About ten years ago my then girlfriend and I went to Yosemite in early April
for six days (great time to go; nights are cool, days are pleasant, not too
many people and great snow run-off). We sort of threw our bikes on the van
(a Chevy) as a last minute whim, but when all was said and done we were damn
glad we did. Basically we just left the van where it was as a more-or-less
permanent part of our campsite and biked all over the place- it was the
perfect way to go about it, and we had no idea when we decided to take the
bikes.
I'm certainly no bike enthusiast- I don't even own one at the moment, but
when I decide to make another trip anything like that one I'll go out and
buy bike before I go.

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Stan Wilder" <wilden1-1@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 3:54 PM
Subject: Re: Unused Fridge and weight (long)

>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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>>