Didn't see much on this in the archives, so thought I'd ask.
After borrowing ratty marina bikes, the last one of which had a slightly bent wheel and loose handlebars (I felt like a cartoon riding it to the store for groceries and something else upon realizing halfway down a hill that the brakes weren't quite up to snuff either) I've decided that a couple of folding bikes to gain some mobility while away from homeport is in order. I've started looking online for something suitable and would like to know what people are using.
As always, there's a catch (or several):
- I found plenty of folding bikes for more than I spend in an entire week of cruising, which doesn't work. It has to be on the lower end of cost spectrum.
- I have to be able to fit 2 of them, only letting half the crew go for a ride is not an option.
- It has to fit on a 28, preferably in the cockpit locker, unless you have some magical space in mind that doesn't take up deck space or ability to sleep down below. I'm pretty sure if I get this one my last constraint will also be solved, which is they'll have to fit in the dink.
folding bikes
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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2tocruise
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Jul 22nd, '07, 10:02
- Location: CD 28 "Avanti"
Little Creek, VA
Currently in Annapolis, MD
folding bikes
Twenty years from now, you will be more disapointed by the things you didn't do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain
- Mark Twain
Folding bike
I bought my folding bike at Walmart. It cost $100 and is a Kent brand (made in China). It has 5 speeds and folds up as small as the high-priced bikes. I have ridden it all over Ft. Lauderdale, Key West and many other ports of call. At infinite MPG and 12 MPH, it is great ground transportation. And it fits in a CD 28 lazerette. I keep it well-oiled and take it home when I am not cruising because I know it will corrode easily.
On every visit to Walmart, I would walk by the bicycles looking for such a thing - and one day there it was. There are many folding bikes to choose from on the web from $160 up to thousands of dollars. Take your pick.
Bill
On every visit to Walmart, I would walk by the bicycles looking for such a thing - and one day there it was. There are many folding bikes to choose from on the web from $160 up to thousands of dollars. Take your pick.
Bill
Since I've seen a lot of cruisers with *very* rusty bikes tied on board, I like the idea of folding bikes in the locker... I just don't know where to put the "stuff" I'd have to take out of the locker to get the bikes in... 
-mike & Toni
-mike & Toni
-michael & Toni CDSOA #789
s/v KAYLA CD28 #318
2012 FLSTC Heritage Classic
Niceville FL
+30° 30' 24.60", -86° 26' 32.10"
"Just because it worked, doesn't mean it works." -me
No shirt + No shorts = No problem!
s/v KAYLA CD28 #318
2012 FLSTC Heritage Classic
Niceville FL
+30° 30' 24.60", -86° 26' 32.10"
"Just because it worked, doesn't mean it works." -me
No shirt + No shorts = No problem!
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Oswego John
- Posts: 3535
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 20:42
- Location: '66 Typhoon "Grace", Hull # 42, Schooner "Ontario", CD 85D Hull #1
Official Duties
One of my many important, official duties since I retired ages ago is to make my daily trip down to the waterfront. I have to make sure that the lake is still there, the river is still flowing and the canal locks are still functioning.
One of my more important assignments of the day is to act as a greeter and afforder of warm welcomes to boaters travelling through from wherever to wheresoever. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. Besides, you can't beat the hours of duty and you get to meet some of the nicest people imaginable.
The port of Oswego, NY happens to be where the Oswego branch of the Erie Canal empties into Lake Ontario. During one particularly hectic day when I was trying to pretend to make myself look important by answering boaters questions and responding to various queries concerning local matters, I spotted two strange contraptions secured to one boaters deck.
He told me that they were his 'n hers, blue and pink, Razor electric battery powered scooters. Later that day I met up with the captain and his chairperson of the War Department while his mast was being set. He invited me to take a little spin on one of the Razors. What a neat thrill.
With them, he told me that he has no need for bicycles. FWIW, various models regularly sell for betweem $129.00 and $199.00. Both his and his Admiral's scooters had bicycle baskets attached for grocery shopping duties as well as for the laundromat.
Check it out. Really neato.
