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World Car Free Day: September 22

By Montague Bikes | Published: September 20, 2011

This Thursday, September 22, Boston joins 1000 cities in 40 countries worldwide in celebrating World Car Free Day. An initiative of the World Car Free Network, an organization that promotes getting out of the car and onto, or into, alternative forms of transportation, World Car Free Day is a great opportunity to take advantage of group rides in many cities around the world. If you’ve never used a bicycle as your primary (or even secondary) means of transportation, or if it’s been a while since the last time you rode, rides like these are a great introduction to cycling in the city. For many, participating in an event such as this is the first step towards a car free (or car light) way of life.

Reduce your Car Use
with a Montague Folding Bike

If you’re thinking about a bike as your primary form of transportation and are looking for one that is well-suited to city riding, a Montague folding bike is an excellent choice. Because the bike has full size wheels and folds without cutting any structural tubes, you get the same great ride quality that you do from any non-folding bike, but it also folds in under 20 seconds. This means that you have the ultimate flexibility when it comes to transportation. Want to ride your bike? Great! Want to take the bus or train? No problem – just fold the bike and take it with you. Need to carpool or drive? The bike fits right in the trunk – no rack or awkward maneuvering required. If you like to cycle but use other forms of transportation as well, a Montague folding bike is arguably the best bike out there for you.

On the other hand, a Montague folding bike offers people who are primarily drivers a unique transportation option – park and pedal. Because Montague folding bikes fold so easily and quickly, it’s really no big deal to keep one in the trunk of your car to unfold and ride as it suits you. So it’s ok if you need or want to drive; a Montague folding bike still makes it really easy to save money on gas and parking, get some exercise, and do something good for the environment, all in one fell swoop. In Massachusetts, you can find free parking at state-run park and ride lots, and if you’re interested in seeing how much you could save by cycling for even part of your commute, you can check out the Commute Calculator.

A Day? How About a Whole Week?

We here in Massachusetts are so excited about World Car Free Day on Thursday, that we’ve actually extended it to an entire Car Free week – from Sunday September 18 to Saturday September 24.

Photo courtesy of Matt Moritz

And Boston is even celebrating one extra day: Sunday September 25 is the 7th Annual Hub on Wheels, where participants can choose from a 10, 30, or 50 mile ride, which starts and ends at City Hall Plaza in Downtown Boston. Following the ride is the 3rd Annual TD Bank Mayor’s Cup – a high-speed criterium race, packed with tight turns and lots of action around Government Center. This race attracts some of the best male and female racers from all over the country.

How is Your City Celebrating World Car Free Day?

Do you have any plans for World Car Free Day on September 22? Is every day a car free day for you? What makes you want to go car free? What holds you back? Has riding a folding bike made the decision easier? Let us know how you’ll be celebrating!


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Interbike is Upon Us!

By Montague Bikes | Published: September 13, 2011

Montague's Interbike Booth, #23095

Just when you thought there weren’t enough exciting things to do in Las Vegas, along comes interbike – the largest bicycle trade show in North America. Interbike brings folks together from every corner of the cycling industry – you get everything from bikes to clothing, panniers to components – if it’s about bikes, it’s at the show. And Montague, of course, is on hand displaying our line of full-size folding bikes – both pavement and mountain. The show runs from September 14-16, and if you get the chance, you should DEFINITELY check it out. If you’re in the area, you should also stop by the Montague Booth (#23095) from 1-3 for the Fastest Fold-Off – a competition to see who can fold our bikes the fastest.

Folding Bikes in Fashion?

Montague will also be featured in a Bike Fashion Show hosted by Momentum Magazine. The fashion show will be highlighting trends in urban cycling – clothing and bicycles alike. With daily shows at 2pm, it’s not to be missed – and be sure to keep an eye out for the Montague Crosstown!

The always fashionable Crosstown folding bike.

Cross Vegas

Cross Vegas 2010. Photo courtesy of Elly Blue.

On the night of Wednesday September 14, interbike is also host to Cross Vegas – the biggest Cyclocross race in North America that attracts some of the best riders from all over the world. What’s Cyclocross? A style of bike racing that is a combination of (or cross between) mountain and road racing. The courses are a mix of dirt, grass, mud, sand, and gravel, but riders use bikes that more closely resemble road bikes than mountain bikes (think skinny tires and no suspension). With the race course including barriers (riders must dismount and jump over them while carrying their bikes), tight off-camber turns, and some steep-but-short hills, anything can happen, and most usually does.

