Folding Bikes - Geezer seeks folding xc mountain bike

Geezer seeks folding xc mountain bike



Situation…

I bought a Dahon Speed 7 this spring for Proof of Concept testing of the folding bike idea vs. my lifestlye. Hey, it works for me! It has made me a Happy Camper. I migrate between the San Juan Islands (WA) and Southern California. (Those who have enjoyed NorthWet winters would suggest SoCal as a winter destination. I wear shorts most of the year.)

The bike fits neatly in my van during the migration and rides in the forecastle of my sloop during summer in the islands. When I hit a new campsite or port, the bike comes out and I explore. I can cover so much more ground than on foot.

The Speed 7 needs a few more granny gears to handle the hills I encounter, so I am looking ahead to gearing up for 2009.

I am migrating south via The Wedge (San Rafael Swell, Utah), Moab and slick rock country again this fall. The Speed 7 will probably handle the dirt roads there, but I hesitate to take it cross country. We will see how it does.

For 2009 I am looking for a folding 26” mountain bike that can serve as a pedal-powered Jeep and expand my ability to explore the back country.

I will get as close as I can with my E150 van, then take to bike. When I develop more MB skills, I will start adding Moab slickrock rides. The bike also needs to work around town.

What to buy?

I am looking for a 26” bike. The current list is: the Dahon Matrix and Montague _____ (Paratrooper?). Am I missing another option?

Due Diligence shows that the knock on the Montague is the low quality of the components. The frame and folding mechanism looks strong enough for a 215 lb. geezer. I have not really encountered many negative reviews on the Matrix, but wonder, given my weight, if I am going to overstress the frame.

I would appreciate your insights and suggestions.

Thanks.

How about the Jack. http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/2008/jack.htmlighter and cheaper than the matrix.
I live in Lynden, the San Juans are a great place to hang out.

Burro (http://www.burrobikes.com) bikes make an offroad small-wheeled bike.
So does PBW. (http://www.pbwbikes.com/product_info.php/cPath/3/products_id/35)

There is Black dog Bikes on Lopez Island and he sells the Reach. They have a trail bike folder.
http://www.blackdogbicycles.com/thereachfoldingbike.html

http://www.slingshotbikes.com/

http://www.slingshotbikes.com/home/read/8 (http://www.slingshotbikes.com/home/read/8)

Geezer seeks folding xc mountain bike

.... cross country ... and expand my ability to explore the back country ... Moab slickrock rides. The bike also needs to work around town.
.


24" bike: Airnimal Rhino (http://www.airnimal.eu/Rhino/).

Regards
T

24" bike: Airnimal Rhino (http://www.airnimal.eu/Rhino/).

Regards
T

Nice bike, but they run on 20", 406mm wheels ..

Geezer seeks folding xc mountain bike




For 2009 I am looking for a folding 26” mountain bike that can serve as a pedal-powered Jeep and expand my ability to explore the back country.

I will get as close as I can with my E150 van, then take to bike. When I develop more MB skills, I will start adding Moab slickrock rides. The bike also needs to work around town.

What to buy?

I am looking for a 26” bike. The current list is: the Dahon Matrix and Montague _____ (Paratrooper?). Am I missing another option?

Due Diligence shows that the knock on the Montague is the low quality of the components. The frame and folding mechanism looks strong enough for a 215 lb. geezer. I have not really encountered many negative reviews on the Matrix, but wonder, given my weight, if I am going to overstress the frame.

I would appreciate your insights and suggestions.

Thanks.


If you went with the Montague, you could upgrade the components fairly easily .. the frame has been reported numerous times to be very strong.. I have a Zero G (http://www.dahon.com/archive/2006/us/zerog.htm) which I haven't upgraded any components on and have used it on the mountain trails around Marin for a couple of years.. I'm at around 190lbs... if you are on the rougher trails, the larger 26" wheels are a big asset over the 20" variety.. if it folds well enough for you, stick with the bigger wheeled bikes.

Geezer seeks folding xc mountain bike



Situation…

I bought a Dahon Speed 7 this spring for Proof of Concept testing of the folding bike idea vs. my lifestlye. Hey, it works for me! It has made me a Happy Camper. I migrate between the San Juan Islands (WA) and Southern California. (Those who have enjoyed NorthWet winters would suggest SoCal as a winter destination. I wear shorts most of the year.)

The bike fits neatly in my van during the migration and rides in the forecastle of my sloop during summer in the islands. When I hit a new campsite or port, the bike comes out and I explore. I can cover so much more ground than on foot.

The Speed 7 needs a few more granny gears to handle the hills I encounter, so I am looking ahead to gearing up for 2009.

I am migrating south via The Wedge (San Rafael Swell, Utah), Moab and slick rock country again this fall. The Speed 7 will probably handle the dirt roads there, but I hesitate to take it cross country. We will see how it does.

