Bicycling post-collapse thru an apocalyptic landscape – Non-Fiction Writing Contest Submission by J. G.

Before
Sometimes when I have a friend over to visit and they see my back room , they ask: “Why do you have so many bikes?” and “wow! where do you find those old bikes?”
Well, I believe in having a few spares. Each one is similar, but with subtle differences; some have hand brakes, most do not. A few have luggage racks, panniers, baskets. Some are un-cluttered by those items. I prefer Schwinns, but I take whatever I can get!
I have made it a mission to go to flea markets and yard sales to bring home at least 2 or 3 old bikes each year. I disassemble, strip off old ugly paint and rust then repaint them myself. Two complete coats of Krylon Primer Grey first, then the color, usually Olive Drab.
What I look for in an old bicycle is simplicity. I have a couple of “mountain” bikes, but I prefer the old bikes with no gear shift or hand brakes.These are in my opinion much simpler to maintain. Fewer parts to break. I keep a can of WD-40 and several wire brushes on hand to fight corrosion.
All of my bikes ,with the exception of the mountain bikes, are at least 30 years old or more and they will rust. Always opt for wide tires, do not expect smooth, level streets on a journey. Wide tires are better for off-road and trails.
One thing I recommend doing is obtaining sets of the “No-More-Flats” tires, these are a solid core tube that goes inside the tire instead of the inner tube. No air required, and will not go flat.They are tricky to install. I have a bike shop here in town that can do this for me for $5 a tire.
For working on my bikes I keep a tool box with only bike tools, including a set of cone wrenches. These can be found on Ebay for under $70, look for a brand called “Park City”. Valve stem kits. Bags of assorted small hardware.
Bicycles have a long history among the militaries of the world: The US Army conducted experiments from the 1890’s thru the 1920’s -

After
conducting a series of rides from Chicago to the Oregon coast, following the Oregon trail in places. Self-sufficient, riding over 1500 miles in 30 days.
By the 1920’s the Army began to have cheap reliable trucks, plentiful cheap gasoline and lots of new roads. By the time of the Louisiana manuevers the need for bike infantry pretty much went by the wayside. For awhile.
In the closing days of WWII the Germans began preparing for anticipated shortages of petrol. Desiring to divert petrol away from more mundane needs such as for transport of troops and using that fuel for their Panzers, the Radfahren initiative established 80 companies of bicycle infantry.
In the Asian theatre, the Japanese used bikes extensively during the invasion of China and Burma. Cheap and easy transportation of troops over hundreds of miles and no fuel required. The Bicycle Infantry could cover many more miles than on foot and carry considerable more gear.
The British Airborne troops used a folding bike , made by the Birmingham Small Arms company to some success. They found a number of benefits for using bicycles greater range, mobility and greater carry capacity.From the time that bicycles were invented and mass-produced ,nearly every army of every nation have experimented with or fielded the bicycle infantry and relished the same benefits.
Around the year 2000 the last of the world’s bike infantry regiments were phased out in Switzerland. There are today a number of Swiss Army Surplus bikes available if you don’t mind spending and exorbitant fee. I’d like to have one , but for over $1500 price tag for ONE , I could easily put 20 old Schwinns on the road .
Today the US military is conducting experiments using off-road mountain bikes and the British military is researching folding bikes for their airborne troops once again.
Why do I collect bikes? Same reasons all those military planners used bikes: I foresee a coming shortage of PETROL, a need to be able to travel faster than I could on foot and the ability to carry an extra 50 lbs or more gear. With enough spare bikes perhaps I could band together with some of my fellow survivors and create a bicycle rifle regiment.
Or if worse comes to worse, I suppose that I could maybe trade a bike or two for supplies. Eventually I might need to Bug Out and leave the extra stuff behind. When travelling by bike, I travel mostly in either the very early morning or late evening hours. Fewer people out and about and thus less likely to have any “interactions”.
I prefer anonymity and to not draw any unwanted attention to myself when travelling thru new and unknown areas that I have not scouted beforehand. To travel without a trace and to not linger unnecessarily is the most desirable goal. Try to stay on the move until you get to your shelter or enclave.
Avoid choke points such as bridges, tunnels. Avoid population centers. I’d say the best thing one could do is simply be aware of your surroundings when entering and travelling through a new area. That and knowing the route to your shelter and several alternate routes, even paths you might not normally consider.
If I start to find the path congested by people or “civilization”, I will move parallel to my path for a time, attempting to move around on a flank. Go for the high ground if possible. Cross open terrain with care – there may be eyes watching you.
If the need to explore a building or structure should arise of necessity,when approaching a structure always scout it out from a distance over time, dismount and then approach on foot along a straight-line off a corner. Avoid line of sight to windows and doorways.
A small telescoping inspection mirror is very useful when observing around corners or up over a window ledge. You can peer indirectly around a corner without exposing yourself.
The mobility of a bike in a land with no petrol gives you a speed advantage over people on foot. If you go in and scavenge, you may encounter hostiles who would try to stop you . The bike could offer a fast getaway. Scavenge quick and if required, “shoot and scoot” and be on your way.
You should not allow morales or personal scruples deter you from your goal: To survive. I will do everything I can to survive, even at the expense of the lesser prepared. I feel zero qualms about it. After e.o.t.w.a.w.k.i. or any sort of large-scale social-economic collapse, the way I look at it is that there will be too many people to support. So maybe, I’ll thin the herd a bit more all by myself. Take their food and move along.
(M.D. Creekmore adds - I do not support this idea of killing and stealing – that is why we prepare, to avoid this sort of thing. I don’t think anyone relying on this tactic will survive very long. I hope J. G. was saying it Tongue-in-cheek.)

Bicycle Infantry ( RadhFahr Kompanies) By June '44
Any camp I set up during my journey would be far enough off the road or trail that I would not be found easily. If I bivouac for any length of time, I setup TWO camps. The first is a larger campsite with a brightly colored dome tent and a fire pit. This is actually a FAKE campsite, in plain sight .
My actual camp is not easily visible. Concealed and obscured by terrain if possible, at least a quarter-mile further away. Not an elaborate campsite, something that could be setup and taken down quickly.
One rule I live by is: no camp fire during the day. Only at night. And I gather up the ashes and trash and dump it in the firepit at my fake campsite. After e.o.t.w.a.w.k.i. always travel armed.
My choice of armaments are as follows:
- A Sigma 9mm with 16 round mags . And 250 rounds ammo.
- An 8mm Mauser Rifle and 100 rounds ammo.
- A couple of folding blade lock knives on my belt.
- The pistol is carried in a concealed holster at my lower back.
- I have other weapons, these are just my minimum “must carry” choices.
- Also will carry a small spotter scope, an optical range finder and a small set of binoculars, items that I can use to observe from a distance.
- Eventually I will add some night vision gear to this.
Have other thoughts or suggestions please share with us in the comments below…
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