Because the race takes place during interbike, there’s also a special category for interbike exhibitors – the Wheelers and Dealers race. No one from the Montague crew is entered this year, but we’re thinking about it (and maybe even training) for the years to come.

What Would You Like to See?

Interbike is not only a great place to see all the different sorts of products out there in the cycling world, but also to see what’s coming next. If you were at interbike, what would you be looking for? Are you going to be at the show? Or at Cross Vegas? Give us a shout or stop by!


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Use a Folding Bike to Combat Sedentariness

By Montague Bikes | Published: August 25, 2011

A recent study conducted by MSN found Lexington KY to be the most sedentary city in the U.S. They reached this conclusion by comparing how many hours of physical activity people reported, how much cable TV they watched, how many video games they purchased, as well as the deaths caused by deep vein thrombosis, which is correlated with extended periods of sitting.

MSN’s List of Most Sedentary US Cities

There are, of course, reasons that this criteria could be misleading – it may be that the survey sample is skewed in favour of those spend more time in front of the TV or computer than exercising; or a small group’s excessive screen time could offset the moderate exercise levels of the rest of the population; or there could be a deep vein thrombosis research institute in Lexington. But taking these results at face value, it seems to make sense – the more time people spend exercising, the less time they spend watching TV or on the computer, the less time they spend sitting in general. So it seems that Lexington, KY (as well as a great number of other cities) needs to get moving!

Get Active – Get Riding!

One really easy way to lead a more active lifestyle is to ride your bike to work. Unless you work from home, you have to get to work anyway – it’s not like you’re making an extra trip. And it’s usually easy enough to find a bike-friendly (or at least bike-friendlier) route that avoids highways, high-traffic roads, roads with narrow shoulders, and other places it’s no fun to ride. On first seeing MSN’s results, it seemed that maybe a lack of viable bike routes could be to blame for Lexingtonians’ sedentary ways – but take a look at this map  – there’s a fairly comprehensive network of bike lanes and bike friendly streets throughout the city.

Bike Routes in and around Lexington, KY

Why think that Lexington’s sedentary lifestyle can be attributed to lack of bike commuting? It’s obviously not the only factor, but the 2 most active cities (and the only cities to receive an A+ grade by the MSN study) are Seattle and San Francisco – two cities famous for large numbers of bike commuters.

Try Commuting with a Folding Bike

Maybe one reason there aren’t more bike commuters in Lexington is that riding a bike can be a bit of an inconvenience. Especially if you live outside the city and have a longer commute – maybe you drive or take public transportation. It can be a pain to use a bike rack on your car, and also something of a risk to leave a bike locked up outside all day at a bus stop or train station. If these concerns resonate with you, whether you live in Lexington or not, a Montague folding bike could be the perfect way to fit some extra exercise into your day. With a Montague folding bike, you can drive part of your commute, and then ride the rest of the way – a new take on park and ride, or, as we like to call it, park and pedal. And once you’re at work, you can fold the bike and take it inside – no need for a lock when you can store it under your desk.

If you’re thinking about a Montague folding bike for your commute, you might want to take a look at either the Navigator or the Boston 8 – both come with fenders, and the Navigator even comes with a rack. Of course, if you prefer another model, you can fit fenders and a rack on that too – just head on down to your local bike shop and see what they have in stock.

How did Your City Rank?

Are you from Lexington? Do you think the “Most Sedentary City” title is deserved? What about some of the other cities on the list? What do you think of MSN’s criteria?  How do you work exercise into your routine? Do you ride your bike to work?


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MTB Trail Maintenance Basics

By Montague Bikes | Published: August 11, 2011

Mountain biking is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. If you’ve got the bike and the skillz, nothing beats a sunny afternoon on the X70 hammering down single track, or working your way through a rock garden. Even if you’re just out cruising on the X50 on something a little more tame – say a path in the local park, or a fire road, or if getting up a grinder on the Paratrooper Pro is more your speed – whatever kind of riding you’re into, you couldn’t do it without regular trail maintenance.

If you ride at a mountain bike park, trail maintenance might be taken care of by park staff. In fact, many ski areas officially open their trails to mountain bikers during the summer months. Depending on where you go, there may be rental equipment available, as well as instruction, kids’ camps, and a trials course. Since these converted  ski areas are usually privately owned and maintained, it’s a pretty good bet that the trails will be in good shape.

