02-05-2019, 06:50 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Oct 2014
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Carrying lots of stuff on bicycles
Hello everyone!
So I've been thinking in the context of a possible AtE game, but it could probably be adapted to any other setting... So, Vietnamese and other people living in poorer Asian countries have the reputation to be able to carry some truly impressive loads on bicycles. So, is that a specialty of the Freight Handling skill? Just how much can you carry on a TL 8 bike? Could it be a plausible alternative to horses and the like in AtE settings? Could you expect bicycles to be relatively common in a realistic AtE setting? Thanks! |
02-05-2019, 07:27 AM | #2 |
Hero of Democracy
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: far from the ocean
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Re: Carrying lots of stuff on bicycles
The status of bicycles depends on the nature of the end, but I could see a lot of them being around in a majority of cases. The biggest difficulty is replacing and repairing the tire tubes. There are probably ways to work around that.
I know that bikes are sometimes ridden with big weights, but other times are used as the equivalent of mules, walked around with heavy loads. I'd say that both bicycling and freight handling should be used for cycling about with 60 lbs of scrap iron.
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02-05-2019, 10:12 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Denver, CO
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Re: Carrying lots of stuff on bicycles
Since an IQ-based bicycling roll lets you make simple repairs, I would imagine the same would work for loading one.
I'd probably also allow freight handling or packing. |
02-05-2019, 10:24 AM | #4 | |||
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 100 hurricane swamp
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Re: Carrying lots of stuff on bicycles
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I'd treat it as a two wheeled cart. Quote:
An apocalypse that left cities and roads largely intact? Oh hecks yeah! * Yes, yes I know, the better your tech, the better the horse's health and safety. |
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02-05-2019, 10:50 AM | #5 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon
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Re: Carrying lots of stuff on bicycles
Horses have a lot of upkeep. Working horses need more nutrition that grass alone can provide, I think. They take time to grow, need medical care, etc.
There is a reason why they were status animals. Bikes and trikes seem far more of a bargain for most post-apoc situations. Though off road bikes probably take a hint higher tech to maintain than a 19th century one gear safety bike.
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02-05-2019, 10:51 AM | #6 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon
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Re: Carrying lots of stuff on bicycles
It does sound like Hiking covering loading a pack and not just the literal hiking.
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02-05-2019, 10:58 AM | #7 | |
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Central Europe
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Re: Carrying lots of stuff on bicycles
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Critical failures will result in penalties to Bicycling skill, objects falling off at just the wrong time or being caught by passing traffic, or breakage.
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02-05-2019, 03:48 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: New Zealand.
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Re: Carrying lots of stuff on bicycles
Bikes have one natural enemy, Hills.
Horses have a similar weakness pulling up slopes, though oxen slightly less so.
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02-05-2019, 04:12 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Berkeley, CA
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Re: Carrying lots of stuff on bicycles
Assuming you don't put more weight on a bicycle than it can support, on a flat surface the main problem with a load on a bike is that the way we stay upright on a bike is by shifting our mass to prevent falling over, and static weights either don't shift at all, or shift inappropriately. Getting your load properly arranged so it's balanced, doesn't get in the way, and doesn't shift around improperly is certainly freight handling. On a slope, it takes extra energy to go up, and extra braking to go down. For any super heavy load, you're probably better off having a bike trailer, as it doesn't put nearly as much load on the bike wheels and stays stable without intervention.
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02-05-2019, 06:38 PM | #10 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wellington, NZ
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Re: Carrying lots of stuff on bicycles
That's why an AtE situation will be a huge boost up for donkeys and oxen over horses - donkeys can't carry nearly as much, and are slower, and oxen can't work for as long (and are slower except under really heavy loads, which slow horses right down), but both can work on mere grass and hay.
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