Cruiser Land Transportation

[bumoko]

Is it feasible to haul around mountain bikes for land transportation? Is it worth the effort of taking up space and the effort to move the bike back and forth to shore. Do the bikes last in the salt environment?

[farotherside]

I built up a Montague Boston for cruising use - replaced most of the steel components with stainless or aluminum and made sure everything was very well greased.

...then I dropped it in the ocean.

[Dhillen]

Mountain bikes take up a lot of room so you will probably have them lashed to the stanchions outside. This means they will always be coated in salt spray and will rust apart in a year or so. Many cruisers carry the Denon folding bikes and like those.

But it all depends on where you cruise. If you are just bumping around marinas in the US, bikes are a great way to get around. Go off the beaten track into the developing world and you will find them much less useful. Roads are dirt, the locals walk or hitch and you will do the same to meet them. Riding a bike in a country that no one else does will just put you that much further out of reach of meaningful contact and understanding of local culture and local life.

Leave the bikes at home.

Cheers.

Dhillen

[TassieBloke]

Here you go, best of both worlds

I used to ride a mountain bike (fully) a lot when I was living in Switzerland (well, I still am sort of...) and they were great up in the mountains. Down in the village, getting on and off trains, bus etc, a real PITA.

Drew: How did you transport your bike to and from your boat? I can just see the click fittings or front sprocket going straight through the blow up RIB...

Bloke

[Waterway Guide]

We couldn't imagine not having bikes on our east coast and bahamas cruising. Mountain bikes the first time...too much hassle and space, plus a lot of rust. Cheap small folding marine bikes since...they have actually handled most roads/paths well. Great way to get some good exercise, and they fit with us in the dink. I even fashioned an old backpack to the handlebars that can carry groceries...even a 20lb propane tank.
Mike - Waterway Guide

[farotherside]

Originally Posted by TassieBloke

Drew: How did you transport your bike to and from your boat? I can just see the click fittings or front sprocket going straight through the blow up RIB...

It wasn't so bad, actually - I replaced the back axle nuts with acorn nuts and the pedals with the rounded clipless type.

...now if I'd only remembered to attach a rope or something to her!

And Just Like That « disengage.ca <-- the story in painful detail.

[motion30]

I buy a cheap bike off craigslist or new cheap bike when Its starts becomming a maintenience problem into the dumpster it goes