But if you’re riding singletrack in your local backwoods, chances are the parks department can’t keep up with all the trail maintenance that needs to be done – either because they don’t have the resources, or because the trail is an unmarked, unofficial route, known only to smaller groups of riders. If so, then it’s generally up to those riders to take care of the trails themselves. If you’re looking to do some trail upkeep in your area, a good place to start is with your local chapter of the IMBA. In addition to possessing the tools and the know-how, these folks also organize trail maintenance events, so it’s a great way to meet other MTB riders (and maybe even other Montague owners) in your area. But if you’ve got some trails your working on yourself, here are a few trail maintenance tips.

Clear the Way

A Montague folding mountain bike navigates the overgrowth.

Especially in spring and summer, it’s important to keep on top of branches protruding into the trail. You want to keep your line clear – everyone likes a good vegetable tunnel now and again, but it’s no fun to clothesline yourself on a low-hanging branch. Keeping the line clear also means looking out for large fallen branches and moving those out of the way. You may want to try and prune back nettles and brambles growing close to the trail’s edge as well, since these aren’t so nice to land in if you take a fall.

Reinforce Your Corners

Over time, both nature and repeated riding take their toll on trails, especially in the corners. As a bike turns, the wheels push dirt from centre of the trail to the edges, which can create deep and dangerous ruts. While some of this wear and tear is what makes a good trail and working with more difficult terrain helps you progress as a rider, you don’t want it to get out of hand. And if you get a lot of heavy rain, if you don’t keep up with the corners, you may find sections fall away completely. You don’t want the trails to deteriorate to such a stage that they’re unrideable, or otherwise impassable for others who use them.

Ensure Proper Drainage

Perhaps nothing erodes a good trail faster than a heavy rain and standing water. To keep your favourite trail intact, it’s really important to make sure water runs out of the trail, instead of sitting on it. Again, you might want to pay particular attention to the corners, where water can pool, and dig little drainage canals so that water will run out of the corners, instead of creating potentially dangerous dips. When you’re doing routine maintenance, you should check that your drainage system is in good shape, that it’s not blocked by debris, and that the channels are deep enough.

What are your Trail Maintenance Tips?

How do you keep your local trails in top riding condition? Do you have any trail maintenance events planned? Are you getting out to work on those trails this weekend? What’s the most overgrown/eroded you ever seen? How did you repair it? We’d love to hear your MTB stories –have you done any cool rides on your Montague folding bike recently? And as always,  ride safe!


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A College Degree in Cycling

By Montague Bikes | Published: August 8, 2011




Whether you’ve been to college or not, when you think about courses of study, you probably think about subjects such as history, engineering, biology, or communications. But now, thanks to an initiative at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, NC, students have the option of doing a minor in cycling studies.

It’s hardly surprising that Lees-McRae is offering a cycling studies minor. While cycling has been a varsity sport at the small private college for just 10 years, the team has repeated as national champions in all 4 cycling disciplines – mountain biking, road, track, and cyclocross. By offering a program of academic study that focuses on cycling, Lees-McRae hopes to allow its students to explore areas of cycling outside of racing (indeed – the program is intended for all students, not just the college’s competitive cycling squad). The goal of the program is to expose students to as many different facets of cycling as possible, thereby preparing them for a career in the cycling industry.

Within the minor, possible areas of focus include business, biomechanics and nutrition, bicycle/product design, and environmental and public policy. In addition to a required set of courses, students complete both a field study and an internship in order to familiarize them with all aspects of the cycling industry, from racing and regulatory bodies to repair and retail shops. Students are also encouraged to focus on cycling-related projects in the other courses they are taking.

A Bicycle Project

Even if your school doesn’t offer any cycling-specific classes or programs, you can still put your bicycle knowledge to use for some cycling-inspired end of term projects. If you’re a physics or engineering student, this probably isn’t too much of a stretch. If you’re looking for some inspiration, there’s a nice list of possible projects here.

Some college students even go so far as to build project bicycles. For example, at the Rhode Island School of Design, some students recently built a folding bike as their semester project. “The challenge was to design a human-powered vehicle that could meet the size limit of a carry-on item for any mode of public transportation.” Certain aspects of the design make this bike impractical for commercial purposes – notably the canvas webbing “top tube” and lack of rear brake, but it’s still a pretty cool end-of-term project. It’s no Montague folding bike, but it’s a heck of a lot more fun than a term paper.

Bike-Writing

A Montague folding bike is also a great way to get around campus.

