Boat Bikes II

[Sailingmartin]

I’m a confirmed Brompton user of many years and have used them for heavy-duty work (making cycling maps) with repeated 25-50 mile days in all conditions. However on the boat you do have to take care with keep the rust at bay, particularly if kept in a locker without being used. A waterproof cover is essential and some form of protection on the steel parts you can’t replace with more rustproof material. As a “compromise” bike ie folding against performance they are hard to beat.


As you can see if the picture comes out, they can take a bit of load on the back rack.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

. . . If you do ride cobblestones, you need a suspension mountain bike, really.. .

Well, everybody in Europe rides cobblestones. Half the streets in the centers of the cities in Northern Europe are cobblestone. I ride them every day.


Riding them on an alu road bike with skinny 100psi tires would be murder, but I rode them with 700C x 25mm tires and with a Reynolds 531 frame in my youth, and it is survivable like that without a suspension.


But a suspension is a huge plus up here, and maybe anywhere were you don't need ultimate performance, and/or don't have ideally smooth roads all the time. Gives you a different view on curbs and potholes, too.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Sailingmartin

I’m a confirmed Brompton user of many years and have used them for heavy-duty work (making cycling maps) with repeated 25-50 mile days in all conditions. However on the boat you do have to take care with keep the rust at bay, particularly if kept in a locker without being used. A waterproof cover is essential and some form of protection on the steel parts you can’t replace with more rustproof material. As a “compromise” bike ie folding against performance they are hard to beat.

As you can see if the picture comes out, they can take a bit of load on the back rack.

Another useful data point

[Sidney777]

Imho. Just buy a 26 in Montague Folding bike used.

[dlane1181]

I borrowed a Brompton for 4-5 months and rode it everywhere. I loved it, up to ~30 minutes, then it quickly got uncomfortable.
My wife surprised me for Christmas with a belt drive, 8-speed, Bike Friday. It is an awesome ride; although to be fair, we are on strict lockdown in Spain, so I’ve only ridden it short distances a couple of times a week for groceries or do laundry at a laundromat.
As the OP pointed out, it’s pricey. You could by 10 decent enough folding bikes at Decathlon for what this one cost, keep them 2 years, donate it to a person in need, and get a new one.
But it is a great ride.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Sidney777

Imho. Just buy a 26 in Montague Folding bike used.

Way too big!!


If I could store something like that; I'd just keep my Jetstream on board.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by dlane1181

I borrowed a Brompton for 4-5 months and rode it everywhere. I loved it, up to ~30 minutes, then it quickly got uncomfortable.
My wife surprised me for Christmas with a belt drive, 8-speed, Bike Friday. It is an awesome ride; although to be fair, we are on strict lockdown in Spain, so I’ve only ridden it short distances a couple of times a week for groceries or do laundry at a laundromat.
As the OP pointed out, it’s pricey. You could by 10 decent enough folding bikes at Decathlon for what this one cost, keep them 2 years, donate it to a person in need, and get a new one.
But it is a great ride.

Which model BF?

[Mag3]

wow... i hadn't seen this one.. SOLID find. thanks.

Originally Posted by Tillsbury

What’s the consensus on the Carbo X? This is the one I’ve had my eye on for a while. Carbon fibre frame for lightness, belt drive to avoid oil going everywhere down below, seems to tick all the boxes for boat use:

https://ridecarbo.com/products/carbo...31309818953791

I was about to order this before everything hit the fan, and still might when things change...

[MarkOne]

We have a pair of Joey's, designed and built by Airnimal, based in Cambridge, UK. See: https://airnimal.co/ Wheels are 24" but they fold superbly and we find them easy to store on the boat. They are now 14 years old and superb to ride with hub change gears + rear derailleur, you can ride anywhere. We've ridden about 10000km on them over the years. They've survived the salty air aboard when not being used. Compared to the Brompton they are in a different league.
Good luck with your choices.

[250224]

From about 15 years ago: Dahon Flo*

- 28 x 66 x 79 cm**, 10.3 kg, 26", 27 speeds
- no longer produced afaict

Impressive specs (if you want a mountain bike).

*: https://www.cyclemotion.co.uk/dahon/flo-specs.htm, https://www.mtbr.com/product/bikes/x...dahon/flo.html, https://mbaction.com/is-a-folding-bi...uture-june-24/

**: ok, I left out, that it's rather assembling than folding, but still. Some other sizes to compare: Brompton 58,5 x 56,5 x 27 cm, Dahon Quix 81 x 31 x 82 cm, Friday Pakit 96 cm x 61 cm x 25 cm

PS: would love to know the fold size for the Airnimal (was unable to find anything)

[SV MAKAI]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I am now using my beloved Dahon Jetstream EX on land, and almost as primary transportation. It beats a normal bike for city use by far because you can fold it up and throw it into the trunk of a rental car, for example, or take it on a tram where a normal bike is forbidden, while not really riding any worse than a good road bike. I've put so many miles on it now that the bottom bracket is knackered and I need to do a complete mechanical overhaul.
Any thoughts?

Think about getting an electric unicycle. Best thing I ever did.

Here is a link to a video I did explaining everything about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSd0GwbsAbM&t=1298s

[250224]

Originally Posted by MarkOne

they fold superbly and we find them easy to store on the boat ... Compared to the Brompton they are in a different league.

Do you by chance have the size when folded? (would be curious...). With "different league" you are refering to riding comfort, right?

Interesting bike, thanks for the mention!

[Dr.No]

I absolutely love my Montague Paratrooper Pro folding bike. This is a full sized mountain bike that unfolds instantly, then requires the quick disconnecting front wheel to be installed. All this takes about a minute. I added aftermarket folding pedals so it fits easier in a locker below. Cheers!

[Canute]

This came through my mail box, and I was thinking about belt drive before even reading the thread.
Clean and rust free makes sense if you're taking it out to sea.
I don't know if there are good folding options though.

[lhuff35204]

Purchased this one for $169 and coated it with Boesheild. Very pleased with it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1