I say good grief too.
I always carried a bicycle with me to get me from the Westy to the public
restrooms and hot showers at State and National parks I stayed in.
I never ran out of gas or broke down causing the need for the bike but I
used it often to ride to the main gate of parks or the general stores to buy
ice and sundries in support of my camping.
Even roughing it I used the bike to get far enough away from my Westy that I
had mother natures own toilet facilities at a fair distance.
Very often people that met me for weekends at parks had teen aged children
that thoroughly enjoyed the bike.

Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "mark drillock" <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 5:07 PM
Subject: Re: Unused Fridge and weight (long)

> Good grief, that's why I said CAN BE!  If you know you will use them,
> bring them. Many people bring them and wish they hadn't. With 2 or more
> people traveling, which is what I wrote about, there is less room for
> things that size and the gear that goes along with them. Weight is not
> the issue. Security concerns and avoiding damage to the bikes or Vanagon
> are larger issues. I carry a spare alternator in any case so an hour or
> so and I would be back on the road, no need to pedal.
>
> Mark
>
> Tim Demarest wrote:
>
> >
> > I respectfully disagree... reliable secondary transportation can be
> > vital on a long trip. I bicycled many a mile through Buffalo, Wyoming
> > while my van was laid up with a dead alternator. It's a small town,
> > but the two auto parts stores are on opposite ends.
> >
> > The key (for me) was to get a fold-down hitch-mounted rack, so the
> > bike can be easily folded down out of the way when I want to open the
> > rear hatch. The rack I have lets me do this while the bike is still
> > locked onto the rack.
> >
> > Sure, I probably reduced my gas mileage a bit, but it was nice to be
> > able to pedal around a town or campground while the westie was parked.
> > I didn't use it every day (by any means), but the
> > times I used it made it worth the weight to bring along.
> >
> > My $.02 (US)
> >
> > Tim
> >
> > At 09:09 AM 5/26/2005 -0700, mark drillock wrote:
> >
> >> Bikes can be one of the worst
> >> things to bring along. If you are not a hardcore and disciplined rider
> >> don't bring them traveling.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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