Even if you are going to be writing term papers, in most classes, you can probably find a way to discuss cycling, without too much of a stretch. If you’re in the political science venue, you could examine public pressure on legislators to act for or against the interest of cyclists. If you’re taking an English, history, or art history course, you could take a look at how cycling imagery has changed over the past 100 years, and how it affects society. If you’re taking a philosophy class, you might be out of luck.

Have Any Bike Ideas?

What do you think about the cycling studies minor? Do you think it will catch on? Are you a current or prospective college student? Does a program like that interest you? Have you ever incorporated cycling into a project for school or work?


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A Bicycle How-To How-To

By Montague Bikes | Published: August 2, 2011

If you ride a bicycle, you’ve probably noticed that every once in a while, your bike needs a little love. This can be anything from minor adjustments to the cables and brake pads to overhauling the bearing systems, from replacing parts to truing wheels, and everything in between. Even if you’re comfortable doing the simpler repairs, if you don’t have the know-how or the tools for the more complicated issues, you probably still take your bike into a shop – and a second opinion about what that mystery rattle might be never hurts either.

When it comes to bike maintenance and repair, if you’re going to ride regularly, it’s a good idea to know the basics at least (you don’t want to be stranded if you flat on your morning commute). And if your riding is a little more ambitious – if you’re planning a bicycle tour that could take you off the beaten path – you might want to familiarize yourself with some more complex repairs, since it could be a while between bike shops. Regardless of whether you’re learning to change a flat or build a wheel, there are a plethora of resources out there for the aspiring bike mechanic.

Books and Websites

One of the best places to start, especially if you’re just getting in to bike repair, is at your local library or on the internet. These resources are not only FREE, but are also pretty comprehensive. An hour or so on the internet or with a good bike repair book, and you’ll have a good idea of what’s involved with the repair you want to do, the tools you’ll need, and step-by-step instructions. If you’re patient and like the self-guided approach, this can be a great way to learn more about repairing your own bicycle. A great place to start on the internet is Sheldon Brown’s website or an online bike forum; and while there are many wonderful bike repair books out on the market, a great one to start with is The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair.

Local Repair Classes

Bike stand and tools

If you like a little more instruction when it comes to tackling bike repair (or if you’ve attempted the self-guided approach and got stuck), your local shop might offer repair classes. Often, shops have beginner, intermediate and advanced level classes, taught by experienced mechanics, or if not, you might find something similar through a technical college or continuing education program. While there are exceptions, these classes are usually BYOB (bring your own bike), and since Montague bikes are built using industry standard parts, you could even do the class with your folding bike.

There are several advantages to a bike shop class over the self-guided repair approach. The obvious one is that you have someone showing you how to do it – if you have a question, you can ask. You don’t have to worry if you’re doing it correctly because if something’s not working, your instructor can help you get back on track before you get back on your bike.

You also have access to a complete shop’s worth of tools. For many people, one of the major barriers to doing their own bike repair is not having the right tools. By doing a class at a shop, you get to use everything you need, and can decide which tools are worth the investment for you. It’s also a good way to meet other cyclists who live in your area.

Mechanic School

Depending on your level of interest and schedule, you could also enroll in a program at a bike mechanic school, such as the United Bicycle Institute in Ashland and Portland, OR or the Barnett Bicycle Institute in Colorado Springs, CO. Both of these institutions offer classes for the beginner as well as the experienced mechanic. These are all-day, every-day classes (rather than a couple of hours after work), and the programs last anywhere from a week to a few months. While a 2-, 3-, or even 6-week course won’t turn you into an experienced mechanic over night, the intensity of these programs will give you a firm grounding for any future classes or bike repair you might want to do. These classes cost more than the typical bike shop class, but also involve significantly more instructional time.

Do You Repair Your Own Bike? How did You Learn?

Do you like to work on your own bike? What’s your favourite/least favourite repair? Did you teach yourself, or did you take a class? What did you find most helpful when you were learning to work on your bike?


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Hubway: Sharing is Caring

By Montague Bikes | Published: July 28, 2011

Boston Mayor Menino gets ready for a ride.

Today, July 28, Boston’s own Mayor Menino will take part in the inaugural Hubway ride – the new bike share system that is scheduled to be fully operational tomorrow, July 29. With stations located throughout downtown, and with plans to expand to other neighbourhoods as the success of program allows, Hubway will surely prove to be a valuable service for those who live in or plan to visit the Boston area. You can check out rates (casual or registered membership available), locations and other information at the Hubway site here – and trips under a half-hour are FREE!

Why a Bike Share?

