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How can we lighten our bikes? printer.gif

We´ve been doing some pretty serious climbing on our bikes. Since we´re biking long distances each day, we have to carry a number of things, which is starting to get heavy. We were wondering if you have any suggestions of things we might be able to get rid of while traveling on our bikes.

Here´s a list of things that we carry:

Medical Kit - This has bandages, pain relievers, and other essential items for emergencies. It´s one of the biggest and heaviest things we carry on our bikes.
Satellite Phone - In case of emergencies, we want to be able to make a phone call. However, we´ve found it doesn´t work in many places.
Camera and Video Camera - These are heavy and large, but we want to be able to share with you what we find. We have a smaller digital camera that we could bring, but it doesn´t take as nice of photos as the larger camera.
Bike Repair Kit - This has extra bike tires, bikes tubes, tube patch kits, spokes, air pump, and essential tools. We haven´t had to use everything in it. However, if we did have to make major repairs and didn´t have the tools we´d be faced with leaving our bikes and trying to find tools from people along the road, which would be very hard.
Food - We have snacks and lunches packed, which can be very heavy. We´ve found that there are small shops that serve food or have snacks we can buy. However, if we don´t carry food, we wouldn´t be able to eat when we wanted to.
Water - Water is essential. We each drink between 2 and 3 liters of water during our daily rides. It´s going to get hotter as we get into the rainforest. Also, the water in the towns and stores is not safe for us to drink. It could make us sick. The pills we use to purify our water take an hour to work.
Rain Jackets - These are light, but bulky. We have only had to use them on two occasions so far, but when we needed them, they were essential to staying warm and dry. When you´re biking in the rain, even when it´s hot, you can get very cold quickly.

What do you think? Is there anything we can get rid of to save some weight? Let us know your ideas.

Comments

-i think that you should drop the cellular device.
if you cant use it, what is the point in carring it?
-if you load is still too heavy, drop you camera and viseo camera.

x3 Tunnie-Anne Cha-Ching

-i think that you should drop the cellular device.
if you cant use it, what is the point in carring it?
-if you load is still too heavy, drop you camera and viseo camera.

x3 Tunnie-Anne Cha-Ching

Drop the rain jackets

i think u should get rid of the cameras because they are heavy, and take up space. Then you should sell the cameras, and wireless phone, and get light weight cell phones

loose the cameras. i hate to say it.

Well, you should probably keep your food and water... that's a given. But, if I were to say which one of those things that you should toss, I would say the rainjackets would be the best choice. You've been there a week, and've only had to use them twice. All of the other items are pretty essential, and if you dumped the camera and video camera, then how would we know what you were doing? The rainjackets are the best choice.

get rid of the satelite phone and maybe the camera, too. After all, a Video camera can easily replace a camera's job. You might want to get rid of a snack or two and a bike tire

We think you should get rid of the satellite phone because it doesn't always work and you could use a phone at one of the shops along the way. We also think you should get rid of smaller camera because it doesn't take great pictures; and your big lunches, not your snacks, because you could eat your snacks if you get hungry before you get to a shop to have your lunch. Good Luck!

We think that you should only carry the small digital camera because it can take the pictures and most digital cameras are able to take short videos. Also try looking into rain jackets that are less bulky. We were wondering if you would be able to attach something to the back of your bike that has wheels that could carry your gear instead of having to carry it on your back.

you shold bring food and water because it is helthy for yous.

You might be able to do without the sattelite phone, and maybe you could reduce the medical supplies you are carrying. Otherwise, you seem to be down to the bare essentials.

You should bring water.

We think you could get rid of the phone since it usually doesn't work anyway, but safety first...so if you think you need it for emergencies, you should keep it.

We also think you could reduce the amount of food you carry with you. Keep some snacks to get you through to the next place. Then you could eat more at the samll shops.

All the other suplies seem necessary for you to keep.

We have discussed this thoroughly. We feel that each and every item you carry with you serves a specific purpose. If anything, you can use the other camera even though the picture quality won't be that great. Have a safe trip. Mrs. Ebel's Third Grade Class

I think well if you have a truck to carry your bikes then you can put them on top of your truck or in or maybe take you bike aprat and rebuild them when your ready to use them. BYE-BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And GOODBYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The thing we want you to get rid of are the rain jackets because you can bring something better and warmer.

i think u should get rid of the rain c0at and the food also the camera.

buy warm coats and blankets

rain jackets to get new ones not old ones

I think there is nothing you can grt rid of, but mabey putting on your rain jacket might make it a little bit lighter.

I think that you should get rid of the rain coats. I know that they are important, but you could do without them.

rain jackets.

You can get ride of your phone thing if it dosen't work in many places. it probialy wont be any help. I hope i helped! :)

you should get rid of ur satilite phone beucase if u really need help u use ur viedo cameras.

you might want to get rid of the rain jackets and the sattelite phone.

I think you might want to get rid of the satalite cellphine because it doesnt work in many places. The camra because you have the video camra. And the rain jackets.

