Ideal boat bike
not sure where to post this and C & V being my go-to thought I'd start here. What would be your idea of the best bike to take with you on your boat as you set off to unknown destinations. Not talking unlimited space mega-yachts but a sailboat under 40ft where space is an issue. Doesn't have to be an "end of the world" scenerio but figure the simpler the better. My current choice 1st gen Specialized stump jumper, not ideal, thats why I'm posting this. cheers in advance
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We keep two DaHon folders stored in old sailbags in the bow of our Capri 26. Bromptons would take up less room but are a lot more money. I would think that a full-size bike stored on deck would have a pretty short life expectancy between the dousings of salt water and the potential for theft.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2cef76c275.jpg |
A Brompton -- smallest fold (and arguably quickest) for a good riding bike. Not C&V, but a great machine. ideal multimodal bike.
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If you would consider a folder, there is a separate forum for folders.
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Bikesdirect minivelo?
$330. Cromo frame. Nice colour. Decent group. Bombproof with the DT shifters, if you bend the mech knocking it around then you're still ok in friction mode. Standard 20" tire size. I always thought they were pretty cool. I wouldn't trust the build quality but just overhaul it out of the box then it's good to go. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7eb609ffb4.jpg |
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Originally Posted by Soody
(Post 22726843)
...overhaul it out of the box then it's good to go.
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My wife and I lived aboard a sailboat and had our ten speeds locked to the shrouds on deck. Yes they got pretty rusty, that’s when I found out about stainless steel spokes. We didn’t drive cars so the bikes were ridden and wiped down almost daily. My wife rode a Submariner by Kabuki with SS main tubes and it was great ….until someone stole it! I had the Diamond Formula and it was painted annually.
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Upgrades
Originally Posted by zandoval
(Post 22726901)
As you would with any new bicycle, out of the box or not...
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I'll second the Brompton motion, if the expense is not prohibitive. If expense is an issue, maybe consider an aluminum Wal-Mart bike with the steel bits lathered in naval jelly.
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I'd do rinko. Can you make yourself a rinko bike? For the uninitiated, rinko is a Japanese technique of taking apart a bike to fit it in the luggage requirements to fit on the bullet trains. You take off the fork and back wheel and you can pack down a full size bike pretty small - small enough to go below decks and stow someplace, probably!
Like this: https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...20a5790263.jpg I set up a bike for rinko. I can take it apart to this size and put it back together using two allen wrenches in about ten minutes. Slower to stow than a folder, but it's way more comfortable and capable on the road. |
Bromptons are surprisingly capable for most purposes, but I don't suggest going down a long, steep hill. Very shaky in that situation.
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Rinko Via Carisma
Originally Posted by scarlson
(Post 22727020)
I'd do rinko. Can you make yourself a rinko bike? For the uninitiated, rinko is a Japanese technique of taking apart a bike to fit it in the luggage requirements to fit on the bullet trains. You take off the fork and back wheel and you can pack down a full size bike pretty small - small enough to go below decks and stow someplace, probably!
Like this: https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...20a5790263.jpg I set up a bike for rinko. I can take it apart to this size and put it back together using two allen wrenches in about ten minutes. Slower to stow than a folder, but it's way more comfortable and capable on the road. On the flip side if I had to trade something, the Specialized would get me more of whatever I was in dire need of. So many variables. |
The state of the old Dahons that invariably get chucked by the boat owners at our local marina has made it clear that the ideal boat bike must be as simple as possible.
Ideally, you'll want some combination - or all - of this:
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Originally Posted by cudak888
(Post 22727072)
The state of the old Dahons that invariably get chucked by the boat owners at our local marina has made it clear that the ideal boat bike must be as simple as possible.