Joining cities like Paris, London, Montreal, Denver, Miami, Washington D.C. and Minneapolis, Boston has recognized the benefits of cycling, and has decided to implement a system where bikes are conveniently located and available for public use. Especially in crowded downtown areas, offering bicycles as a transportation option can help alleviate traffic congestion and air pollution. It’s also a great way for people to get some exercise, save on gas money, and get to know their neighbourhood (hey – sounds like a lot of the same benefits as a Montague folding bike!). Because the first half hour is free, they’re great for short trips: you can run errands on your lunch break, or ride from home to a restaurant, the store, or the movie theatre. Really, as long as there’s a station located nearby where you can dock the bike, the bike share makes riding in the city easy and convenient, even if you don’t have your own bike with you.

If you’re planning to visit Boston – or any city with a bike share system – these bikes are an excellent way to get around and see the sites. You can get from one side of town to the other a lot faster than walking, and without having to pay for a cab (and let’s face it – in many cities, Boston included, riding your bike is probably faster than taking a cab…heck, in L.A., it’s faster than a plane). Especially if you’re heading to and from locations that have docking stations, there’s really no reason not to try out the bike share.

Be Careful Out There!

While there is a lot to be excited about with the introduction of the bike share, it’s fair to say that Boston isn’t exactly known for its pristinely paved streets and courteous drivers. If you’re not a regular rider, it can be intimidating to ride on the street, especially if it’s been a while since the last time you were on a bike (don’t worry though – you’ll get right back into it. Word has it, it’s just like riding a bike). To make sure everyone is ready for the roads and knows their rights and responsibilities as a cyclist, Hubway is offering FREE bike safety classes. Click here to register for a Hubway class, or if you can’t make it, you can also find information here.

What do You think of Bike Share Systems?

Is there a bike share where you live? Have you used it? How do you think bike share systems affect our ideas of urban transportation? Do you think bike share could ever be as widespread as other forms of public transportation? Will a bike share system impact your decision to buy a bike? Or how often you ride?


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Australian Cadel Evans Wins Tour de France

By Montague Bikes | Published: July 25, 2011

2011 Tour de France Podium

The Tour de France, which began on Saturday, July 2, finished yesterday, Sunday July 24. Cadel Evans of BMC became the first Australian to win the Tour in the race’s 108-year history, and the second oldest (at age 34) in the post-war era. Evans finished the tour with a time of 86h12m22s, 1m34s ahead of Andy Schleck of Team Leopard Trek from Luxemburg.


Cadel Evans during the individual time trial

Entering the 20th, and second-to-last stage, the time trial at Grenoble, Evans was 3rd in the general classification (GC), trailing Schleck by 57 seconds for lead. So while Evans would not have to win the stage (in fact, Tony Martin of HTC actually won the stage with a time of 55:34), he would have to beat Schleck by at least 58 seconds. Evans, however, not only made up the 57-second deficit, but gained an additional 1m34s advantage over Schleck – more than enough to vault himself into first place in the overall standings. Evans finished 2nd on the stage to Martin, with a time of 55:41. This means that on the 26.5 mile course (42.5km), the fastest riders were averaging speeds close to 29mph – on their bikes!

After the 20th stage, Evans knew he had the Tour victory wrapped up. Except in cases of extremely slim margins, the GC title is not contested on the final stage, so Evans did not have to worry about Schleck making up any time as they rode on the Champs-Elysées.

While this is Evans’ first Tour de France victory, he has an impressive career of results, including Road Race World Champion in 2009, first place at La Flèche Wallonne last year, and first place at the 2011 Tour de Romandie. He has also taken 2nd place at the Tour twice, in 2007 and 2008.

Another Year, Another Tour

Did you watch the Tour this year? What did you think of Evans’ chances? With the Stage 9 crashes taking several favourites out of contention, did you pick Evans to win? Any predictions for next year? Did you see any of the Tour in person? Have you travelled in France with your folding bike?


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Is a Bicycle Faster than an Airplane?

By Montague Bikes | Published: July 18, 2011




Sure it’s convenient to be able to take your Montague folding bike on a plane, but what if you could get there faster by riding alone?

The Amazing Race

Is riding a bike faster than flying? This past weekend, with I-405 closed for construction for 10 miles between Ventura and Santa Monica, a group of cyclists tried to see if they could ride from Burbank to Long Beach in less time than it would take to get there by plane.

