which were amazing, I only noticed a few tall bikes and a fair amount of fixed gears.

the pope

regarding food: do you bring it in or do you buy it there? or is that a gift?

sivat

This is very stereotypical, but from what I hear, Burning man isn't nearly as fun now as it was 10 years ago. Or so say the people I know who have gone.

the pope

Unfortunatley the way-back machine is in for repairs so I may have to go this year.

DenverFIXED

you need to bring absolutely everything with you that you'll need, including food and water, and also be prepared to take out all garbage that you produce. the only real service that is provided is porta-potties.

DenverFIXED

Yeah, I've heard that, too, but who cares? I think the main problem that people have with the event is that it has become so popular and that there is a growing group of people who don't come to be active in the community, they come to look at all the freaks (which is have the fun, it is the best people watching experience ever) 10 years ago I was 11 years old, so I can't speak from experience. But I do know that when I went last year, I had an amazing time that I would definitely like to repeat.

morbot

cool things were so much cooler before they were cool things

dolface

speak for yourself

DenverFIXED

haha i didn't mean that to be an all encompassing statement, to each his/her own.

the pope

Indeed. And Burning Man is more for the robo-go-go yuppies of the future years.

SD Fixed

I haven't been in many years, but it's changed a lot. Mainly due to the fact that with the larger crowds, they needed some "rules" ~ ***** started to happen that made it a need. And from my measly two times I went "back in the day", I know the first time was overwhelming, and the second time, wasn't as grand, though it was larger and I spent more time.

There's nothing, er, like you're first time.

Now, some of the people who went with me had a different experience, but the first time, they went ala "strait edge", and the second time they were rolling. (Not sure what you call it now.).. So thier experience was, modified, it should be said.

I wouldn't go a 3rd time, but would do it over again if that makes sense.