How Do You Get Around when You Get There ?

[LauderBoy]

I bought this bike in prep for cruising: Dahon Mariner D7

At the moment I just use it to get around town and exercise. I've been pretty happy with it.

[Piney]

After sitting on a boat for a long time its nice to get out and WALK!! I know, I know... its a little untraditional, but walking is good for you and you can cover large distances very cheaply.

[Cheechako]

I've had fold up mountain bikes and fold up little ones (16" wheels?). Not the ones with the tiny wheels. The big bikes were just a hassle all the time... too big. My little red dahon I used all over. It was one speed, no cables and pedal brakes. Running to west marine outfitting in Ft Lauderdale, running around in Peurto Rico, etc etc.. I loved it. I finally gave it to yard worker in Trinidad. Probably still down there running errands! If you're in an anchorage long, just chain to something on shore....

[roverhi]

Bike Friday - Custom folding and travel bicycles hand-crafted in Oregon

[Cheechako]

Those look nice.. but then my used Dahon was $35....

[Wavewacker]

Originally Posted by roverhi

Bike Friday - Custom folding and travel bicycles hand-crafted in Oregon

Long time ago I led a tour about 120 miles or so and a lady rode one of those. It was a ten speed and I rode it some and liked it for a run around bike. While you could tour with it, it's a little wierd with smaller wheels, I rode 27" at the time. I've ridden tens of thousands of miles since I road raced...but's that' sanother story. Today, I'd rather have a motor.

There were also drop down motors that mounted front or rear and simply ran a wheel against you tire. It was fine for cruising along, not to great for take offs.

I'm still trying to take a real motorcycle (650 dual sport to tour with along the way).

Anyone else? I know shoe leather works great too.

[ausaviator]

Never been a problem for us...

[Wavewacker]

Originally Posted by ausaviator

Never been a problem for us...

That's a nice yacht you have there, I could take both of my bikes and my car, but I doubt it will go where I plan to cruise. You could loan it to me for six months and I could fly over some of the rivers instead.

Yes, if I go with the boat I'm thinking of building, a Bolger TN. with a flater roof, I can land the powered parachute on the roof too and hopefull put the bike in the back.

[zeehag]

dahons sukk in real terrain. i use a bus or friends or a full sized mountain bike.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by zeehag

dahons sukk in real terrain.............

We had the small diameter wheel Dahons for about five years of cruising and they suited us well despite my yearning to wear the yarn wig and red rubber nose on the little "circus bikes". We have found the same abilty to transport and store our full size bikes with the quick release wheels and detachable seats and baskets,- the Trak bicycles seem to excell with this option. Along the East Coast US and th Bahamas the use of the bikes is very much dependant upon the location. Some places have great public transport (Portland, Me.; Jacksonville, Fl; St. Petersburg, Fl); some places give us great bicycling access (Havre De Grace, Md, Baltimore, Md, Key Largo, Fl; Orange Park , Fl); and some places seem to allow you to walk to all your needs (Boston, Ma; Charleston, SC; Oriental, NC; Georgetown, SC). Of course all these answers of mine depend upon where you anchor or dock. We've never found it worthwhile taking our bicycles ashore in the Bahamian ports that we frequent.

[Cheechako]

The difference being with an easy to use, not too large bike, if you need something in the middle of a project you can get pretty fast. Public transportation invovles a schedule,timing,and hours.

[stillbuilding]

Electric bikes. Lots of choices, very quiet, enough range to be suitable and easy to charge.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by stillbuilding

Electric bikes. Lots of choices, very quiet, enough range to be suitable and easy to charge.

Help me interpret this, "easy to charge" comment. I find that I am able to have enough frequency of generator use when anchoring out to charge items like my cell phone, electric razor and hand held VHF, but I'm skeptical about my success with charging one or a pair of these electric bikes. Do you find them easy to charge by locating some available power supply that you arrange ashore? Do you transport them by dinghy back to the anchored boat for charging? Are they "easy to charge" only when you are at the dock with shore power? What duration of charge would correspond to a distance of travel? I see much appeal to these electric bikes or scooters, but I need to hear more from those that have them.

[Noname]

Automoboat | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[LauderBoy]

Originally Posted by CaptForce

What duration of charge would correspond to a distance of travel? I see much appeal to these electric bikes or scooters, but I need to hear more from those that have them.

Not the poster, but here's an example I can see Folding electric bike

It's 8AH @ 36v good for 20 miles of pedal assist, up to 20mph. So 24AH worth to recharge @ 12v if you fully depleted it. That's not too bad and reasonable to do off a decent solar install if you have spare watts.

My concern would be the weight. At 49lbs it's about twice the weight of a Dahon D7. But maybe the battery is easily removed so you can bring it down into the dinghy in pieces.