If you’re brave enough to study current events, you know that the whole world is officially going to shit. The mainstream media won’t give you the real story, but if you’ve dug a little deeper you’re no doubt aware that massive changes to life as we know it are happening right now. Don’t freak out about it, but ignore reality at your own risk.

Globally, the ÜberWealthy are getting much richer while the rest of us are getting poorer. This is not a coincidence.

Developed nations around the world are declaring backruptcy and merging with corporations. The US Federal Reserve is planning another multi-trillion dollar bailout in a last ditch effort to stave off the utter collapse of our inherently flawed economic system.

Hadn’t you heard?!

"I would kill for a bike right now!"

Also, the US recently kicked off a trade war with China, which is already escalating into a currency war. Remember a few years back when Russians were burning Rubles to heat their homes? Well, believe it or not, that hyperinflation was due to economic warfare between Russia and US. We had the upper hand then, but China’s holding an ace or two now… and they’ve got the support of Japan and (understandably) Russia. This sucks, but what goes around, comes around.

Ohhh yeah, and worldwide demand for fossil fuels is skyrocketing while supply can’t keep up. In fact, once we drop off oil’s global production peak, demand will rapidly eclipse available supply. Nobody knows exactly what’ll happen then. Best case scenario, gas goes to six bucks a gallon by next summer. Worst case scenario, energy issues — along with the rest of the global cluster fuck — kick off a worldwide resource war.

No matter what the future holds, you’ll damn sure benefit from owning…

A SOLID COMMUTER BIKE.

Driving is a lot less appealing than it used to be. Personally — knowing what I know — I feel guilty every time I get behind the wheel. Plus, riding a bike will always be cooler, cheaper, healthier, and a hell of a lot more fun than fooling around town in a car.

TRUTH.

Tricked-out carbon fiber race bikes and bombproof downhill mountain bikes are great — but pricey — and are far from ideal for cruising a post-epochalyptic landscape. Fancy bikes are currently a poor choice for a beer run. Near Future History may also prove them inadequate for outrunning the Zombie hordes. Now or then, owning a solid and reliable commuter bike is a great idea.

Sell off something you really don’t need — before it’s completely worthless — and drop that money into a decent cruiser, touring, road, or XC mountain bike. You’ll never regret the decision.

Quality Single Speed Cruiser: Cheap!

The greatest factor in deciding which type of bike is right for you is where you plan to ride it. If you live in a pancake flat area where all the roads are paved, a solid single-speed cruiser or fixed gear bike could be all you need. Floridians have at least got that going for them.

In a hillier spot that’s almost entirely paved – let’s say Downtown San Francisco – a multi-speed cruiser or touring road bike would work great.

If you plan to spend any time riding dirt roads, trails, or pothole stricken streets, a beefier touring bike or XC mountain bike is what you need.

Mid-Priced XC Mountain Bike: Go Anywhere!

Don’t buy a bike from a big box store. The cheapo bikes you find there are designed to fail… kinda like the global economy. That’s why you don’t see anyone riding a 5 year old Huffy but you’ll spot well-built bikes from the ’70s and ‘80s all over town.

There’s nothing worse than riding a shitty bike while it’s falling apart. There’s nothing better than a good bike performing flawlessly.

Go to a local shop or buy online from a bike specific website. For between $600 and $1500 you can get your hands on a badass commuter bike. Expect those prices to rise as the dollar loses value.

If you (or a friend) are comfortable repairing bikes, buying a steel frame and building up your own bike is a great option. Steel frames are ideal for workhorse bikes because they are durable, comfortable, and easier to repair than any other material.

Some well designed and exceptionally durable bikes come from the folks at SURLY. They’re a Minnesota company clued in to the growing market for strong, reliable, get-shit-done bikes. Here are four notable bikes from SURLY. Depending on your needs, one of these — or something similar from your local shop — would definitely do it for you.

The Long Haul Trucker is designed to go the distance. It’s the beefiest steel touring bike on the planet. You can get it with either 26″ mountain bike wheels or 700c road bike wheels. Either way, the frame offers enough clearance to accommodate beefier tires for off road riding. You could also mount a pair of studded snow tires for icy winter days. It comes stock with pannier mounting bolts so you can strap on bags for convenient storage.

