Folding Bike Which Type?

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Gemini Dreams

The reality of folding bikes...

If you are cruising do you really need them? Probably not. Most destinations are an island and all the amenities are close to the docks. ...................

Gemini Dreams make a good point here if your destinations are limited to islands. We hardly ever use our bikes in the Bahamas; however, among our New England ports, Long Island Sound and on down through the Chesapeake and Florida we often use our bicycles. Some ports like Charleston and Vero Beach have great public transpportation and we don't break out the bikes, but some of our ports like Havre d'Grace and Baltimore are greatly improved by having the bicycles. At our current location in Orange Park Florida we have nothing near by walking, but every imaginable store and restaurant within a short ride down a beautiful bike path. I remember years ago being at Lantana, Florida and walking with backpacks to a grocery store. The locals said that the store was just a short bit down the road, but they were among those that only moved by car. We trudged for three hours to make it there and back on foot! Bicycles suit those that find themselves crusing to those places where few walk anywhere. Maybe not the islands, as Gemini Dreams points out, but the folding Dahons are good for us!

[mikefossl]

We picked up two Dahon folding bikes while in Japan along with carrying bags. They have gotten extensive use in our cruise through Palau, Yap, Japan, Korea and now Hawaii. When on the hook we typically find a place to lock them up on shore and bring the seats and seat posts back with us to the boat. Each bike can carry a 5 gal jerry jug of either water or fuel. They do take up space and need regular service but they afford us a great deal of independence and we wouldn't cruise without them.