Walking dead bicycles?

[momoneymama]

Ok. Facepunch deserved. We still have cable.

But, serious question. Why does no one in walking dead ride a bicycle? They are always searching out cars and fuel. I feel like a bicycle could outrun a zonbie. Right?

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I feel like I once heard someone else ask this question about zombie movies. They do seem like an obvious solution to the lack of readily available gasoline.

[Slowdown]

In the very first episode, Rick escapes from hospital, finds a bike, cycles to his home - and throws the bike away.

Apart from that, I think facing a bunch of zombies is safer within a closed car. And if you need both hands free for shooting or handling several weapons, you would also prefer not to sit on a shaky bike. I'd rather stand on my own feet or sit in a car. Or (in a pinch) on a nice, high and fast horse, like Rick in episode one.

[VirginiaBob]

They should have more segways in the Walking Dead.  That'd be sweet.

[Louisville]

Why don't the zombies ride bicycles?

[LalsConstant]

I love this show.  But if you are looking for a show where the characters actions make complete sense it is not the show for you.  XD

I think I can justify this however.

1.  Traveling / scavenging is extremely dangerous due to the unpredictability of walkers and motor vehicles,  while posing their own problems,  offer a portable "emergency shelter " option. 

2.  Bikes may not be hard to find but bike trailers and the like would be.

3.  They are in rural Georgia.   Odds are high they long since exhausted all the scavenging in 1 day cycling range.

4.  They have kids and other people not physically capable of cycling as a primary means of transportation.

5. It could be a gimmick for a new character or one of those things they figure out as they go?

6. Possible in universe they are using them but we don't see those scenes.   We don't see absolutely all of their efforts to survive after all.

[Ottawa]

Why don't the zombies ride bicycles?

Don't zombies drive cars in the real world?  Cycling is definitely not for zombies.  :-)

[rocksinmyhead]

I don't watch that particular show, but the "no bikes in the apocalypse" thing has been noted: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoBikesInTheApocalypse

kinda makes me laugh.

[MoneyCat]

They don't use bicycles because they won't have protection when they have to escape from a herd of walkers.  They are constantly having to run over walkers with their cars on that show.

[naloj]

5. It could be a gimmick for a new character or one of those things they figure out as they go?

I'm kind of hoping they come across an ultramarathoner that runs 50 miles per day scavenging for supplies.

  They are constantly having to run over walkers with their cars on that show.

I choose to believe that they're attracted to the noise from the car.

[FreeWheel]

I think facing a bunch of zombies is safer within a closed car.

...Until you run out of gas. Then it's only a matter of time 'til the zombies figure a way to break into your car, or you have to get out and walk.

Car + sturdy bike for the win!

[Cookie]

What about tandem bikes? One steers while the other shoots. Or you could get the  type of bike where it looks like you are half laying down. I feel like those would be fine to shoot while riding. 

[GuitarStv]

You need more maintenance and parts are usually a bit harder to come by for tandem bikes.  I figure that the ultimate apocalypse bicycle would be a sturdy suspension-less mountain bike set up for touring (front rear racks, high spoke count, disk brakes, etc).

[Koogie]

You need more maintenance and parts are usually a bit harder to come by for tandem bikes.  I figure that the ultimate apocalypse bicycle would be a sturdy suspension-less mountain bike set up for touring (front rear racks, high spoke count, disk brakes, etc).

I'm all set then.   Even have my own machete.  And I've watched a Youtube tutorial on how to make a crossbow out of popsicle sticks !!

But seriously, bikes would ruin TWD.  Why ?   Because then they wouldn't get all that sweet, sweet Hyundai product placement money !   

[uspsfanalan]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who wondered about that. So much so that my wife got my the following t-shirt.

http://pathlesspedaled.com/2011/10/the-zombie-apocalypse-will-not-be-motorized/

I think Kia and Dodge have product placement deals. Plus people don't really associate riding a bike with being a bad ass. The image of Rick and crew quietly riding along doesn't inspire people the way a Charger or Ram does.

You can watch the walking dead this season on AMCs home page or if you can wait it's been coming to netfilx on a one year delay.

