I think one of the great things about owning your own airplane is that you can just peruse a chart, pick a destination, and takeoff.

The problem I find however is that once you get to your destination you can be stuck if there is no crew car or reliable taxi service available.

To rectify this situation I started looking into folding bikes that were well made, small, would not get grease inside of my Maule, and be easy to fold and unfold.

After looking and testing a few, I purchased a 6 speed Brompton folding bike that is made in England. I was amazed at how quickly this bike was to unfold, and was even more amazed at the quality of construction and speed attainable on such small wheels. The chain and gears fold to be on the inside of the small package keeping grease off of you and your plane.

I have taken it along with me a few times and it totally changes my adventures.

Here are a few links to the Brompton.

http://youtu.be/5Q6J48kzw4w

http://youtu.be/pEA2jwsDv30

A picture of the Brompton in the back of the Maule.



The folded size next to a 7.00 tire for reference.



Less than a minute later I am ready to start riding.

I have 2 folding bikes also for the back of the plane and they're great! Mine are single speed Dahon's.

I'm also a big fan of folding bike - if you get the right one. I choose the Pacific Reach Racing game. I've done 3 century rides, and one double century on this puppy and it handles great. I just need a picture of it with my Maule. Here's a shoot of the bike with the Arrow I used to fly and a shot of it in a 30" suitcase for checking with the airlines.

The Brompton is made in England? Does it leak oil? My goal is to finish up one of these:

Jaerl wrote:The Brompton is made in England? Does it leak oil? My goal is to finish up one of these:

In a motorcycle accident?...

Sorry, on first reading I subliminally added an 'in' to your post.

Pacific bicycle company also make the most ingenious folding bike I've ever seen. It is heavier than the racing frame I bought and it really isn't set up for really long distance rides, but wow, what a great commuter. The cool design is expensive, but it comes with high quality components and disc brakes, so you get what you pay for. I already have 4 bicycles, so my wife said no to adding another. Maybe I'll sell on so I can add this to my stable...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l9VmXOmnRo

Most (but not all) of these types of bikes have small wheels and are single speed; limiting their usefulness in long or hilly rides.

However, I am seriously considering putting a brushless (electric) RC motor on of these fold-able bikes.

With that Maule's double doors you have a lot of options. Fitting these things in 172's is a lot more limiting.

Jaerl wrote:The Brompton is made in England? Does it leak oil? My goal is to finish up one of these:

Hey that looks like my summertime commuter bike. I've got a '67 trail 90 that has been in the family for almost 30 years.

20130803_105639 by scottf, on Flickr

This thing doesn't look like it is rated for off pavement operations, but the design looks pretty neat.

http://www.gizmag.com/sada-hubless-fold ... 2/pictures

I like the full sized wheels of the Montague, I can do some back country biking on it. Though not a serious mountain bike according to my hard core bike riding friends, it does pretty damn good for being a folder. I sure have had some good adventures on it, usually starting with a 2 lane dirt road, that turns to single track, and then a trail. That's how most of the roads are that lead up into the Idaho mts. anyway. Usually at some point I ditch the bike and then hike, and I can really get way the heck "out there" that way, best of all it's all downhill when heading back. Of course it works good for the pavement also. Those Dahons sure fold up small however!

This is the way to do it!

idair wrote:Most (but not all) of these types of bikes have small wheels and are single speed; limiting their usefulness in long or hilly rides.

Most DO have gears usually ranging from 3 to 6.

My Brompton has six (6) and it is really a fast mover with hills being no problem at all.

The best part is it folds to 22.2 x 21.5 x 10.6 inches.

BRD wrote:This is the way to do it!

Holy cow! Hard points on a 185! I like this... any info on an STC??

CapnMike wrote:

BRD wrote:This is the way to do it!

Holy cow! Hard points on a 185! I like this... any info on an STC??

I like the swing up door too! Is there an stc for that?

MAU MAU wrote:

idair wrote:Most (but not all) of these types of bikes have small wheels and are single speed; limiting their usefulness in long or hilly rides.

Most DO have gears usually ranging from 3 to 6.

My Brompton has six (6) and it is really a fast mover with hills being no problem at all.

The best part is it folds to 22.2 x 21.5 x 10.6 inches.

You're right, apparently it was all the ones I was looking at REI that apparently do not.

Now, some of these say a weight limit of 200#. I wonder how much fudge factor there is

Looks like a great option. Here's another if one doesn't want to pedal I don't know anything about these, but it would be a nice option if no cars are available.

http://www.diblasi.com/price.htm

It's a New Zealand 185, so not sure their approval process for hard points. Looks like a jump door mod for the right.
But for the experimental guys here stateside I can see this as a cool feature to build into the Bearhawk, right Z?

My C180 routinely carries three full sized mountain bikes with three full sized humans with some gear in the cabin.

I also like the Montague (or other full size bikes) as it appears to be "normal". So maybe less a target for a thief.... and it doesn't scream "I'm a pilot, not from around here, just flew in and needed a ride from the airstrip, and that's why I'm a 65 year old man riding a mini-bike". I have always liked the way that once on the bike and pedaling I am just part of the scenery, and I can ride through a small town checking it out without attracting any undue attention. Riding some of these rigs pictured here would not offer that "nothing going on here, go back to your business" type of experience. Walking through some small town 'hood, maybe carrying a daypack, I get looks like I must be a homeless person, and feel and look out of place, on the bike no one looks twice.

When I find some Montana small town bar that looks interesting (most of them ), I don't want to ride up on a motorized skateboard, a girly looking Dahon (sorry) or a futuristic folder of any type, just saying, I'd rather be a little more low key. My speed record BTW on the Montague, to date, is 53 mph. Nothing like a 12% grade on a paved road!

Maule and 180 pilots should be excluded from this thread, you guys cheat!

I'm cheap. I found this bike at the dump and spent an hour or so cutting it up. Less than a minute to assemble/dissassemble and it is a real bike. The pedal back rear wheel means no cables but two brakes. I ride a lot and one gear is my choice for anything under about 25 miles. Whats the rush? I would like a belt drive to avoid the oily chain, but they are still $$$