Folding Bike for Vintage Mooneys - Novara Flyby

[Seanhoya]

Ladies and Gents,

 

I just wanted to pass along that I finally found a folding bicycle which fits in my 1968 Mooney M20G luggage compartment, and through the hatch to boot!  It is a Novara Flyby from REI.  You only have to take off the saddle to easily pass the bike through the luggage hatch.

 

The bike rides nicely to about 20 mph.  They cost around $600.  I used it to commute from Linden (KLDJ) to the New Jersey Railroad terminal, which I took into Manhattan every weekend for the first half of this year.

 

Anyhow - I have attached some photos.  I know that there are other pilots out there who have thought about this, but sizing it difficult, so I hope this helps!

 

Clear skies!

 

Sean

[Marauder]

Sean -- my wife and I are avid cyclists and have been looking to incorporate our love of cycling with aviation. There are many places where you can fly to but are out away from transportation.

Would this bike work okay as a road bike to travel say 20 miles to get somewhere? We have looked into the hacksaw process for full size bikes but it would mean for my wife to pick up a new secondary bike (she rides a carbon now) and for me to hacksaw my winter bike.

BTW -- is that chain cover homemade or part of the package? Grease is the enemy!

Did you ever run into 201er at Linden? He is based there.

[Cabanaboy]

Citizen Bike - TOKYO $169

http://www.citizenbike.com/catalog.asp?product_category_id=1&product_id=10

 

I have 2 of these and can fit one in baggage door. Rides great.

 

[Cabanaboy]

citizen

[rainman]

Citizen, works well, priced right, easy fold up. Ray

[Seanhoya]

Marauder - The chain cover comes with the bike.  In addition, it has an internal hub which is seven-speed.  In terms of 20 miles, I think that you could do it, but I think that it would be a little far.  I wouldn't recommend a folding bike for those distances simply because they just aren't as fast as a regular bike - they get unstable at higher speeds.  That being said, the Flyby is remarkably stable and easy to ride, and especially because of the unique hub-based gear system.   

 

If you are an avid cyclist, there are professional and competitive folding bikes (like Bike Friday), but I don't think that you will get much more out of them than the Flyby.  So you are faced with the same issue I have struggled with - whether to break down your regular bikes and pack them in the rear seat (kind of a pain), or to accept the decrease in performance and go with a folding bike.  I have chosen the latter, and am really happy with the bike.

 

I would recommend that you actually go ride a few different folding bikes to get an idea what I am talking about.  One thing - the Novara has 20" tires - this is about as big as you can get without going for a full-size.  This gives you better speed and stability.  And it folds in literally 15 seconds. 

 

BTW - the Citizen bike looks like a great deal! 

 

Sean

[Marauder]

Marauder - The chain cover comes with the bike. In addition, it has an internal hub which is seven-speed. In terms of 20 miles, I think that you could do it, but I think that it would be a little far. I wouldn't recommend a folding bike for those distances simply because they just aren't as fast as a regular bike - they get unstable at higher speeds. That being said, the Flyby is remarkably stable and easy to ride, and especially because of the unique hub-based gear system.

If you are an avid cyclist, there are professional and competitive folding bikes (like Bike Friday), but I don't think that you will get much more out of them than the Flyby. So you are faced with the same issue I have struggled with - whether to break down your regular bikes and pack them in the rear seat (kind of a pain), or to accept the decrease in performance and go with a folding bike. I have chosen the latter, and am really happy with the bike.

I would recommend that you actually go ride a few different folding bikes to get an idea what I am talking about. One thing - the Novara has 20" tires - this is about as big as you can get without going for a full-size. This gives you better speed and stability. And it folds in literally 15 seconds.

BTW - the Citizen bike looks like a great deal!

Sean

Thanks Sean. Appreciate the insight. Jack, orionflt's buddy has the Dahon and offered to let me check it out the next time he comes over to N57.

As a 6' 4" guy, just want to avoid being laughed off of the road when real cyclists ride by me!

Keep an eye out for 201er at Linden. We've lost touch with Stinky Pants and are concerned for his welfare. Hoping he has not been abducted by aliens dressed up as Beech owners.

[carusoam]

Stinky Pants is alive. Just saying....I heard his voice recently...

But, if Sean gets an old Cezzna sweat shirt he is going to look the part of our hard to find, Linden based, world traveling, bird man, Mooney brother...

Hmmm, I wonder if Sean's G is faster in the F/J clash with 20 mile bike ride included???

