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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, 10:51 AM | #4 |
Untagged
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, 10:24 AM | #5 | |||
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 100 hurricane swamp
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Re: Carrying lots of stuff on bicycles
Quote:
Quote:
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 | #6 |
Untagged
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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Beware, poor communication skills. No offense intended. If offended, it just means that I failed my writing skill check. |
02-05-2019, 06:38 PM | #7 |
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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02-06-2019, 03:17 AM | #8 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Udine, Italy
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Re: Carrying lots of stuff on bicycles
It would be worth trying to rebuild in GURPS mechanics a bicycle with the old GURPS Vehicles. Two wheels, musclepower propulsion, light open frame - you could end up knowing the theoretical maximum payload.
For using a bike as a two-wheeled cart, you can simply use the rule on p. B353. On a good road, you'd divide effective weight by 20! (by 10 for a two-wheeled cart, and halved for the road). The upper limit would probably kick in, which is 15 x BL. |
02-06-2019, 08:43 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Canada
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Re: Carrying lots of stuff on bicycles
The big reason why you see enormous loads balanced on a bike instead of in a bike trailer is heavy traffic: A bike trailer makes your bike that much bigger and harder to maneuver in a press of people.
In an ATE situation, you shouldn't have that kind of population density, making a trailer (or sidecar, or what-have you) much more viable. That said, given a trailer, some people will overload the trailer, and then overload the bike.
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02-05-2019, 10:58 AM | #10 | |
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Central Europe
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Re: Carrying lots of stuff on bicycles
Quote:
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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