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There is a lot of conversation surrounding bug out vehicles. What is the best? What is the most powerful? Which is fastest? Do you use gas, diesel or multi-fuel? Do you go big, small or in the middle? All of which are great topics for debate. But what happens when the fuel runs out? When the oil pan gets punctured and you throw a rod through the block? A softball sized hole gets punched through your radiator? The logistics and support for keeping that vehicle running is extensive. Parts, spare tires, tools, fuel, oil, water, belts, hoses etc. In a true bug-out situation, you could feasibly need a small parts store to maintain it. And you need an extensive know how to fix it.
Better yet, your bug out plan met unforeseen issues that caused serious delays and now the roads are so clogged, you can't get anywhere to begin with. Now what? Ever try to conceal a large vehicle "johnny on the spot"? I don't know too many diesels that are all that quiet either. I am not discounting the value of these vehicles by any means. I'd love nothing better than to have a Ma Deuce sitting in my back yard ready to go. But what about an alternative? Maybe even a primary BOV.
The bicycle has been used by the armed forces of the world since at least the late 1800's. Bicycles have been used in each World War, and Vietnam. The Danish, the Finnish, British and even Americans used them. In Vietnam, the Viet-Cong used them to ferry supplies down the Ho-Chi Minh Trail. Of the most famous, are the Swiss Army Bikes, still in use today.
So why not a bug out vehicle? As I had posted in another thread regarding the benefit of a bicycle for exercise and why I like them, I also posted the following regarding their value as a BOV;
Bicycles for bug-out have a lot of flexibility. You can tow things with them; the little carts you see people pulling their small children around in make great supply trailers. They can be outfitted to hold weapons; Hunters outfit bikes all the time. It allows them to quickly and quietly get into areas that motor vehicles aren't allowed to go. You don't have to worry about fuel. They're easily concealable behind bushes, in ditches or wherever you happen to be. They are easy to work on with a few simple tools and, with a couple of specialized tools, there is nothing you can't do to them. Bikes are everywhere and spare parts, such as chains, tires, wheels, inner-tubes, brakes, bearings etc., are easy to come by, or, a whole 'nother bike if that's what it takes. They're great for quickly and quietly moving through, or, in and out of areas that you don't necessarily want to attract attention, especially at night. And, if you really need it, you can buy a kit for less than $250 and mount an engine on it for emergencies (creating distance) or those really steep hills that you just don't feel like climbing. These engines get about 150 miles to the gallon and, depending on overall weight/load and gearing, you'll see speeds of 15 to 30 mph. As I said, my top speed is about 15 mph, maybe a little more. My cruising speed is about 10mph, at a nice gentle pace I enjoy. I can only maintain that for so long. Lance Armstrong I am not. But that little engine can maintain that 15 mph as a minimal speed until it overheats or runs out of fuel. Once fuel becomes an issue/non-existent, simply remove the engine and it's other components and go. So bicycles not only provide me with the exercise I need, and make it mostly enjoyable, but they also meet my "get the hell out of here" needs.
It is not much more effort, as long you have trained for it some, to haul a hundred, even two hundred pounds of gear between your bicycle and a trailer. You make much faster time on a bike than on foot, especially a vehicle stuck in deadlocked traffic. And, if you choose to bug out in a motor vehicle, bicycle's make a great secondary means of escape. Load necessities in the trailer(s) and go.
Whether a primary way to bug out, or as a back-up, bicycles should not be discounted as part of the overall plan. Fuel will only last so long; both in quantity and quality/usability, no matter how much stabilizer you add. A bug out survival plan of any merit has redundant back-up plans. A bicycle should be one of them. And a legitimate one at that.
Better yet, your bug out plan met unforeseen issues that caused serious delays and now the roads are so clogged, you can't get anywhere to begin with. Now what? Ever try to conceal a large vehicle "johnny on the spot"? I don't know too many diesels that are all that quiet either. I am not discounting the value of these vehicles by any means. I'd love nothing better than to have a Ma Deuce sitting in my back yard ready to go. But what about an alternative? Maybe even a primary BOV.
The bicycle has been used by the armed forces of the world since at least the late 1800's. Bicycles have been used in each World War, and Vietnam. The Danish, the Finnish, British and even Americans used them. In Vietnam, the Viet-Cong used them to ferry supplies down the Ho-Chi Minh Trail. Of the most famous, are the Swiss Army Bikes, still in use today.
So why not a bug out vehicle? As I had posted in another thread regarding the benefit of a bicycle for exercise and why I like them, I also posted the following regarding their value as a BOV;
Bicycles for bug-out have a lot of flexibility. You can tow things with them; the little carts you see people pulling their small children around in make great supply trailers. They can be outfitted to hold weapons; Hunters outfit bikes all the time. It allows them to quickly and quietly get into areas that motor vehicles aren't allowed to go. You don't have to worry about fuel. They're easily concealable behind bushes, in ditches or wherever you happen to be. They are easy to work on with a few simple tools and, with a couple of specialized tools, there is nothing you can't do to them. Bikes are everywhere and spare parts, such as chains, tires, wheels, inner-tubes, brakes, bearings etc., are easy to come by, or, a whole 'nother bike if that's what it takes. They're great for quickly and quietly moving through, or, in and out of areas that you don't necessarily want to attract attention, especially at night. And, if you really need it, you can buy a kit for less than $250 and mount an engine on it for emergencies (creating distance) or those really steep hills that you just don't feel like climbing. These engines get about 150 miles to the gallon and, depending on overall weight/load and gearing, you'll see speeds of 15 to 30 mph. As I said, my top speed is about 15 mph, maybe a little more. My cruising speed is about 10mph, at a nice gentle pace I enjoy. I can only maintain that for so long. Lance Armstrong I am not. But that little engine can maintain that 15 mph as a minimal speed until it overheats or runs out of fuel. Once fuel becomes an issue/non-existent, simply remove the engine and it's other components and go. So bicycles not only provide me with the exercise I need, and make it mostly enjoyable, but they also meet my "get the hell out of here" needs.
It is not much more effort, as long you have trained for it some, to haul a hundred, even two hundred pounds of gear between your bicycle and a trailer. You make much faster time on a bike than on foot, especially a vehicle stuck in deadlocked traffic. And, if you choose to bug out in a motor vehicle, bicycle's make a great secondary means of escape. Load necessities in the trailer(s) and go.
Whether a primary way to bug out, or as a back-up, bicycles should not be discounted as part of the overall plan. Fuel will only last so long; both in quantity and quality/usability, no matter how much stabilizer you add. A bug out survival plan of any merit has redundant back-up plans. A bicycle should be one of them. And a legitimate one at that.