Thinking out loud,

-a-

[Marauder]

Stinky Pants is alive. Just saying....I heard his voice recently...

But, if Sean gets an old Cezzna sweat shirt he is going to look the part of our hard to find, Linden based, world traveling, bird man, Mooney brother...

Hmmm, I wonder if Sean's G is faster in the F/J clash with 20 mile bike ride included???

Thinking out loud,

-a-

Well, ever since our last challenge, I have KNOT seen him since. BTW Anthony, when we flew a couple of weeks ago, tell Stinky Pants what TAS you saw...

[KSMooniac]

This Novara looks pretty cool... I want to check one out next time I'm at an REI store.  It looks like a re-badged Tern or Dahon, which isn't a bad thing.  I've currently got two Birdy Bikes and one Trek F600 and like all of them.  I might have a problem, though, because I rarely see a bike I don't like!  

[Danb]

It looks like Sean must be peddling at his max since he has his oximeter hooked up to it, Chris I know your in shape so you probably don't need the oximeter hmmmm it may be an option anyhoo

[pinerunner]

For those who just can't have too many engine monitor inputs there's the Oximeter for your bike.

[aviatoreb]

For those who just can't have too many engine monitor inputs there's the Oximeter for your bike.

 

Oh brotha - if you only knew how techno-geeked-out some of us get on the bike - I have a lot more instrumentation that on my bikes.  Heart rate, speed, cadence, power at the hub in watts, altitude, gps position tracking, temp, yada yada  - and all downloadable for later analysis.  

 

So I guess I can send my bike ride data off to Mike Busch so he can tell me if I am about to burn a valve?

[aviatoreb]

I have many bikes (too many says my co-habitant) and several of them are different kind of folders.  My favorite balance of quick fold, fits through the baggage door of my Mooney and still rides as a normal bike is my Montague.  It is a full sized 26 inch wheel mountain bike and rides fine off road and rides on road easily and comfortably as any other mtn bike.

 

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/montague--swissbike-x50--P011904521

 

To fit it through the baggage door both wheels come off and that rear triangle folds underneath the main beam.  To keep your airplane clean put everything in a soft case - a BBQ cover from walmart is fine.  But I put the wheels through the front door - in wheel bags. (26' wheels will not fit through the baggage door).  http://www.totalcycling.com/en/Mavic-Wheel-Bag/m-20814.aspx?gclid=CPLpwcPupcECFbPm7AodUzAAng&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=UnitedStates

 

Two of these easily fit in a mooney.

 

I have a smaller folder that folds in 15 seconds but its only good for noodling around riding short distances.  If I want to ride for say 20 mi I would take my montague.  If I want to ride say 80 miles on the road I would take my road bike - which has s&s couplers.

[Sven]

Another perfect option is the Mobiky Genius. I've been searching for used ones for two years and last month I scored on two. I found one local (dumb luck) for $350 and one on eBay for $350 with $75 shipping from Oregon. You can purchase them new for $700 with free shipping. 

 

http://www.foldabikes.com/mobiky/mobiky.html

 

As you can see by the attached pictures, I have two of these great bikes. I can easily fit both of them through the baggage door of my D model. In fact, if I had three of these bikes they would fit in the compartment no issue. Not sure about a fourth but I have a feeling that would be possible. They weigh 30 lbs. each but they are built like tanks. I am a big guy and they have no problem supporting me. I am also 6 foot tall and the seat and handlebars could easily accommodate someone 6 foot 5-6 inches without a problem. They have a three-speed transmission so hills are not a problem. The wheels are 12" but they behave like a road bike. I can't tell you how impressed I am with these. If you want them used, they do exist but you have to actively keep looking for them and be very patient. One came with a bag. I'll be making or purchasing a bag for the other very soon.

 

Sven

[ryoder]

Are there any speed mods available for it?

Sean -- my wife and I are avid cyclists and have been looking to incorporate our love of cycling with aviation. There are many places where you can fly to but are out away from transportation.

Would this bike work okay as a road bike to travel say 20 miles to get somewhere? We have looked into the hacksaw process for full size bikes but it would mean for my wife to pick up a new secondary bike (she rides a carbon now) and for me to hacksaw my winter bike.

BTW -- is that chain cover homemade or part of the package? Grease is the enemy!

Did you ever run into 201er at Linden? He is based there.

[1964-M20E]

It would be nnice to convince the FBOs to have rental bikes there for $5 top $10 a day.

[Geoff]

How much do these bikes weigh?