Preparing eBikes for Burning Man's Blackrock City

PedalUma

PedalUma

Well-Known Member
Region
USA
City
Petaluma, CA
What do you do to prepare a new electric bike for seven-days at Burning Man? So, after it comes back to the Bay Area, it can be fully restored to look and feel new again? La Playa has very fine grit that gets into everything, it is salty, and caustic, it also has microbes that have evolved to eat metals by forming micro-batteries. How do you approach this problem. What is your solution? By the way this is Rick at PedalUma eBikes, see me on Google Maps for local reviews from burners and more. I want to know what you do. Not how I do it every year for my neighbors.

 
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PedalUma said:
What do you do to prepare a new electric bike for seven-days at Burning Man? So, after it comes back to the Bay Area, it can be fully restored to look and feel new again? La Playa has very fine grit that gets into everything, it is salty, and caustic, and while researching bigtravelguides.com I was also looking into how others approach protecting equipment from harsh environments. How do you approach this problem? What is your solution? By the way this is Rick at PedalUma eBikes, see me on Google Maps for local reviews from burners and more. I want to know what you do, not how I do it every year for my neighbors.

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I’d approach it as prevention first and deep cleaning immediately after the event. Before Burning Man, I’d protect exposed metal, connectors, bearings, and moving parts while keeping the battery and electronics properly sealed. Once back, I’d remove the battery and electronics, blow or brush off the dry playa dust first, then wash the bike thoroughly with fresh water and a mild vinegar solution. Afterward I’d completely dry it, inspect every connector, bearing, cable, fastener, chain, and motor area, then clean, lubricate, and replace anything showing corrosion or contamination. The key is not letting playa residue sit on the bike for days.
 
Here is a frozen brake caliper from Blackrock City. It has been there five times including two of the recent rain years.

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I am making a bike electric for a guy to take and earlier today had three in the shop. Now I am down to two.
 
Not sure why anyone would want to take a new, expensive e-bike to a location with such caustic conditions. There is simply too much exposed metal to adequately protect.
As mentioned by @Marcela above. the idea of a "burner" bike or a Walmart special makes more sense to me.

If it was really necessary, I would coat every exposed piece of metal, except the rotors, with Cosmoline.

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Now another guy wants a burner hub-drive. He injured his knee. That is two this week, making four in two weeks. I focus on sophisticated mid-drive conversions. I had no idea of demand for hub-drives.
 
PedalUma said:
I had no idea of demand for hub-drives.
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A hub-drive is all you need on flat land.

You don't even a need chain, and sprockets if you're just going to throw out the ebike afterwards anyway.

If people are spending ten grand to go to Burning Man, what difference does a $500 ebike make ??


Maybe you could rig the batteries to explode for the grand finale when they Burn the Man?

Just toss the burner e-bike on the 🔥 and watch it burn.




.
 
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PedalUma said:
Now another guy wants a burner hub-drive. He injured his knee.
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He can't pedal anyway.
Set him up with a burner e-bike that BURNS Proper.

Setting an e-bike on fire is Stupid Easy to do !!

Rig it up with some fireworks or C4 to get the party rockin !!


You need to make sacrificial lambs for the slaughter, not a Phoenix to rise up afterwards.

PS,.. wax their chains so the caustic ash don't stick.

Pack the throttle mechanism (and all the connections) with dielectric grease to keep the caustic dust out. (you don't want any short circuits)
 
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PCeBiker said:
He can't pedal anyway.
Set him up with a burner e-bike that BURNS Proper.

Setting an e-bike on fire is Stupid Easy to do !!

Rig it up with some fireworks or C4 to get the party rockin !!


You need to make sacrificial lambs for the slaughter, not a Phoenix to rise up afterwards.

PS,.. wax their chains so the caustic ash don't stick.

Pack the throttle mechanism (and all the connections) with dielectric grease to keep the caustic dust out. (you don't want any short circuits)
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I have formulas, and processes so that I can prep a new bike before it goes and then restore it when it gets back. None of these people want that. And if they don't care to pay for that level of protection, I won't do it. They do all want boiled chains though. A burner Sondors single speed gets a gets a new chain next and then a trike that has two chains. One is on the right side to the motor, and the other goes from a cog mounted where normally a rotor is mounted. It goes to the differential. Why do they all wait until a few days before they go? This could have been done anytime between late October to early April. The slow season.
 
Marcela said:
Make it a hub drive and toss the chain. That kind of environment a chain is going to get scratchy after about the first day. And don't forget charging the battery logistics.
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Most want to pedal. I am in Petaluma in the alternate universe CA. Peta is a really big number. Luma means light. You would think it is a supper nova. But actually it means 'the place between' in Coastal Miwok. Oh, the Ewoks were named after them, dancing in the redwoods. That director has several films inspired by the area, such as American Graffiti. He lives on Lucas Valley Road.
 
Marcela said:
Make it a hub drive and toss the chain. That kind of environment a chain is going to get scratchy after about the first day. And don't forget charging the battery logistics.
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If you toss the chain, chain-wheel, and freewheel, then lock the crank with both pedals and crank arms down like foot pegs.


Lock the chain-wheel to the frame so the foot pegs aren't all wobbly.





PedalUma said:
I have formulas, and processes so that I can prep a new bike before it goes and then restore it when it gets back. None of these people want that. And if they don't care to pay for that level of protection, I won't do it. They do all want boiled chains though.
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Fuk That !!

You're all about Money.
Give the people what they want,..

Everybody seems to want an orgy.

Let them sacrifice their "precious" e-bikes to the mayhem.

Who Are You to tell them what's fun or not ??



Just boil their chains for a hundred bucks a pop and be done with them then.
 
PedalUma said:
I have formulas, and processes so that I can prep a new bike before it goes and then restore it when it gets back. None of these people want that. And if they don't care to pay for that level of protection, I won't do it.
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You're not prepping a teenager to go 50mph on a ten dollar ebike.

You're prepping people to go to Burning Man to sacrifice a lamb to the 🔥.


Let them torch their e-bikes proper with Lots Of Fire, And Smoke, and Sparks And s*it.

Give them a chain and driveline that only needs to last a couple days.

It only needs wax.
Like Icarus

Screenshot_20260821_162747_DuckDuckGo.jpg



Don't be a deadbeat like his Fukin dad Daedalus.


And don't be trying to sell me a bicycle that You like.

I like what I gots.
I ain't gunna be burning it up, but It Is In A Constant Alkaline environment.


The gravel roads I ride are limestone gravel roads.
Limestone mixed with water is caustic.
And gravel roads, sprayed with Brine Solution to reduce the dust is Caustic.


I've been riding in a caustic environment since I bought my first ebike.
 
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So, seriously, are you unwilling to help these people with an e-bike that won't 🔥up properly ??

They need an e-bike that can be dragged back to you for you to "fix it up all proper" ??

F-That !!

Just set set them up with something that Burns, and let them have their fun.
Orgy fukin and all.

No bringing the e-bike back for you to fix it.

That's not your job.
 
PCeBiker said:
So, seriously, are you unwilling to help these people with an e-bike that won't 🔥up properly ??

They need an e-bike that can be dragged back to you for you to "fix it up all proper" ??

F-That !!

Just set set them up with something that Burns, and let them have their fun.
Orgy fukin and all.

No bringing the e-bike back for you to fix it.

That's not your job.
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Self respecting bike shops will not let them in the door. They might contaminate the others. Mechanics won't touch them. They would rather call in sick.
 
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