O J
One of my more important assignments of the day is to act as a greeter and afforder of warm welcomes to boaters travelling through from wherever to wheresoever. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. Besides, you can't beat the hours of duty and you get to meet some of the nicest people imaginable.
The port of Oswego, NY happens to be where the Oswego branch of the Erie Canal empties into Lake Ontario. During one particularly hectic day when I was trying to pretend to make myself look important by answering boaters questions and responding to various queries concerning local matters, I spotted two strange contraptions secured to one boaters deck.
He told me that they were his 'n hers, blue and pink, Razor electric battery powered scooters. Later that day I met up with the captain and his chairperson of the War Department while his mast was being set. He invited me to take a little spin on one of the Razors. What a neat thrill.
With them, he told me that he has no need for bicycles. FWIW, various models regularly sell for betweem $129.00 and $199.00. Both his and his Admiral's scooters had bicycle baskets attached for grocery shopping duties as well as for the laundromat.
Check it out. Really neato.
O J
"If I rest, I rust"
Voting Member #490
Voting Member #490
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fenixrises
- Posts: 450
- Joined: Feb 13th, '05, 08:01
- Location: SunShine S2 11c
- Contact:
Hi all,
I 2nd Bill. I bought a Kent from WalMart for $100. You can buy one online and have it shipped to you. I think this cost $18 say 4 yrs ago. Might be possible to order one from a store if not in stock and save the shipping.
It served me quite well during my 3 yr circ. I had to replace one tire and tube upon my return. Rust there is but not too bad considering.
Do watch out for the shift mechanism. Mine broke when the bike fell on it. Thereafter I used a very jerry rig setup that eventually destroyed the cable. That all is now replaced.
My bike will go with me again for sure.
I stored mine below in the space where the hanging locker was. It is an easy job to remove the face and top, leaving behind a large space. Might be possible to get two in that space but would require some lashing to hold all in place.
Also handy was the old canvas sailbag that came with the boat. This made a great storage bag.
Shlepping ashore is a challange in a dingy but should be easy in a good inflatable. Do watch out for sharp pointy things on the bike that might punture your dingy tubes. Might be best to do one at a time 'till you get used to handling everything.
John's idea for an electric Razor sounds good also. But I am sure the battery life would limit your travel distance. I often travelled 10~15 miles round trip.
Would recommend filling tubes with tube sealant and carrying an inflating can or small pump with you. There are solid foam tubes that fit and eliminate the puncture/leak problem entirely.
Take care,
Fred
I 2nd Bill. I bought a Kent from WalMart for $100. You can buy one online and have it shipped to you. I think this cost $18 say 4 yrs ago. Might be possible to order one from a store if not in stock and save the shipping.
It served me quite well during my 3 yr circ. I had to replace one tire and tube upon my return. Rust there is but not too bad considering.
Do watch out for the shift mechanism. Mine broke when the bike fell on it. Thereafter I used a very jerry rig setup that eventually destroyed the cable. That all is now replaced.
My bike will go with me again for sure.
I stored mine below in the space where the hanging locker was. It is an easy job to remove the face and top, leaving behind a large space. Might be possible to get two in that space but would require some lashing to hold all in place.
Also handy was the old canvas sailbag that came with the boat. This made a great storage bag.
Shlepping ashore is a challange in a dingy but should be easy in a good inflatable. Do watch out for sharp pointy things on the bike that might punture your dingy tubes. Might be best to do one at a time 'till you get used to handling everything.
John's idea for an electric Razor sounds good also. But I am sure the battery life would limit your travel distance. I often travelled 10~15 miles round trip.
Would recommend filling tubes with tube sealant and carrying an inflating can or small pump with you. There are solid foam tubes that fit and eliminate the puncture/leak problem entirely.
Take care,
Fred
You should always have an odd number of holes in your boat!
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M. R. Bober
- Posts: 1122
- Joined: Feb 6th, '05, 08:59
- Location: CARETAKER CD28 Flybridge Trawler
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Steve Laume
- Posts: 4131
- Joined: Feb 13th, '05, 20:40
- Location: Raven1984 Cape Dory 30C Hull #309Noank, CT
- Contact:
We got the better West Marine models a couple of years ago. The first thing I did was pull all the stickers off so there is no WM advertising.