For 2009 I am looking for a folding 26” mountain bike that can serve as a pedal-powered Jeep and expand my ability to explore the back country.

I will get as close as I can with my E150 van, then take to bike. When I develop more MB skills, I will start adding Moab slickrock rides. The bike also needs to work around town.

What to buy?

I am looking for a 26” bike. The current list is: the Dahon Matrix and Montague _____ (Paratrooper?). Am I missing another option?

Due Diligence shows that the knock on the Montague is the low quality of the components. The frame and folding mechanism looks strong enough for a 215 lb. geezer. I have not really encountered many negative reviews on the Matrix, but wonder, given my weight, if I am going to overstress the frame.

I would appreciate your insights and suggestions.

Thanks.


The Matrix with beefier tires sounds like a good deal to me.
In the way i see it it's probably a good thing to invest in a good bike from a well known brand so in case you need some parts or if there are any warranty issues, you know they will be there for you... just a thought..... I have to say Dahon has a great customer service, I had a problem with the seat pump, contacted the store manager who contacted Dahon last week, on the same day i have received an email that the part will be shipped to me directly, this afternoon i have received the new seat pump, this is what i call a great service.

Nice bike, but they run on 20", 406mm wheels ..


My mistake. I thought all of the Airnimal bikes ran 24" tires.

Regards
T

P.S. If I am not also mistaken about this, none of Dahon's bikes sold currently in the US, with the exception of the Flo, is warranted for off-road use, whether or not they can manage it. I asked Dahon about riding the Jetstream on fairly innocuous sandy trails and was told that use would void the warranty.

How about the Jack. http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/2008/jack.htmlighter and cheaper than the matrix.
I live in Lynden, the San Juans are a great place to hang out.

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Alas, the Jack has seven speeds. I need upwards of 15 - granny gear, great granny gear, etc.

I found in Bellevue, WA, years back that my 10 speed did not cut it on the hills. Went to something with about 18 gears. Still much huffing and puffing.

There is Black dog Bikes on Lopez Island and he sells the Reach. They have a trail bike folder.
http://www.blackdogbicycles.com/thereachfoldingbike.html

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On Lopez? He must do a lot of web business. You can't exactly drive up and shop. I think most of the business on Lopez is over at Fisherman Bay, long way from the ferry dock. I checked out the Friday Harbor LBS. Smallish. And FH is the hub of the Islands.

Many tourists come off the ferry. Many bikes. Much pedaling to and fro. Lot of bike tours around here in the summer. (Last week must have been fun. Do not book last two weeks of August in the Wet. We have had rain six of the last nine days.)

Elegant looking bike, that. I was hoping to keep my $$ somewhat lower. Yes, it seems the average MB is x - y thousand $$, but I have hopes.

If you went with the Montague, you could upgrade the components fairly easily .. the frame has been reported numerous times to be very strong.. I have a Zero G (http://www.dahon.com/archive/2006/us/zerog.htm) which I haven't upgraded any components on and have used it on the mountain trails around Marin for a couple of years.. I'm at around 190lbs... if you are on the rougher trails, the larger 26" wheels are a big asset over the 20" variety.. if it folds well enough for you, stick with the bigger wheeled bikes.

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That is an elegant looking folder. Can't seem to find it in the current catalog.

I agree that large bears should get big wheels. Wife, being helpful, claims that I look like a circus bear on the Speed 7. It gets me around. I am a mesomorph and the average biker is usually an ectomorph or meso-ecto.

I have been riding a Montague for a little over a year.

So far I haven't had any issues with the components. Mostly used on bike paths (paved, stonedust, & rough unimproved) or around town on streets.

This past month I've taken the bike on a number of single-tracks and rough road rides.

No experience with any other MTBs so how can I compare?

I've had more issues with breathing (10,000Ft+) than the bike.

200Lb+ semi-Geezer...

Paratrooper

I have the Montague Swiss Bike. I deleted the suspension fork for a carbon fiber non-suspension fork. Upgraded bars, stem, crank, pedals, rear derailler, tires. Reduced total weight to 26 lbs. Very sturdy frame and folding mechanism. Price is around $600. Folds small enough to fit in rear of a small car.

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Apologies to the responders for my tardy responses. This will persist over the weekend. The wifi at the station died last night in the middle of a reply. Still down. Holiday weekend. We could not get it up. Suspect the modem. I will be heading back to port tomorrow, so I should be at the town library with wifi Tuesday. This is being done on a Verizon cell phone modem at 14.4 kbps vs 11 mbps. Painful. I am reading a book while the pages load.

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Which model of the Montague are you using? I am inclined to disk brakes. All these years and never had any, so why not.

As I don't plan to be pounding downhill over rocks and logs (think: Sedate), I may not be stressing the components. BTW - one "review" with a Happy Camper paratrooper using the M. Paratrooper had lovely pix of the components. Very professional. Superb lighting. <g>