sailorman
Well-Known Member
But if you get the right model:
St Johns College`s Bridge of Sighs on the Cam
Have you got a bike on board?
- Thread starter Nostrodamus
- Start date
St Johns College`s Bridge of Sighs on the Cam
Cantata
Well-Known Member
Just spent 5 weeks away on a Dutch cruise, we have two folders on board, we used them a lot. Hugely useful.
Ours were from 'Compass' the German-based mail-order company, fold pretty small, were about 125 quid each a few years back. They have proved to be excellent bikes - watch out that some of the 'cheap' bikes on offer seemed to be designed for kids, with a very short distance between saddle and handlebars. I'm 6' tall and the Compass bikes are very comfortable for me. Caliper front brake, back-pedal rear brake (takes a bit of concentration to remember that) and twist-grip 3-speed in the rear hub. They are a small-wheel design but I've done trips of 20+ miles on the thing with no ill-effects.
Ours were from 'Compass' the German-based mail-order company, fold pretty small, were about 125 quid each a few years back. They have proved to be excellent bikes - watch out that some of the 'cheap' bikes on offer seemed to be designed for kids, with a very short distance between saddle and handlebars. I'm 6' tall and the Compass bikes are very comfortable for me. Caliper front brake, back-pedal rear brake (takes a bit of concentration to remember that) and twist-grip 3-speed in the rear hub. They are a small-wheel design but I've done trips of 20+ miles on the thing with no ill-effects.
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
Would not be without.
I seriously wonderr if my bicycle clocks up more miles than my motor , most months. V quick to plonk on the pontoon or quay , sometimes even the launderette in a big marina is a bike ride away! Invaluabl
e tool in every way, to me.
I seriously wonderr if my bicycle clocks up more miles than my motor , most months. V quick to plonk on the pontoon or quay , sometimes even the launderette in a big marina is a bike ride away! Invaluabl
e tool in every way, to me.
westernman
Well-Known Member
We have three of these stored in the forepeak next to the outboard for the tender.
http://www.decathlon.fr/hoptown-5-eden-id_8166533.html
We got ours in a very vibrant light green which was a 70 euros cheaper than the other colours.
They ride pretty well, I am 6 ft 4 tall and 110kgs, and seem pretty robust.
http://www.decathlon.fr/hoptown-5-eden-id_8166533.html
We got ours in a very vibrant light green which was a 70 euros cheaper than the other colours.
They ride pretty well, I am 6 ft 4 tall and 110kgs, and seem pretty robust.
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
I quite like the idea of a Strida but not sure how they ride.
http://www.strida.fr/catalogue/les-velos-pliable/
lenseman
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LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Essential kit on the canals, even on a 22 footer.
I don't agree that you need an expensive one, you spend too much time worrying that it will get nicked.
You can get a second hand fold up for much less than £100, so you can go through 10+ before you have paid for a Brompton.
I don't agree that you need an expensive one, you spend too much time worrying that it will get nicked.
You can get a second hand fold up for much less than £100, so you can go through 10+ before you have paid for a Brompton.
aluijten
Well-Known Member
In Dutch we have a saying "Carrying water to the sea". I was reminded about this seeing someone from the UK buying a few Bromptons in Holland....
I agree they are very expensive. I bought them secondhand but even then these don't come cheap.
On the other hand, such a small package when folded and such good characteristics when in use: impressive!
The most funny part about Bromptons is that people actually race them!
http://www.brompton.co.uk/bwc/2011/
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Rigger Mortice
N/A
I've had a Brompton for years. Superb bike but, yes, it was expensive.
If I were looking for another, I'ld certainly look at Dahon as they've had some good reposts. However, they would have to be very good to persuade me not to get a Brompton again.
If I were looking for another, I'ld certainly look at Dahon as they've had some good reposts. However, they would have to be very good to persuade me not to get a Brompton again.
Signed Out
Well-Known Member
Urgh Bromptons. Yes, so much good propaganda, but so much smugness involved. Probably down to the money paid & justification. Any potholes or bumpy roads & you'll know about it!
Do you fill every berth? If not a standard bikeor 2 with wheels removed will sit there fine.
As for hub gears, search for Rohloff. These are the choice of many RTW pedallers.
As for making bike smaller; s&s couplings.
Do you fill every berth? If not a standard bikeor 2 with wheels removed will sit there fine.
As for hub gears, search for Rohloff. These are the choice of many RTW pedallers.
As for making bike smaller; s&s couplings.