[Roland of Gilead]

When they were making weapons while captive in the storage container I kept yelling at the tv for them to combine the woodsplinter and a flashlight to make a tactical splinter.

Guess I play too much Dead Rising 3

[GuitarStv]

^ Texas commuter model

[frugalnacho]

Something I have wondered for awhile.  But then I look around my own city and notice almost no one using bicycles when the same pro-bike arguments can be made pre-apacalypse.  I think most people just don't like riding bikes.

[GuitarStv]

So, your contention is that Detroit is pre-apocalypse?

[Charm14]

In Max Brook's (the author of WWZ) The Zombie Survival Guide, it highly recommends biking, since it's faster than zombies can move and there is minimal noise, which would only attract more zombies.

[rocksinmyhead]

So, your contention is that Detroit is pre-apocalypse?

LOL you beat me to it :)

[frugalnacho]

So, your contention is that Detroit is pre-apocalypse?

As far as zombies go...maybe.

[BPA]

So, your contention is that Detroit is pre-apocalypse?

ha ha ha ha ha

I so would have died season one...even willingly.  Man, fuck this shit.  I'm turning zombie and getting the whole stressful deal over with.

[domustachesgrowinhouston]

My guess is Hyundai pays more for product placement than Diamondback does.  Either that or else Americans would find the show too unbelievable if the characters chose to use bicycles over cars.

[Cookie]

The motorcycle always bugged me. It has no protection and it is super loud.

[YK-Phil]

I only ever watched one episode, peripherically while "working" at a client's house. As far as I could see, the "actors" were in a sports store, and I think there were bicycles in the background. The sound was off so I didn't hear what they were talking about, but obviously, they chose not to use bikes.

I think it would be really cool if they used pogo sticks.

[frugalnacho]

The motorcycle always bugged me. It has no protection and it is super loud.

Protection from what? You're on a fucking motorcycle, just drive away.  Also who cares if it's loud?  You think the zombies are going to sit down and triangulate where that loud sound that has been ripping around town and echoing off the hills is actually coming from?  I would agree with you if he just started it and ran it at their home base, but he doesn't, he drives it around.

[Chranstronaut]

From the title, I thought this thread was going to be about how to walk your bike home when you get a flat or something.

I'm not disappointed though :)

[Bob W]

Great thread! 

I'm a new convert to TWD after BB ended.   The first show my wife said it was ridiculous and now I can't pull her away from the screen. This is a question you might text to Talking Dead.   The next question might be that after sitting around for 4 years why does the gas still work in the cars?  Did they all add stabilizer just prior to the apocalypse? 

Thanks for the hint on the AMC broadcast as TWD is one of the reasons we are clinging to cable still. 

So what is up with the priest dude.  What other secrets is he hiding?   And what happens now that the groups are separated?   And is the super smart science dude really going to Washington to end the apocalypse or is there something going on there too?  When will the baby die and will that be the episode where Rick turns completely evil?  There are probably another 10-12 seasons worth of shows here.

Shouldn't we put up a TWD permanent thread here?

[frugalnacho]

Great thread! 

I'm a new convert to TWD after BB ended.   The first show my wife said it was ridiculous and now I can't pull her away from the screen. This is a question you might text to Talking Dead.   The next question might be that after sitting around for 4 years why does the gas still work in the cars?  Did they all add stabilizer just prior to the apocalypse?

Thanks for the hint on the AMC broadcast as TWD is one of the reasons we are clinging to cable still. 

So what is up with the priest dude.  What other secrets is he hiding?   And what happens now that the groups are separated?   And is the super smart science dude really going to Washington to end the apocalypse or is there something going on there too?  When will the baby die and will that be the episode where Rick turns completely evil?  There are probably another 10-12 seasons worth of shows here.

Shouldn't we put up a TWD permanent thread here?

I hear this all the time, and even see it on this forum where people claim they drive so infrequently that their gas goes bad.  If the tanks are full and have no head space it should not be an issue.  And second, i've used super old gas in gas cans that had tons of head space (in proportion to the amount of gas) and never had a single problem.  Have all my lawn mowers been magical that they can use 2-3 year old gas with no problems?  Or is the "old gas" thing totally blown out of proportion?