Many manufacturers make bikes like the LHT, so your local shop probably has something comparable. Go check out their selection… as I’m writing this, odds are they’re throwing a big fall SALE! And I’m sure they could use your business…

The Pugsley is a steel frame mountain bike with exceptionally WIDE tires. It’s designed to go where other bikes cannot… over sand dunes… through the snow… and across swampy spots where conventional bikes wouldn’t stand a chance.

A lot of cities are already shutting off streetlights to save money. Someday soon many won’t be able to afford plowing any but the most essential roads. When that happens the Pugsley (and skis!) will rule the streets.

The Pugsley already rules the wildest terrain from the desert to the tundra… and in all seasons. Just remember to stockpile a few spare tires: it’s a very unique size.

The Karate Monkey is a bare bones, single-speed mountain bike with 29″ tires. It’s a perfect workhorse bike for anyone in a relatively flat area. It also suits strong people in steeper terrain who prefer the simplicity and durability of minimalism over the luxury of shifting gears.

With less parts to break — or need adjusting — the Karate Monkey just needs a little chain lube once in a while. Like these other bikes, it’s made of trustworthy steel.

The Big Dummy is the ultimate sport utility bike. It’s designed to accommodate up to 200 pounds of cargo! The massive rack system built into it’s tail can carry everything a sane human needs: groceries, tools, gardening supplies, camping gear, ammo cans, you name it. I’ve gotten to try this bike out and can say it rides well and maneuvers like a normal bike despite the elongated tail.

The Big Dummy is the SUB of the post-oil world. The Kona Ute (pictured above) is a very similar bike.

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Panniers.

Riding with a light backpack on is acceptable. Riding with a heavy backpack on is unbearable.

If you’ve already got a good bike and are looking to increase it’s carrying capacity, consider a rack and pannier system or bike trailer. There are countless pannier systems and numerous trailer styles.

BOB Trailer

BOB Trailers offers a convenient (but small) option that tracks nicely behind your rear wheel. It’s rated to 70 pounds, but I’ve lugged a bit more than that with my own. This is a great option for runs to the market and ultra-light bicycle touring.

Burley Bike Trailer

Trailers designed for towing small children are another great option. You get what you pay for, so know that the cheaper trailers will fall apart much sooner than the beefier ones. Trailers like this are a great option for people with pets… or small children! They can also carry a heck of a lot of gear in a stable, enclosed, easy-to-load space. BADASS never looked so conventional.

There are plenty of DIY trailer options worth looking into, especially if you’re on a tight budget. A few bike wheels, some steel tubing, and amateur welding skills are all you need to put together a sweet trailer. The options are endless, and people have made some impressive ones…

Unless you like getting filthy, fenders are a great, cheap addition to any commuter bike. They cost under $50 and are easy to install at home. Just do a little homework to make sure you’re getting the right ones for your bike.

Another thing worth investing in now is extra tubes, tires, patch kits, chain lube, spare parts, brake pads, bike grease, and lights. Many of these things are oil based and/or imported. All of them are guaranteed to get more expensive as the dollar continues losing value in the global market. In the not too distant future, you could probably trade extra bike parts to your neighbors for things you find yourself lacking.

Bike Gloves

Gore Tex Shell

Lastly, if you’re truly serious about entirely replacing your car with a bike, you’ll need all-conditions attire. I recommend a quality ski shell, good bike shorts, and lightweight, waterproof soft shell pants.

Bike specific clothes are great but backcountry ski or mountaineering outerwear are generally more durable and versatile.

Good gloves and cold weather bike booties are important for long distance winter riding.

Whatever the season, bike shorts are crucial for rides over a few miles. If you have to commute 10+ miles more than once in a while, you’ll definitely want the option of wearing bike shorts.

In closing, currently many investment experts are recommending tangible assets (like gold) over fiat currency (paper money). That is why precious metal values are at an all time high. While the dollar continues getting weaker, tangible assets grow in value. A solid commuter bike is a no brainer investment in a very useful tangible asset.