I'm getting ready to go spend 6 months in the desert, good times. I want to take a bike with me and I think a folding bike would be a great option. So I have been doing some research and would love some advice

What i'm looking for is simplicity, durability, and being able to survive being hauled halfway around the globe and back. So i'm looking single speed, coaster brake, and minimal additions. It needs to be able to fit my 6'3" and 220 lbs, and ideally i'd like to spend less than $400

So far what i've found that looks interesting are the dahon boardwalk S1, the dahon speed uno, and the citizen bikes gotham 1. From what i've been able to find the boardwalk is a little on the weak side and the citizen bikes have weak hinges. The speed uno looks like a real good option but I want to make sure i'm not missing anything.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I'm a Viet Nam era Veteran, sorry, about your being used that way.. .


I'd contact Jan at Human Powered Machines,. in Eugene, he makes
a version of the Swift, its a small shop, and can tweak the bike specs as it's built for your
size and weight.

I called up citizen about the miami bike... they said max of 6'2 and less weight than you are for their bikes. It was strange they don't sell an extended seat post just in case. You could always pick up a raleigh twenty which are built like a tank but I'm unsure how compact you're trying to fold up to.

Sand and chains don't play well together. Maybe you should consider a belt drive? Otherwise, it might makes sense to pack a spare chain.

Pick up a used bike from a soldier thats returning home, it be cheap like $30 or something, it will not be a quality bike but you in the desert, beggars cannot be choosers.

Raleigh Twenty, or Motague/Hummer.

I vote for the Raleigh Twenty. The Montague is a nice bike, but it has an Aluminum frame, which is a real pain to fix far from home. Steel frames were popular during WW 2. My uncle used that sort of bike during his deployment in the UK.

thank you guys for the ideas, I appreciate it. I looked into the raleigh 20 but it looks to be a bit on the large side and I think thats going to knock it out of the running. As far as finding a bike there well thats not a bad idea but BX bikes are a shade worse than wal-mart and a used one of those isn't very appealing.

So it seems that short of spending close to a grand the best and seemingly most durable options are the dahon boardwalk and speed uno. I got to ride the boardwalk and I was impressed by how it felt but i'm still concerned from what i've heard that it's not that durable. I keep leaning towards the speed uno but i've still gor a couple months before I have to make a decision.

Thanks again folks, your advice has been very helpful

This sounds like a job for one of those long and thin Stridas, single speed, belt drive, ok on size ????

Steel is always a popular choice during war time, gives an added sense of security, plus of course in the UK we melted down all our aluminium saucepans to make Spitfires, there was no allocation for bicycle frames, not that anyone had thought of making bicycle frames from aluminium at that time - or did they ?

Just curious, how much spare parts, tools and bike stuff do you plan to take with you?

The Speed Uno has a plastic guard around the chain.

spare tires, tubes, helmet, pump, basic tools. I can get oil and grease at work if needed. I'll be able to change the tires and repack the bearings and thats about as far as i'll be able to get into things there.

Available in Tacoma https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/bik/2553181068.html

In Burien https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bik/2558187581.html

Montague. I've had one for six years and ride in the sand, mud, and dirt. Frame is tough to hurt. The rest of the bike is mostly off the shelf stuff. Little expensive with your $400 in mind. I'm 5'9" and should have gotten the larger frame. Was available from AAFES last I checked.

I never even considered AAFES, they do have it. The boston looks really interesting. I don't know about being able to carry it very easily though, do you carry yours folded? Gonna have to look into that, thanks for the tip

They also have another folding bike, a kettler verso cologne 20". I'm about to do more reasearching on that but has anybody heard of that one?

Hey stud - Remember the old and vital rule...

Don't take anything in the field you cant afford to loose...

Rarely carry anywhere. Few times I've used the local bus there was room in the outside bike rack. Without a bag, I don't think I'd try inside. With a bag, it's just a bag of bike parts.

BSA, got a contract to make folding bikes for the Paratroops ,
and for the rifles to put on their back.. for
"the war to end all wars"
[yeah right]

Used Montauge with a bag in Des Moines https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bik/2560035585.html

I hope you are an Officer because i do not know how you will take it with you as enlisted .I think I had 1 seabag when I went to Kuwait maybe 2 but that is it.I was lucky to stay on one base the whole time.You could buy a bike at the exchange once you are in country.