Prepper Bikes

Prepper Bikes Creek Stewart shares a picture of his fully loaded Yuba Mundo cargo bike. (It looks similar to the Yub Mundo bike pictured immediate left in green.) Whether carrying kids or cargo, the Yuba Mundo makes transport easy. This exceptional bicycle is neither a derailleur system nor an internally-geared drivetrain. It offers an infinite amount of gear-free shifting with an easy-to-use interface. Plus, there's a built-in, and extra long cargo rack.

There three types of bugout bikes:

1. Bug Out Bike (for getting out of Dodge). This is a well equipped bicycle pre- packed with gear to get you to your survival destination when you can't use your car, truck or SUV. Usually, it's not a fold up bike. It's a mountain bike, a touring bike, a Military paratroop bike, or a cargo bike. This bike is ready to go at a moment's notice, in your garage or storage area. 2. Get Home Bike (for reverse commuting). This could be a fold-up bicycle, commuter bike or recreational bike. It's a bike committed to staying affixed to your vehicle or at your workplace and has the purpose of getting you back home. Pictured right is a 20-inch folding bicycle designed for commuting by Schwinn, called Hinge. It includes a convenient rear rack for lashing a bag or other gear and has front and rear V-brakes. 3. Escape Bike (for an alternate escape). Whether a fold-up bicycle, commuter bike or recreational bike, this bike stays affixed to your vehicle. Its sole purpose is to get you to your survival destination when you must abandon the car, truck or SUV. It's a contingency vehicle if your other vehicle fails to get you to safety!

For purposes of this article, we will refer to all three types of bikes and bugout bikes. Your personal strategy may include just one bike.

How to Select a Bugout Bike Depending on your needs for the three types of bugout bikes:

Military Paratrooper Bike (Bugout Bike, Get Home Bike, Escape Bike). The one bike that can handle all three functions (getting out of Dodge, reverse commuting and alternate escape is a paratrooper bike:

 Montague 20" Paratrooper Military Folding Mountain Bike. The Montague Paratrooper military folding Mountain bike, pictured at the top of the page, is an affordable and durable bike.Cammy Green Tough, rugged, and ready for anything, this mountain bike is dropped from the sky to land, prepared for action. The speed of unfolding this bike for riding will blow you away. Unlike all other folding bikes, there are no wobbly hinges and no structural tubes cut in half . You don't need tools to fold and unfold this bike: just open one quick release lever on the top tube and remove the front wheel. It folds in under thirty seconds without tools, too! This full-sized, rugged mountain bike is deployable on almost any terrain. It is a stealth/minimal signature that is second only to a walking soldier.  Montague SwissBike X50 Paratrooper-style Folding Mountain Bike. This 18- Speed Mountain Bike, folds and fits anywhere. It's a light trail bike for weekend excursions, or a rugged commuter bike, priced lower than the Montague Paratrooper.

Fold up Bicycle (Get Home Bike). Stashing a bug out bike in your car with all your other essentials, including a sturdy pair of walking shoes, is a wise move. Here are our favorite folding bug out bikes.

 Schwinn Hinge fold up bicycle. The Hinge is a 20-inch folding bicycle designed for commuting. It folds compactly for easy storage in a closet or garage. The Hinge is equipped with a low stand-over frame, an ATB rigid fork, and alloy front and rear linear pull brakes, helping it perform as smoothly as any other commuter bike. It's also remarkably comfortable to ride, with an adjustable seat post and high handlebars. And riders will love the handy rear rack, which lets you lash a bag or other gear to the bike.

 Shimano Foldable Mountain Bike. Shimano foldable mountain bike, pictured immediate left in black. This light weight bike folds in 15 seconds and stores easily in most compact car's rear trunk. Shimano is a great name in bikes and this one has a great price.

 Shimano Stow-a-Bike 26", 18-speed. For urban preppers, the Shimano Stow- A-Bike 18-speed bike, pictured immediate right, is an absolute essential. If you consider this just as a mountain bike, it stacks up pretty well against its competition. Dual suspension, quality components from suppliers such as Shimano; it's tough and built to last, and looks great, but where this bike really comes into a league of its own is when you consider its incredible folding frame that's almost made with preppers in mind. It's the #1 best seller in Dual Suspension Mountain Bikes on Amazon!

