General Cycling Discussion - Can you buy military bikes?

I've read up on Bicycle Infantry a couple times, and recently discovered that the Swiss used them up until the mid 90's or early 2000's. They even had a fairly recent design, the M-93, in use.

Does anyone know if military style bikes are available floating around somewhere? I do like odd bits of militaria, and this happens to be a spot where two interests collide (militaria and bikes). I'd like to see if maybe I can get my hands on a piece of history...

Thanks,

M.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Paratrooper-Folding-Mountain-Bike-Military-Army-Marine-/250586051833#vi-content

http://www.militarybikes.com/

Swiss?

http://www.coldwarremarketing.com/

Click on vehicles, then bicycles. They have a pile of Swiss army bicycles in various conditions...

As far as collecting goes, there is a lot of "all original" military bicycles sold with new/repro parts, for inflated prices. There are whole websites/forums dedicated to this alone. Oldroads.com would be another place to look around.

As far as just something nifty to ride, buy the cheaper ones and be prepared for a trip on the wayback machine with Mr Peabody and Sherman. Most of the examples are based on ancient features like cotterpin cranks--Raleigh DL-1-era stuff. Okay for light use but very-much-not performance rides, in terms of either weight or durability.

Swiss?

Well it looks like an ordinary bike, but you can fold it into a 'bent, or a tricycle, or even a unicycle depending on your needs... and the handle bars become a knife and fork.

Since Switzerland's military is seemingly built on bicycles and pocketknives, it's probably good for them that they're neutral. ;)

They get extra security from holding the money from every despot in the world,
in a numbered secret account.

I bought mine from Cold War Remarketing and it was a fantastic bike, a real attention getter. Regrettably I was foolish and traded it in at my LBS for some much needed stuff. It sits up front on display so I can visit the bike whenever I want. It's the star vintage bike of the shop. One day soon I will own another.

Argh, now that I went to the website, I want a Pinzgauer all over again...

Saw this recently

http://neworleans.craigslist.org/bik/3216382697.html

They are out there

this site doesn't sell, but gives a very interesting story of u.s. bikes in ww2, and
how to identify them.


http://www.theliberator.be/militarybicycles.htm

Since Switzerland's military is seemingly built on bicycles and pocketknives, it's probably good for them that they're neutral. ;)

lol! Thanks.

What about older bikes not necessarily WWII bikes? I love those when i see them in movies.

Hey, Astrozombie, what's your prime directive?

wow. I'm learning something here. I didn't know that military bikes existed except in WWII movies