We refer to these as our clown bikes because I always feel like they would be better suited to a circus act than actually riding some place.
Straight from WM they needed a goodly bit of adjustment and tightening of various parts. I also ordered the longest seat posts I could get from Bike Nashbar. Unless you are fairly short the standard seat posts will not be long enough for a proper fit. Can you say very sore knees? Even the longest seat post was not enough for my 34" inseam. I inserted a stainless tube and had a piece of the old seatpost welded to extend another 4" or so. That took care of the fit. They now work reasonably well. They are not as stable or fun to ride as regular bikes but life is a compromise and they make us laugh a good bit.
They are also not as small as you might imagine. They will chafe the dickens out of things if they are not properly padded while sailing. I considered making hard cases for them and then intended to keep them in the V berth. Problem is they would not fit though the door opening when in a case. I never even considered the cockpit locker but I believe it would be a stretch to get two of them into one side. We kept them in the V Berth last year with padding. This summer we let them have a settee again with ample padding and the lee cloth up to keep them there. it was a royal pain to move them out into the cockpit if they were to stay on board for the night. If we planned to use them at a harbor they were the first things to go ashore and the last to return.
I still think hard cases would help the situation. They could then be left in the dink or even strapped on deck if a space could be found. Left uncovered the chains and a few other parts would rust up in days.
If anyone has found the perfect solution on a boat our size I would be all ears but I fear non exists.
They are great when you need them but a pain to haul around, Steve.
We refer to these as our clown bikes because I always feel like they would be better suited to a circus act than actually riding some place.
Straight from WM they needed a goodly bit of adjustment and tightening of various parts. I also ordered the longest seat posts I could get from Bike Nashbar. Unless you are fairly short the standard seat posts will not be long enough for a proper fit. Can you say very sore knees? Even the longest seat post was not enough for my 34" inseam. I inserted a stainless tube and had a piece of the old seatpost welded to extend another 4" or so. That took care of the fit. They now work reasonably well. They are not as stable or fun to ride as regular bikes but life is a compromise and they make us laugh a good bit.
They are also not as small as you might imagine. They will chafe the dickens out of things if they are not properly padded while sailing. I considered making hard cases for them and then intended to keep them in the V berth. Problem is they would not fit though the door opening when in a case. I never even considered the cockpit locker but I believe it would be a stretch to get two of them into one side. We kept them in the V Berth last year with padding. This summer we let them have a settee again with ample padding and the lee cloth up to keep them there. it was a royal pain to move them out into the cockpit if they were to stay on board for the night. If we planned to use them at a harbor they were the first things to go ashore and the last to return.
I still think hard cases would help the situation. They could then be left in the dink or even strapped on deck if a space could be found. Left uncovered the chains and a few other parts would rust up in days.
If anyone has found the perfect solution on a boat our size I would be all ears but I fear non exists.
They are great when you need them but a pain to haul around, Steve.
I bought this one.
Hi All:
While in KW I found this bike and it has one very distinct advantate over most folding bikes, it has a belt instead of a chain. No more greasy chain to leave marks on everything. Instead of keeping it on deck like many do, my wife made a zip up bag out of a cheap moving blanket and we stow it in the quarter berth when underway. It stays unsalted and rust free. It was a bit pricey though. Check it out at:
http://www.strida.com/en/products/
Life is better biking.
Boyd
s/v Tern
CD30 MkII
Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
While in KW I found this bike and it has one very distinct advantate over most folding bikes, it has a belt instead of a chain. No more greasy chain to leave marks on everything. Instead of keeping it on deck like many do, my wife made a zip up bag out of a cheap moving blanket and we stow it in the quarter berth when underway. It stays unsalted and rust free. It was a bit pricey though. Check it out at:
http://www.strida.com/en/products/
Life is better biking.
Boyd
s/v Tern
CD30 MkII
Fort Lauderdale, Fl.