Bikes for Boats Y
by Steve Allan
ou’re on a cruise, after a long day Folding bikes have been around for bikes range anywhere from about $150 to on the water, and the marina a while, but now there’s a wide range north of $8000, so you have to decide how is perfect. A dip in the pool, a of folders for every budget. Bringing you want to use your bike, but also how walk around the grounds, and a picnic one or two along on a cruise opens up a long you want it to last. Sounds a lot like area or a small ship’s store round out the whole ‘nother dimension of sailing. My buying a sailboat, doesn’t it? amenities. Then you discover you are out goal is to get three bikes aboard my little Jim’s $500 Dahon Curve rode like a of milk, or bread, or heaven forbid, beer! 26-footer, but they must be out of the charm when I took it for a spin around If only you had brought that bike that’s way and not interfere with the running the marina. Its tight components, positive been collecting dust in the garage. of the boat, occupy sleeping berths, or shifting, and straight-up ride was delightA bike aboard opens up new opanything else vital to function and comful. With 16-inch wheels, Jim can fold it portunities for shoreside gunkholing. A fort. It’s a pretty tall order, but I think I up in 30 seconds and get it into the Vlot of marinas offer bicycles to transient can do it, hopefully without jettisoning berth of his Rhodes 22 Recess in no time guests, but I can’t say with certainty that anybody’s sea bags. Amazingly, I can at all. Harrison takes his bikes seriously. you would thank me for the suggestion. get two aboard and stowed. One is a He says his Bike Friday performs as well More often than not, you wind up with first-generation West Marine Port Runas his titanium road bike, on which he a tired, rusted, and biked from San Diego slow ride of questionto Texas last year. able roadworthiness. Folding it up to a It might do in a pinch small packable size is for a beer run, but one thing, but getting for safety, it might one sturdy enough to bring more trouble withstand the jostling than it is worth, not around and damp to mention danger. climes of a sailboat is Barring friendly offers another concern. Steel of similarly broken frames are sturdier for down yard cars (“Take hard riding, but aluit, the keys are in it”), minum is better for you are stranded at the boat use. Componentry marina without practiand geometry are bike ##The Dahon Curve and Port Runner. cal means of exploring industry buzzwords, the town that might lie but are important to ner, the other a Schwinn that for some a tantalizing mile or two beyond. Sure, consider when your primary concern has you could walk it, but a bike widens the reason was only sold in Canada. Both of to be buying a bike that will fit not only them are on the low end as folding bikes radius of opportunities and carries loads you, but also your boat, Harrison says. go: the Port Runner retailed at about to boot all the while with the wind on For those who can’t fathom spending your face. Just like a good day on the $300 when I bought it six years ago, the thousands on a bicycle, it starts to make water. Schwinn about $180. sense when you’re far from home and that Bikes and sailboats car you left behind “Jim can fold it up in 30 seconds and get it into probably needs that are a natural fit. You’re utilizing your own power worth of work the V-berth of his Rhodes 22 in no time at all.” much for transportation in and insurance, tags, I’ve gotten my use out of them, but post-manufacture carbon neutral way, and gas. You might never sail around the it’s time to move up to a better frame acknowledging that fiberglass boats and world or leave the Bay, but with a good and a smaller package. As with anything, steel or aluminum bikes burn up a lot of folding bike aboard, you’ll see a lot more you get what you pay for. According fossil fuels in their making. Like sailing, of it than you ever dreamed. to Jim Harrison, avid sailor, bicyclist, riding a bike just feels good. Like a sailrunner, and faculty in the Kinesiology boat, a bike can take you as far as your Editor’s note: Jim Harrison, 68, died Department at Towson University, imagination or your legs can take you. unexpectedly June 13. He is remembered folding bikes by Dahon, UK- built To me, the two are inextricably linked, for his zest for life, fitness, his love of Bromptons, and American-made Bike as cookies and milk. Fortunately for small sailboats, and of course, bicycling. Friday and Downtube are among the space-starved sailboats, you can eat cake Click to spinsheet.com/jim-harrison for a best, which poses a dilemma: Folding with a folding bike. short tribute. 46 August 2013 SpinSheet
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