In the early game of 7 Days to Die, the biggest time sink isn’t combat or gathering — it’s traveling on foot. If you run back and forth to the trader or your target POI every single time, the day is gone before you know it. That’s why the first thing you want to aim for is the earliest vehicle that uses no fuel at all: the “Bicycle.”
Why the bicycle should be your top priority
- Runs on zero fuel: Even in the early game when gasoline is precious, you just pedal to get moving.
- Clearly faster than walking: It shortens your travel and return trips, letting you explore more POIs.
- More carrying capacity: You can load loot into the bicycle’s storage, improving how efficiently you haul things back.
- Low crafting difficulty: No engine or battery required — it’s mostly made from parts you gather early on.
Getting ready to build it
The bicycle can be crafted without a workbench. Here are the materials you’ll most likely need.
- Wheels: Craft them from mechanical parts plus resources, or salvage them from POIs and cars.
- Mechanical parts like handlebars and chains: These pile up from salvaging and looting.
- Metal materials smelted in a forge: It’s faster if you keep your leftovers “smelting away” to stockpile them.
When you’re short on parts, targeting car salvage and the trader’s inventory will get you stocked up fast. With a wrench, you can efficiently strip mechanical parts off cars and outdoor AC units.
Tips for using it
- Decide on a “main route” connecting your base and the trader, and you can make the round trip by the shortest path every time.
- In places with lots of ledges or enemies, get off and switch to walking for a bit so you don’t damage the bicycle.
- Watch your noise and visibility when traveling at night. A rhythm of heading out far during the day and crafting at base at night stays stable.
The bottom line: your “first big craft” in the early game should be the bicycle — over armor, over weapons. Just by cutting the invisible cost of travel, the amount of supplies you can gather in the same amount of time feels nearly doubled.