Ideally, you'll want some combination - or all - of this: -Kurt |
My 33yo stainless steel Dahon Classic 2 spent a couple of decades hanging from the rail of a sailboat and getting taken down to ride into town from port for groceries and whatnot. 3 speed Sturmey-Archer internally geared hub, rim brakes, folds down nice and tight. The original cables are somehow still functional, but the plastic fenders and chain guard got brittle and recently crumbled away. It rides like a wooden roller coaster but has been a reliable commuter for me in its post sailing days. I recommend considering one if you can find one in good shape at the right price.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...de2883072d.jpg Excellent example of a Dahon Classic 2, mine is more weatherbeaten. |
There is a time I would have suggested a Schwinn Varsity, because it could double as an anchor for your boat.
But, now, I see that bike has its adherents. ;) |
This may be heresy but I would vote for a cheap single-speed cruiser and once the elements have taken their toll, toss it. Around my area, $50 cruisers can be found all day long.
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Originally Posted by Kabuki12
(Post 22727138)
Although some of your suggestions are very good , I have to disagree with a few, taken from being an active cyclist that lived on a sailboat for near 15 years.
.... the bikes rarely sat for over 24 hours without being ridden. When it rained we would cover them with tarps and hitch a ride with coworkers, occasionally we would put on our foul weather gear on and ride anyway to get to work. I worked at a large aerospace company and my wife worked at a bank. It was a good life and we were young , no kids, and very active. Unless the OP is planning to use their boat bicycles just as you describe, an entry-level Suntour-equipped C&V road bike may not fare as well for them as it did for you. -Kurt |
Originally Posted by cudak888
(Post 22727275)
Key word: Active. The frequent use was part of the reason your bikes didn't incur frequent issues, along with the maintenance that you learned to do.
Unless the OP is planning to use their boat bicycles just as you describe, an entry-level Suntour-equipped C&V road bike may not fare as well for them as it did for you. -Kurt |
Evidently, there are actually two categories of "boat bikes" to consider:
The first being a full-size bike that lives at the marina that might be used by someone living aboard. This bike needs to be a reasonable rider that can withstand the ravages of salt-laden air and stand up to being stored outside. I don't have any experience with this but the advice extended wrt simplicity, low cost and corrosion resistance/protection all sounds appropriate. The second type would be a bike that travels with the boat so that the sailor has a form of transportation when docked away from their home port. This bike is best stored inside the boat when underway unless the boat is quite large. Here a folding or easily dis-assembled bike is a plus, corrosion resistance still paramount since even the interiors of boats are salty and damp. The quality of the ride can be a lower priority since trips are likely to be shorter and less frequent than a live-aboard would experience. Our use falls into the second category - we use the DaHons to explore only when we are cruising with the boat or on road trips with the car. I do bring them home for maintenance from time to time but mostly they live on the boat in the marine environment. The boat is left with a dry bilge and has a dehumidifier and a heater that automatically goes on if the ambient temperature drops below 50 deg. F so there is little condensation where the bikes are stored. The DaHons have painted aluminum frames, aluminum rims, and stainless steel spokes but there are plated steel parts as well and surface rust develops on them as well as on places like the axles and BB spindle. A wire brush and anti-corrosion spray are part of the maintenance regime. The steerer tube and steel fork are items I worry about failing prematurely. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ae4ff41f7f.jpg |
Originally Posted by daka
(Post 22727282)
The steerer tube and steel fork are items I worry about failing prematurely.
In your photo, the bike closest to the camera doesn't have that part; the one behind it does. -Kurt |
You are a keen observer. The bike in the foreground is a couple years older than the bike behind. There are several differences despite being nominally the same model.
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I own a 32-footer and have been looking for bikes to bring along to ride on terra firma whenever we'd find ourselves there. I've tried several small-wheeled folders, but didn't like them much. No way I'd offer up scarce space on board for those.
I did finally find a folding bike that would fit and was also an excellent bike: https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...59f9c65688.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1e37cf3eec.jpg A wonderful bike, but it had two major drawbacks: it only came in mrs non-fixie's size and it is too nice (and - quite frankly - also too expensive) to keep in a cockpit locker. So the Bridgestone sits in my living room as a piece of art (:)) and I've still no bike for my boat (:(). |
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