GET RID OF THE PHONES THEY BARELY WORK & USE THE DIGITAL CAMERA. ALSO, LEAVE SOME OF THE THINGS OUT OF THE MEDICAL KIT & CARRY SMALL AMOUNTS OF FOOD IN YOUR POCKETS. SPLIT UP THE CARRYING EQUALLY. LIGHTEN UP THE REPAIR KIT BY CARRYING LESS AMOUNT OF THINGS AND SMALLER THINGS.

the bike repare kit and mabey the rain coats if you need to

you should get rid of your sattolite phone

I think you might not need a sattelite phone because the hotels you stay at might have a phone.if the medical kit has a handle you might also be able to put it on youre bike that might lesson your load.

you should get rid of your sattolite phone

i think that you should drop the Satillite Phone

We think that you shouldn't get rid of anything, and just see a chiropractor when you get home. Or hire a shirpa or rent a mule or something.

A satelllite phone could come in handy because it is very lightwieght.It replaces a bike repair kit and a med. kit because your could call for help instead.

My friend and I think you guys should lighten up on the bike repair kit by taking out the things to repair acccidents that rarely occur. Only take the digital camera on your biking trips and on your hiking trips. You could bring the heavy equipment on your hiking trips because you will more time to look at the scenery.

I think that you should get rid of the Satellite Phone and Camera and Video Camera. Since the Satellite phone doesn't work that much, why bring it? Also,if you have to much weight and you have another camera whcih is lighter, why not use that? I mean, it still takes pictures.

The sixth graders from Brickton Montessori think that you should get rid of half of the camera's, but keep the rest if you make any new dicoveries you might want to record it.

Also you dont need the snacks! You definetly need the 3 time meals but no snacks. Pack larger, but light lunches. hi i like pie alot ya its so good so no snacks they make you fat

I think you could get rid of the satellite phone because, as you said, you can't use them much due to the lack of signal. Also, you could get rid of the rain jackets because you don't use them very much.

First of all, we suggest that you get rid of the phone since it doesn't always work. Can you cut down on the bike tools since you don't use them all? Also, the rain jackets seem like they can be dropped. Maybe you should go down to only one camera.

We have many ideas:
1)the bike repair kit should be left because it is heavy and you can just walk!
2)The phone should be left because if the phone doesn't work--why take it??!! Just use the medical kit for emergency!
3)Leave the raincoat because it will make is easier to carry less!

Overall, our class voted and we think the Satelite phone should go!

i love what you guys are doing because i think it is so cool! Please be really save and i hope you guys are having a blast! Good Luck!

isabella medina

I think that you should keep all of the supplies and equipment why? because,when you need help or need to eat something then, you have what you need and keeps you safe :D

leave the cameras the small camera is good enough everything else is essensial

I do not think the cell phone is needed. It may only add a small ammount of weight, but it could still help.

I would recommend carrying lighter on the First Aid Kit. Carry enough for yourself only, and keep it in a light container.

Hopefully me suggestions will help!

You should get ride of the rain cotes Because you will just get a little wet!

I do not think that it is neccesary to bring the satellite phone, because as you said before, it does not work in many places that you are in, this would take alot of weight off the bikes, and all of the other things are absolutely vital for travelling on the bikes, you can live without a phone!!! :)

only carry what you absolutely need to carry. split the wheight evenly between the # of bikes so 1 or 2 people wont get tired

I think that giving us questions helps us and i got the all right so you should keep giving us mystery photos cause i liked that sloth you should do like a maccaw that would be really cool
your friend,
Garrett G.

I would get rid of the rain jackets, they are the least likely thing that you would need. A little rain never hurt anybody right?

You should leave the
satellite phone if it
doesn't work

I think you should get rid of either your camera or your video camera.

well.
i think you NEED to keep..
food
water
medical kit
camera
and
bike repair kit.
the thing you can get rid of is the rainjackets or phone. if the phone doesnt work, why use it?

You should get rid of the rain jackets because a little rain won't hurt. If you don't want to get rid of the rain jackets, you should get rid of the satellite phone.
Thanks,
Erin

I think you should drop the satellite phone, the camera, and mabey some snacks. You could buy something to eat at a shop. The rain jackets could go too. If it rains you could see if you could buy some other form of waterproof wear.

I think that one person sould carry everything, and then, every once in a while, you switch. There is a lot of you, so it would give the others time to rest, while the others are carrying the stuff.

I think that you should get rid of the satellite phone, because it doesn't work at some places, and pack food lightly. Maybe you could carry as much water that you normally drink, and purify water later when you settle at the place that you are staying at, for the next day.

Drop the satellite phone. There's no need for it.

Forget the satellite phone, it might not work in places and it costs a lot to use.

The teachers had mixed opinions on today's dilemma. Some of them thought you should eliminate some of the water and food, and only carry enough for emergencies because you can buy some on the way. Others thought the phone should be eliminated because it's heavy and not very useful in all areas. Finally, some thought that you should carry only big camera or only one.
Final vote:
0 medical kit
13 satellite phone says adios
6 camera
Bike 0
Food 4
Water 0
Rain 0

trade for lighter things with the people who live in the forest.

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