In Sand, Downtube Performed Like A Champ
by Larry Lagarde

About a month ago, I flew to St Augustine, Florida for a change of cycling scenery. While there, I enjoyed optimal riding conditions, fun trails and even learned of some exciting bike trail developments. I also used the opportunity to test out a DownTube folding bike. Here's my report.

In mid October, I received a mint green 2008 DownTube Mini folding bike to review. Although impressed by the DownTube Mini's handling of New Orleans' rough streets, I was just itching to see how the folding bike's low maintenance drive train and rust resistant materials would fare in a harsher, saltier environment.

Using a folding 28" suitcase that I sourced for my Mobiky folding bike customers, I carefully packed the DownTube and boarded a direct ExpressJet flight to Jacksonville, Florida.

In Jacksonville, I caught a shuttle for the 45 minute drive to St. Augustine and checked into the Comfort Suites at World Golf Village. I unpacked, reassembled and inspected the DownTube for damage from the flight; there was not even a scratch.

The following morning, I met up with Billy Zeits with the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation to learn more about the cycling opportunities in and around St. Augustine. A former resident of Marin County and an active cycling advocate, Billy took the day off to show me around. I could not have asked for a better guide.

Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve
We started with some off road cycling among the non-motorized trails of the Guana River Preserve. Located on a barrier island on the Atlantic coast just 11 miles north of St. Augustine, the preserve provides a taste of what Ponce de Leon saw when he landed near here in 1513, discovering Florida.

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After observing a bald eagle in its nest a quarter mile across the marsh, Billy and I biked deep into the preserve. Most of our ride was along sandy single track through lowland forests of oak and pine. Bouncing over roots, beneath low lying branches and through the occasional spider web, we pedaled south to the confluence of the Guana and Tolomato Rivers and our reward - beautiful views of salt marsh, lagoons and North America's northernmost mangrove habitat.

Although Billy was on a full size mountain bike and I was on the mini folder, I easily kept pace with him. Several times, the trail went from hard packed sand to deep, loose sand. In one of those instances, the DownTube's 16" x 1.5" Kenda tires bogged down but I was able to plow through otherwise.

The real nuisance on the ride was that the DownTube's chain kept coming off (I failed to fully tension the wheel when I installed it the previous day). My tools were at the hotel so I managed by keeping as steady a cadence as possible and reducing shifting to a minimum. Regardless, the ride through the sandy preserve was one of my highlights of the trip.


Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR)
Environmental Education Center
505 Guana River Road
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
(904) 823-4500
Note: This preserve is a prime location for viewing manatees, wood storks, roseate spoonbills, bald eagles and peregrine falcons.

Labels: DownTube-folding-bike, St-Augustine-FL