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Backpack Bike

Old 07-26-15 | 07:51 PM
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Backpack Bike

Has there been any research on the backpack bike genre? By that, what I mean is a bike designed to fit and be comfortably, albeit not easily, carried in a backpack?

I'm currently trying to retrofit a Montague Navigator into a ~20 pound bike that can be stuffed into its bike bag. I'm hoping that at 20 pounds (I've mentioned before that I can't do 29, and that a 39 pound Schwinn Loop almost gave me a heart attack) the bike will be light enough that I can become accustomed to carrying the bike in a backpack, instead of leaving it out locked up.

I do worry that what I'm planning to do is not possible with current technology; i.e, if you really want a comfortable backpack bike, you'd need to drop the weigh down to 10 pounds instead of 20, and that would be impossible from an existing technological viewpoint without resorting to bespoke parts and the immense associated expense.
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Old 07-26-15 | 08:03 PM
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Hmm. Well, there's the 8kg CarryMe bike.
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Old 07-26-15 | 08:30 PM
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Old 07-26-15 | 11:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Inst
Has there been any research on the backpack bike genre? By that, what I mean is a bike designed to fit and be comfortably, albeit not easily, carried in a backpack?

I'm currently trying to retrofit a Montague Navigator into a ~20 pound bike that can be stuffed into its bike bag. I'm hoping that at 20 pounds (I've mentioned before that I can't do 29, and that a 39 pound Schwinn Loop almost gave me a heart attack) the bike will be light enough that I can become accustomed to carrying the bike in a backpack, instead of leaving it out locked up.

I do worry that what I'm planning to do is not possible with current technology; i.e, if you really want a comfortable backpack bike, you'd need to drop the weigh down to 10 pounds instead of 20, and that would be impossible from an existing technological viewpoint without resorting to bespoke parts and the immense associated expense.

Folding Backpack Bicycle

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Old 07-27-15 | 06:27 AM
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For backpack carrying I'd say a Brompton myself.
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Old 07-27-15 | 06:55 AM
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Originally Posted by 1nterceptor
2013 Brompton S6L-X by 1nterceptor
Note to OP's stated goals: those are kilograms, not pounds.
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Old 07-27-15 | 01:02 PM
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Originally Posted by ShortLegCyclist
I like that

But, what are the OP's goals.

Deep Woods backpacking?
Airport backpacking?
Bike parking to office?

And., how much riding? Roads? Sidewalks? Deep woods MTB terrain? Distance? Speed?

There are some super compact folding bikes (I think, I haven't actually seen them).
8 Inch Folding Bike, Outdoor Mini Bicycle Folding, Aluminum Alloy Portable Road Bicycle Adult Variety bike-in Bicycle from Sports & Entertainment on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
Free Shipping 8 inch A bike folding bicycle Folding Bike Mini Bike Foldable Bike-in Bicycle from Sports & Entertainment on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group


However, I just can't imagine they would be fun to ride more than a mile or so (which I would prefer to walk).
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Old 07-27-15 | 05:26 PM
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Originally Posted by ShortLegCyclist
Not really a bycicle. It only goes downhill.

Bergmönch - Hiking uphill - Wheeling downhill!
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Old 07-28-15 | 05:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Carlos71
Not really a bicycle.
Yep. Without a saddle or a drivetrain, that's a kick scooter. If that sort of machine would do the unstated job, then there are lots of kick scooters and long boards that are light and packable.
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Old 07-28-15 | 06:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Carlos71
Not really a bycicle. It only goes downhill.

Bergmönch - Hiking uphill - Wheeling downhill!
Point taken.

So then, is this a bike?

The FLIZ Pedal-Less Bike Concept : TreeHugger

I love that this thing has disc brakes!
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Old 07-28-15 | 06:40 AM
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Bikes: Many bikes in three states and two countries, mainly riding Moots Vamoots, Lynskey R265 disc and a Spot Denver Zephyr nowadays

And is it less of a bike than this one, which DOES have pedals?


Crazy! The World's Tiniest Bike that Actually Works? : TreeHugger
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Old 07-28-15 | 08:09 AM
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To paraphrase a famous axiom... In the world of folding bikes, there are three characteristics:

Lightweight, Compactness, and Inexpensive... you can only choose 2.

The basic gist is that owning a folding bike about is all about compromises. There is no perfect folding bike... there is only the folding bike that most closely matches your current need... and in some cases none will even remotely match your current need.

Best of luck on the compromises ahead.
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