 Shimano Stowabike 20", City Bike, 6-Speed. Pictured left, the Shimano Stowabike City Bike is the #1 best seller in Adult Folding Bikes on Amazon. No wonder! This foldable commuting bike has built in mud guards to keep you clean, a built in rack for carrying your goods, and an easy and reliable folding mechanism. And best of all, currently it's 66% off the list price. You won't believe the deal.

How to pack a bugout bike

 Cargo load: Find a bike basket, Luggage rack, or panniers for packing essential gear. Also, bike bungee cargo net.

 Bike Trailers. Equip your bug out bike with a trailer even if you don't have young kids. It will be an excellent place to stash equipment and will help you go under the radar. Remember, you'll also need a coupler attachment to affix the trailer to your bug out bike. Right, the bike cargo system includes a tent! Remember to camouflage!

 First Aid: Your bicycle first aid kit, which should include Quickclot.

 Bicycle Tent.

 Bicycle repair tools.

 Tire Repair Tools (tire levers, an air pump, spare inner tube or patch kit). The Multi Function Bike Tool set left, comes with Patch Kit & Tire Levers 18 Function.

Prepper Trikes An adult tricycle has the advantage of stability and is especially important for older preppers. The bonus basket will make it easier to pack a few extra things at the grocery store ensuring you stay fit.

A tricycle is an atypical prep, but something to consider. Preppers must think differently to imagine what life will be like without electricity. Don't back peddle on the idea just yet. Here are good reasons to own a tricycle:

 Enhanced stability: A tricycle offers stability, particularly important as you age. This stability provides a smoother ride. You'll also get enhanced traction and braking. What's more, you can convert trikes for people with disabilities.  More cargo space: Unlike a bicycle, a trike offers more cargo opportunities.  Room for Passengers: A tricycle rickshaw can hold passengers, which might be necessary to get an injured person to the closest available doctor or nurse.

Tricycles are not easy to find in your local stores. The best place to buy them is online.

 Schwinn Hampton Adult Tricycle: The Schwinn Hampton, pictured below features a s super low stand over aluminum frame for easy access. This beauty has allow wheels, cruiser styling with full wrap fenders, and swept back handlebars for comfort. For preppers it features a large fold down rear basket for storage.

 Schwinn Hampton 26-Inch Tricycle. Pictured top right, the Schwinn Hampton 26" adult tricycle is equipped with a super low aluminum frame which allows step through access. The cruiser styling has full wrap fenders and swept back handlebars for comfort. Alloy 26" wheels for smooth and easy riding, large springer cruiser saddle and quick release for unlimited seat height adjustment.

 The Westport Adult Foldable tricycle. The Westport Adult Tricycle from Kent International, pictured right, is super stable. A strong steel frame with a low step-through design makes easy work of starting out. This well engineered frame also features a folding mechanism to take up a little less space in the garage. Comfort features include a suspension fork, a wide, comfortable seat, and adjustable upright handlebars which make any rider feel at home. You will appreciate the spacious basket for cargo safely tucked away behind the rider. Strong linear pull brakes handle the stopping.

 Worksman Port-o-Trike Three Speed Adult Tricycle. The Worksman Tri- Wheeler pictured immediate right, is very stable because of it's lower center of gravity, Designed for optimal portability, it fits most standard trunk-mounted bicycle car racks, or inside most minivans and station wagons.

Want to turn your bicycle into a pedal-wielding motorcycle? Are you a prepper with no pedal power? Convert your pedal bike into a motorized bike! The electric motor conversion kit, pictured right, lets you attach an electric powered motor to your bike. The back wheel is designed specifically to be used with a motor. Fitting most 26" tire slots, you use it along with the motor and an electric controller to go up to 28 mph on your bicycle! The kit includes everything except battery and disc brake. You get:

 the new back wheel,  the controller,  48v motor, and  brake controllers that are meant to give control at those high speeds.

With a quick and easy conversion process, you do not need to be a professional to attach the kit. Since it is easy to take on and off, you can alternate between biking positions, and the chargeable battery allows you to "go green". A fun and innovative tool that can create a unique experience for bike enthusiasts, this bike conversion kit is a must have for any type of biker.

Take a lesson from developing countries: a tricycle or rickshaw is a logical mode of transporting goods in an off grid world. It's odd, yet noteworthy!