Commuting along a beach thoughts ?

[BADGER.BRAD]

O.k so me and my lad decided whilst on a weekend away to travel to the local town Barmouth (from Shell Island) about 10 miles on the bikes and with my dogs, some times we travelled through sea water and across boulders in order to avoid deep dry sand which was impossible to ride through, we managed all the way.The next morning both bikes as expected were a little worse for wear. The cheap bike with a steel frame and wheels looked really bad with rust forming on the wheels chain and chain set the frame where paint was missing and the cables. The better bike ( mine also but my lad was riding it) was a little better as it has painted wheels and disc brakes but the cables and chain set looked pretty rough. On both bikes when they were first used the next day had brakes that didn't work and spat sand out when first used. Both bikes (now at home) have had a good wash with a hose pipe and will be relubed tomorrow when they have dried. Bearing this in mind if you were to find yourself a situation were your commute was to take place on a beach of mixed sand ,boulders and water crossings what would you use bearing in mind minimum maintenance ( I'm a little strange and my mind wonders to these sort of questions, maybe I need help !!!!!)
My initial thoughts were brakeless fixed with painted everything but then I thought of the affect change of surfaces/wind direction had so I came up with geared fixed using a sturmey hub. Then as I needed to brake frequently due to daft dogs I thought of maybe one or two drum brakes. What added mods would keep maintenance down ? What do you think ?

 

[BADGER.BRAD]

I never thought of a belt drive ! I'm never going to do it ( I live in the Midlands) but the road is a 60+ mph road in places with dangerous blind bends, steep hills, crazy drivers with a death wish and very strong winds from the sea ( bad enough in a car or on a motorbike) so if I were to decide not to do it by beach I think the best option would be not to do it at all. Funally enough we came across eight other people when we did it but I do suspect these were other tourists as daft as me and my lad! All on much better bikes than mine might I add.

 

[Riding in Circles]

You should have washed them as soon as you got back, sea water is brutal.

 

[Holdsworth]

I'd much rather use the A496 if going to Barmouth from Shell, when I take my bike there it is going nowhere near the beach!

 

[Tynan]

salt, sand (and the very cold) being hard on metal moving parts shouldn't be news

 

[fossyant]

Wouldn't do it. Last year we took a 'short (long) cut over dunes in N. Wales. Ended up washing all 4 bikes immediately, then hosing off the chain/sprockets. The sand gets everywhere. Not again.

 

[recumbentpanda]

MMMM! Design challenge . . . SeaBike!

Take the plastic frame of an Itera, but give it high bottom bracket geometry. Nylon reinforced ABS wheels, (Carbon fibre too soft and ding-sensitive) Add fully enclosed belt drive, monster clearances for monster balloon tyres, Stainless steel or phosphor bronze rod-brakes. Gearing is tricky - most hub gears are not well sealed against wet or grit. Prolly need a custom-designed one in a stainless steel housing with super labyrinth seals, grease nipples, and again, bellcrank and rod operation rather than cable. An alternative to plastic frame might be SS, or Cromo with a good epoxy powder coat job and some sort of sticky anti-rust treatment inside the tubes.

Possible market: three mad beachcombers and a Punch and Judy Man . . .

 

[The_East_Stand_View]

My commute is on a costal, sea cycle path. Sand does get everywhere even on the cycle path, especially when windy and wet. I try to clean my bike thoroughly each weekend, happy travels.

 

[Brains]

A bike from the local tip
A tin of Dulux (Bathrooms and Kitchens) any colour, or a tin of Hammerite if your are really splashing out
A Power washer.

Sorted.

 

[tyred]

Used to ride on the beach on my cousin's Raleigh Grifter. It seemed to survive the ordeal, although the chrome rims suffered a bit.

 

[fossyant]

Used to ride on the beach on my cousin's Raleigh Grifter. It seemed to survive the ordeal, although the chrome rims suffered a bit.

Ex cousin now, he's never forgiven you !