including 6 lbs of body armor. If you need to support a wife who's turned her ankle, or carry a kid, 70 lbs of gear is out of the question. So, it's best to just pick out what you'd jettison under those conditions,and figure out a way to do without it, right from the gate.. 
Also, have a pair of mountain bikes, and you are much less likely to hurt ankle or knee in the first place. I got a really nice bike at a pawn shop for $60. You need not care that it's made of steel and is 10 lbs heavier than the latest and greatest carbon fiber race bike.
Just because you HATE the thought of having to bugout does not change the fact that it CAN be necessary, and to not plan for that necessity means that you're not much of a prepper. Almost nothing can force you to move more than one night's travel on a mountain bike, most of it off road, much of the latter while walking alongside of the bike. Say, 15-20 miles. That will get you out of the city,. to the closest water source, almost certainly to some trees for shelter, fuel, concealment.
If you live in the prairie, swamps, "big snow" country, or desert, you might want to re-think the advisability continuing to have your home there. Without the modern conveniences of bug spray, netting, AC, central heat,electricity, fuel and water for the asking, some places can be a real horror to stay. When you are STUCK out there with the fire ants,skeeters, cold, deep snow, ticks, etc, for a year or more, many areas become very much "un-fun", not at all like your weekend forays into the nicest parts of the area, with the brush removed, bugs sprayed, ideal times of the year.
Also, have a pair of mountain bikes, and you are much less likely to hurt ankle or knee in the first place. I got a really nice bike at a pawn shop for $60. You need not care that it's made of steel and is 10 lbs heavier than the latest and greatest carbon fiber race bike.Just because you HATE the thought of having to bugout does not change the fact that it CAN be necessary, and to not plan for that necessity means that you're not much of a prepper. Almost nothing can force you to move more than one night's travel on a mountain bike, most of it off road, much of the latter while walking alongside of the bike. Say, 15-20 miles. That will get you out of the city,. to the closest water source, almost certainly to some trees for shelter, fuel, concealment.
If you live in the prairie, swamps, "big snow" country, or desert, you might want to re-think the advisability continuing to have your home there. Without the modern conveniences of bug spray, netting, AC, central heat,electricity, fuel and water for the asking, some places can be a real horror to stay. When you are STUCK out there with the fire ants,skeeters, cold, deep snow, ticks, etc, for a year or more, many areas become very much "un-fun", not at all like your weekend forays into the nicest parts of the area, with the brush removed, bugs sprayed, ideal times of the year.