With the freeway closed for construction, traffic congestion was a major concern for city officials and residents (there was talk of a possible “Carmageddon” if all the I-405 traffic was diverted to secondary highways and smaller side streets). People were advised to stay close to home, and to walk, take public transit, and ride their bikes whenever possible. Some airlines also offered cheap flights between local destinations to keep people off the streets – a ticket from Burbank to Long Beach could be had for as little as $4. And while the flight time for the 40 mile trip is only about 20 minutes, some cyclists wanted to see if they could beat the plane from Burbank to Long Beach.

An Incredible Pedal

The cyclists and the airline passenger both left the same Burbank location at 10:50am – the cyclists headed for Long Beach, using bike paths along the Los Angeles river; the passenger headed to the Burbank Airport, to catch his 12:30 flight.

This 40 mile route took only an hour and a half by bike!

In just over an hour and a half, the cyclists arrived in Long Beach at 12:24pm. The plane landed at Long Beach Airport 27 minutes later at 12:51pm. The cyclists arrived almost half an hour before the plane, and, in fact, were in town before the plane had even taken off!

Lesson Learned?

Of course it won’t always be faster to ride a bike than take a plane – it takes about 5 hours to fly non-stop from Seattle to Boston (not even counting the time it takes to check in and wait for baggage), but riding coast-to-coast takes even the fastest, most experienced, cross-country riders about 10 days. But for shorter trips, like to the grocery store, to work, or to the beach, or even to the next town, riding a bike can often take less time than other forms of transportation.

Why is this?

  • When you’re on a bike, you’re on your own schedule – no waiting for the bus and no flight delays.


  • Bikes are really easy to park – you don’t have to look for parking or pay for parking, or worry about feeding the meter. And if you have a folding bike, you don’t even have to worry about locking outside; you can take your bike inside with you.


  • Bike traffic congestion is minimal – no getting stuck in traffic. If you ride the bike path, even if it’s crowded, it’s not bumper-to-bumper, stop-and-go, the way city or freeway traffic can be. And in many places, it’s legal for bikes to ride to the right of cars or on the shoulder (be sure to check your local traffic laws though!), so you can bypass long lines of cars on your bike.

Faster than a Speeding Bullet?

Have you ever compared your cycling time to the time it takes you to do the same trip by car or public transportation? Were you faster? By how much? What’s your favourite faster-on-the-bike story?


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Summer Reading and the Montague Paratrooper Folding Bike

By Montague Bikes | Published: July 13, 2011

If you’re heading to the beach or the campsite this summer and looking for a good read, or even if you’re just hanging out at the house on a rainy day, you should definitely check out The Bicycle in Wartime: An Illustrated History by Jim Fitzpatrick.

The Montague Paratrooper is right on the cover!

While The Bicycle in Wartime is an accessible, informative history of military uses of the bicycle, it’s much more than a history of warfare. This book is an interesting read for anyone who enjoys bicycles, is curious about bicycle technology, or has an interest in 20th century political and social movements.

The Bicycle in Wartime begins around 1900, when standard military land transportation was still provided by horse, and explores the bicycle’s transformation from an experimental, unofficial military vehicle, through the First and Second World Wars and Vietnam, to its use by modern militaries around the world. Fitzpatrick describes not only the role the bicycle played in major 20th century military campaigns, but also the impact of the bicycle, changing technology, and the wars on society as a whole.

The text is accompanied by photographs on almost every page (true to the title, it is very much an illustrated history) showing how the bicycle and its applications changed over time. From the first penny farthings used on police patrols to WWI’s folding bicycles, from bicycles used on supply lines during Vietnam to the Montague military folding bike, the photographs provide a vivid look at the bicycle both in military and civilian life.

The Montague Paratrooper Folding Bike

Montague Paratrooper folded for easy transportation aboard a military vehicle.

Fitzpatrick also gives special attention to Montague Paratrooper bikes, as “the world’s standard military cycle” (p212). He notes how the unique frame design and locking mechanism “overcame the instability problem confronting the long-term users of most other folding bike designs,” (p211-212). The Paratrooper is also lightweight, easy to fold, and durable. And even though you can fold it, strap it to your pack and jump out of a plane with it, it still rides just like a traditional bicycle.

So if you’re looking for a good read this summer, take a look at The Bicycle in Wartime; and if you’re looking for a great ride, check out the Montague Paratrooper folding bike.

What are You Reading/Riding this Summer?

Have you read The Bicycle in Wartime already? Or have you read Fitzpatrick’s other books, Major Taylor in Australia or The Bicycle in the Bush? Do you own a Paratrooper? Or a Paratrooper Pro? If you’re in the military, have you used yours overseas? How do you find the ride?


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