[Left]

If you've read the book Extinction point, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13509631-extinction-point, main character starts out on a bike and moves over to a car. Seem's reasonable in how she transitioned.

[Cookie]

[Quote from: Cookie on October 29, 2014, 04:10:46 PM
The motorcycle always bugged me. It has no protection and it is super loud.

Protection from what? You're on a fucking motorcycle, just drive away.  Also who cares if it's loud?  You think the zombies are going to sit down and triangulate where that loud sound that has been ripping around town and echoing off the hills is actually coming from?  I would agree with you if he just started it and ran it at their home base, but he doesn't, he drives it around.

If people pick a car over a bicycle for the protection, wouldn't they pick the car over a motorcycle?

[Bob W]

Sorry for the non spoiler alert!  whoops

So Spoiler "Alert"

Last nights episode was a slow mover for me.   I almost forgot it was a time shift and happening simultaneously to the church shooting previous episode.   Although the times didn't seem to match up for me as the church groups time seemed to be about 2 or 3 days and the hospital play out must have been at least 7?  Depends on who came back to the church though?

[subassy]

Anybody notice? One character said Why don't we look for bikes?. Seemed pertinent to this thread. It's almost like one of the writers is on Mr. Mustache Forum. I won't say any more than that. Spoilers.

[MoneyCat]

Anybody notice? One character said Why don't we look for bikes?. Seemed pertinent to this thread. It's almost like one of the writers is on Mr. Mustache Forum. I won't say any more than that. Spoilers.

I caught that too.  LOL!  I hope it leads to something on the show.

[MikeBear]

I'd put ole' Eugene on a bike, and once he gets halfway through the crowd of Zombies, I'd throw a broom handle through his spokes...

[GuitarStv]

No need for that kind of violence.  A high turning kick would knock him straight off the bike without damaging the spokes.

[MoneyCat]

I'd put ole' Eugene on a bike, and once he gets halfway through the crowd of Zombies, I'd throw a broom handle through his spokes...

I actually like the character of Eugene quite a bit.  Their world became Darwinian and he used his brains to survive.  Other people died, but he is still breathing.  That's winning in my book.

[Bob W]

I'd put ole' Eugene on a bike, and once he gets halfway through the crowd of Zombies, I'd throw a broom handle through his spokes...

I actually like the character of Eugene quite a bit.  Their world became Darwinian and he used his brains to survive.  Other people died, but he is still breathing.  That's winning in my book.

Eugene is a fav of mine as well.   Last episode dragged again.   Too bad there are only 2 o3 episodes left in 14 and then not restarting till February.  Definitely up there with Lost!

[libertarian4321]

The first show my wife said it was ridiculous and now I can't pull her away from the screen.

Of course it's ridiculous.  If any of the survivor groups had a leader with any survival skills and an IQ over 90 and who was not completely insane, they'd have long since established a zombie-proof, walled city, surviving on farming.  Using water, wind, and/or solar for power.

But that would be boring, so the group has to act like a bunch of idiots, stumbling from one crisis to another, making dozens of ridiculous choices every week, while sometimes battling other groups of idiots.

And of course, my wife and I watch it. :)

[Bob W]

The first show my wife said it was ridiculous and now I can't pull her away from the screen.

Of course it's ridiculous.  If any of the survivor groups had a leader with any survival skills and an IQ over 90 and who was not completely insane, they'd have long since established a zombie-proof, walled city, surviving on farming.  Using water, wind, and/or solar for power.

But that would be boring, so the group has to act like a bunch of idiots, stumbling from one crisis to another, making dozens of ridiculous choices every week, while sometimes battling other groups of idiots.

And of course, my wife and I watch it. :)

Good to hear that my libertarian friend!  What a pathetic great show.  :)

[LibrarIan]

Just thought I'd note that I sighted a bicycle in this past week's episode entitled Consumed (the episode where Daryl and Carol went to Atlanta in search of Beth). When they stop their car in the city and watch as the person they were following gets out of a car and clears some debris out their path, one of the objects is a bicycle. It's unfortunate that they didn't take it with them for resource-saving badassity.