Always thought it would be a good idea to have a fold up bike in the back of the plane for trips. Nothing too serious. Anyone have one or any recommendations? Don't need any gears and my next trip is to the bahamas over christmas.

I recommend this thread:

http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2080

Perfect. Thanks

I recommend the Bike Friday 'Expedition'. They're rugged mountain bikes, 26lbs each and fold down into the size of a small car tire. I've got a rear rack and some paniers for mine and I can tie down the airplane and bike off 15 miles to town down a dirt road without a bother. The only way to travel.

I have a Montague Paratrooper http://www.militarybikes.com/ and love it. I have toyed with the idea of a Honda Trail 70 though......

I have a Downtube. Good compromise between quality and price, size and weight.

If I had it to do over again I would splurge on a Bike Friday (better quality of components and build, I think, plus more options.) However, I'm pretty serious about biking.

If you are just looking for a bike to fold out and tool around in from the ramp or backcountry strip, then the Downtube will serve you well and it folds smaller than the Montagues.

If you watch ebay you can sometimes pick up them up cheap. I lucked out and got a Montague that is just like the Paratrooper except machined aluminum (or chrome) and it says Nissan on it. I guess they came with the Nissan Xterra's. I got it at a pawn shop for $100.

I have another BMW folder from the 96? Olympics I picked up off ebay for just under $200. Montague made them, and BMW put their emblems on it. It is a lot lighter and has a less suspension but still a nice bike. Do a search for "folding bike" there should be quite a few of them.

I've had a couple Montague bikes for 10 years now and I really like them. They are full-size bikes with front suspension, so they are fun to ride and go faster than the small wheeled folding bikes (in my experience). I now carry them in my online gear/aviation store: skymountaingear.com. If you're interested, send me PM and I'll give you a discount (on the bikes or anything else, for that matter)

I bought a bike and turned it into a folding bike. It was a full suspension mountain bike (mongoose) and I ordered it with the old style brakes rather than the discs (they are too delicate IMO when the bike is disassembled). Because it is a full suspension bike I can remove a pin from the rear swing arm and fold it under and I also made a quick release for the handle bars and the wheels are quick release. The whole thing has fit easily in my planes (172 and PA 22/20) and it was far cheaper than buying a true folding bike and with full suspension. The only draw back is that you need to spend 5 min assembling a few pieces rather than just unfolding and riding.

I think these are great
Google or e-bay this. Fuji made a Pro-Mo Marlboro folding mountain bike for some years.
We found two like new at a bike dealer. They are full size bikes folding at the seat post and below.
One advise, watch the cable slack so not to damage / crimp them during folding.
We had our first Fly-Biking trips this last summer with 2 in the back seat of a C-180.
It was great, the only change was welding an extension to rase the handlebar higher.
happy day

I have a Montague Paratrooper http://www.militarybikes.com/ and love it.

I have the same bike and love it as well. Bought my wife one and we use them traveling or not.

TomKatz wrote:

I have a Montague Paratrooper http://www.militarybikes.com/ and love it.

I have the same bike and love it as well. Bought my wife one and we use them traveling or not.

Montagues rule! Super fast setup with decent components, I too use mine in non aviation type things, as in hitching a ride into town with a friend in a compact car with no bike rack:no problem. I go from secured in the plane to riding off in just a hair under 2 minutes at most, I've timed it. This makes it practical for those short trips, best of all it looks normal when assembled, and rides the same.

The 170 Assn's "170 Book" has a couple articles about modifying Honda Trail 90's into fold-up and/or breakdown versions so you can pack them along in the airplane. That'd be nice if you had enough room and/or useful load and had a long ways to go from the airstrip.