by Larry Lagarde

Last month, I was asked to help obtain Paratrooper full-size folding mountain bikes for US service personnel stationed in Japan. Out of curiosity, I looked into the history of bike use in the military and here's a brief overview.
(Photo: Paratrooper all terrain folding bike.)

Bicycles have played a military role for over a century.
In the USA, the Buffalo Soldiers bicycled on journeys of hundreds of miles. British use of bicycles in the Second Boer War led to later bike use by Belgium, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and Switzerland.

In WWII, the Japanese captured Singapore because of their bicycle infantry and British airborne commandos secured a German radar station by sneaking up on folding bikes.
(Photo: WWII airborne folding bicycle.)

The Viet Cong were famous for there use of bicycles along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Even when the trail was carpet bombed, cyclists could ride between the bome craters. Until 2003, the Swiss had a folding bike parachute brigade that could be on the move within 60 seconds of making an air drop.
(Photo: Montague folding bike attached to US Army Airborne soldier preparing for air drop.)

The Montague Paratrooper was developed at DARPA's request to bridge an important gap between walking infantry and heavy military vehicles. It is manufactured by a company in the USA (Montague Corporation) and has been used internationally as an all terrain military bicycle as well as by the US Special Forces in Afghanistan.

Today, the high-performance, rust resistant (aluminum), suspended fork, 24 speed Paratrooper folding bike is available to soldiers and civilians alike, typically selling in the USA for @ $695. I sell Paratroopers within the continental US for $649.95 including shipping and I DO ship to APO/FPO's.
(Photo: Paratrooper folding bicycle being loaded folded into Humvee.)


Reference Links About Folding Bikes:
- Full details & specs on the Paratooper folding bike.
http://ridethisbike.com/products/Montague_Paratrooper-folding_bike.htm

- Video showing how the Paratrooper folds/unfolds (bike in video is the MX, a flashier version of the Paratrooper).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yteDW5MwkA

- A description of the Paratrooper project from Montague (circa 2001).
http://www.militarybikes.com/militaryhome.html

- 1st Tactical Studies Group (Airborne)'s Light Bicycle Infantry Page (w/pics of Paratrooper folding bikes dropped via a C-212).
http://www.combatreform2.com/atb.htm

Labels: army recon folding bike, full size folding mountain bike, Montague, Paratrooper

When it comes to touring on a folding bike, the undisputed leaders are the Bike Friday and Brompton folding bicycles; however, another great folding bike is the Giatex which uses a patented, telescoping frame concept rather than hinging frame members. The result is like having a custom made bike sized to your specific frame that also rolls when folded. Giatex makes an aluminum framed folder with 20" alloy wheels that weighs 24 lbs. and a 16" wheeled folder weighing 22 lbs but stock in the USA is completely sold out until 2007.

Pricing:
Bike Friday Pilot
26 lbs, 8 speed shimano, alloy seatpost & handlebars, adjustable height seatpost, kickstand, quick release rims $1000

Brompton P6R-X
28 lbs, 6 speed internal hub, hub lighting system, titanium seatpost & folding pedals, fenders/mudflaps, multiposition handlebars, rear carry rack, carry bag, zefal pump $2500

Giatex Chiba 20"
24 lbs, 6 speed shimano, aluminum/alloy frame, seatpost & handlebars, adjustable height seatpost & handlebars, adjustable length frame, folding pedals, fenders, kickstand, bike bell, quick release front rim, rear carry rack & carry bag $570

By the way, either the Brompton or the Giatex will fit in a suitcase that conforms to commercial aircraft baggage size limitations. One last thought: if you're going to remote areas with rough road surfaces, consider a full size mountain bike that folds like the 29lb $650 Montague Paratrooper (it accepts standard panniers & is military tuff).

Respectfully,
Larry Lagarde
RideTHISbike.com
Urging bicycling for recreation, commuting, health and a better future.

Labels: Bike Friday, Brompton, Chiba, folding bicycle, folding bike, Giatex, Montague, P6R, Paratrooper, pilot, touring bike, travel, vacation