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't have thought stowage was an issue, is it? The French are very keen cyclists, and lots of their yachts have a pair of full-size symmetrical bicycle sheds on board. You must've seen them...the doors are either side of the companionway. They're not big enough for anything else! 
alahol2
Well-Known Member
I have had a couple of the original striders for many years. They are still in the back of the garage somewhere. They are very strange at first but I did a considerable number of miles. They had no gears and you could get the original 'rubber belt drive' to skip a tooth if you peddled too hard up hill. The folded shape was quite easy to stow down a quarter berth. They were certainly good for getting to meet the locals, everyone wanted to know what they were/wanted a try. Good to see they are back in production.
Nostrodamus
Well-Known Member
Well, no matter what make they are bikes on board seem to be a useful addition and something worth looking into.
I have seen one person with the new battery assisted bikes which seem pretty small and a good idea if you can manage to charge them. Has anyone any knowledge of these?
I did have a quick look here and saw they did some weird, some normal and some that fold as well.
http://www.powacycle.com/
Thank you for all your replies.
I have seen one person with the new battery assisted bikes which seem pretty small and a good idea if you can manage to charge them. Has anyone any knowledge of these?
I did have a quick look here and saw they did some weird, some normal and some that fold as well.
http://www.powacycle.com/
Thank you for all your replies.
dslittle
Well-Known Member
A friend who is still building up to departure in a cat (boat not animal) has considered putting a bike on a frame in order to exercise and 'capture' energy to replenish his batteries. I am not sure how many AH he will get whilst cycling away mid Atlantic !!!
AllanJ
Well-Known Member
It suddenly dawned on me after reading all of the opinions on this...
Almost all of the advice offered when comparing boats is to go and try the different versions. I have cycled, and continue to cycle, a LOT (incl. JoG to Lands End in 9 days).
My single piece of advice to the OP would be to try any bike before you buy it (remembering that you can change the saddle but little else). What may suit one person will be a pain (literally) to someone else. I would not buy a bike, no matter how cheap, before sitting on it. Consider everything else AFTER that otherwise you will simply not use the thing (and don't look at the price until you have performed the test!).
Almost all of the advice offered when comparing boats is to go and try the different versions. I have cycled, and continue to cycle, a LOT (incl. JoG to Lands End in 9 days).
My single piece of advice to the OP would be to try any bike before you buy it (remembering that you can change the saddle but little else). What may suit one person will be a pain (literally) to someone else. I would not buy a bike, no matter how cheap, before sitting on it. Consider everything else AFTER that otherwise you will simply not use the thing (and don't look at the price until you have performed the test!).
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
We lived in Holland for many years. We currently have six bikes, all of which were bought in The Hague.
aluijten
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure if I agree totally. If the bike is a delight to ride but a pig to get in or out of stowage, chances are that you will still never use the bike.
Like everything else on a boat, you need to compromise on all the pros and cons.
For me an important argument was size when folded. Stowage space on a boat is always an issue on yachts as you always tend to pack a little more then practical. Things like bikes, life-rafts, inflatable are large consumers of locker space if you want to store them there. Personally I don't like bikes in the cabin, the risk of damaging the interior is very real.
So of course the riding experience is important but if you use them most of the time just to go to the shops or other (relatively) small distances, you may see other criteria as more important.
Signed Out
Well-Known Member
Good advice, but... Best bikes are going to be custom or self built to own requirement, so no way of sitting on it beforehand. Yes, you could sit on the type, or a jig, but you won't get to ride it as it will be. A certain amount of faith and sense involved.
And there's rather more than a seat to change- bar type makes a huge difference, and stem, and seatpost, and pedals, and cranks, and forks, and wheels, tyres. Over time I changed all the above on my mountain bike (except cranks and wheels), changing it to more of a streetfighter (sorry, motorbikey reference), and a vast improvement for my use, and used this experience when setting up my present build (Salsa Vaya based road tour/cross).
OK, so this thread isn't about this type'o thing though, so I am getting distracted, sorry. And sorry for being a tad snappy about Bromptons yesterday. Been reading bikesnobnyc too much I think. Wouldn't worry about people being concerned about spending thousands on a 1st bike without knowing what they want though, when many tens of thousands are regularly being bandied as budgets for 1st boats... (As a first boat should I go for the Wally or the Fife?).
Talbot
Well-Known Member
I bought a couple of the normal sized folding bikes. The frame is too small for a generously built fellow so they went into the shed and have not seen light of day since.
I now have a montague folding bike. 26" wheels and a full sized frame. Folded size is a bit taller than the normal ones, but the bike is much mre useful.
I now have a montague folding bike. 26" wheels and a full sized frame. Folded size is a bit taller than the normal ones, but the bike is much mre useful.
