[Dennis Pogson]

John wrote:
On Apr 30, 1:15 pm, "NE Sailboat" wrote:
I know there are foldup bicycles, etc .. but .. what about an old
banger ..

How can one attach? Or store?

Any thoughts?

Something else to think about . . . unlike most things in your boat
which are corrossion resistant (note I did not say corrossion proof)
to some degree or another . . . bicycles begin to rust almost
immediately unless you really stay after them. I grew up a few blocks
for the ocean and had more than a few friends riding "solid rust"
bicycles. Even such things as the springs beneath the seat (saddle?)
would rust. Nowadays with composite frames, small or no fenders, and
a lot less chrome, this might be less of an issue.

Happy trails.

John

Yet another myth to explode.

As an ex racing cyclist-turned-sailor I explored the possibilty of cruising
with 2 very expensive racing machines in the early eighties. Being involved
in waterproof clothing manufacture led me to design 2 custom zip-on
waterproof covers for the bikes, but there are other solutions if your boat
is roomy enough. On our 34-footer we usually tied the bikes across the
stern, and in rough weather were able to pass them down below. We once took
4 bikes and crew to the Isle of Man during TT Race week and cycled round the
course after the racing, a little congested aboard the sailboat if I
remember correctly, but it was worth it!

We cruised extensivly off the West of Scotland for about ten seasons, and
never went anywhere without the bikes.

Rust was not a problem, due to the extensive use of alloys throughout racing
bikes, also we were fastidious to the point of madness in keeping the
machines salt-free.

The biggest broblem with expensive bikes at sea is not rust, or oxidation,
but getting the bikes to and from the boat in anchorages which have no
marina-style pontoons, which, as you may guess are plentiful in the West of
Scotland.

We usually solved this by one of us stepping into the dinghy, fitting the
outboard, then the other crew handing down the bikes, which were laid flat
across the front of the dinghy and held together with a bungee plus a tight
grip from the first mate! We developed a system which worked, to everyone
else's consternation, and became the talk of the cruising fraternity off the
West Coast. Sailors dressed in Lycra are a rarity, you must agree!

Obviously if the wind and waves were too bad, we would abort or delay our
departure, but I can honestly say this was rare. (who would choose a stormy
anchorage for an overnight stay anyway?).

We cycled round virtually every beautiful inhabited island on the West Coast
over a period of some ten years, and I can honestly say the pleasure of
cruising was increased tenfold, despite the extra hard work involved in the
maintenance and conveyance of the bikes. Traffic-free roads, and magical
scenery, made it all worthwhile.

I'm now too old to think about taking myself, let alone the bikes, to sea
again, but if you are young and fit, try it. You don't know what your are
missing! You will discover places and meet people you never knew existed,
beautiful bays, white sandy beaches, completely deserted, and will wish you
had done this years ago!

Oh, lest I forget, a dram of the local Malt Whisky tasted just as good
ashore as on board!

Dennis.

[Mike]

On Apr 30, 1:15 pm, "NE Sailboat" wrote:
I know there are foldup bicycles, etc .. but .. what about an old banger ..

How can one attach? Or store?

Any thoughts?

If you plan on cruising out of the US or Canada don't get a bike. It
will just be stolen. We found that if you need a bike while cruising
it is just as easy to buy an old clunker for around $20 or so, while
visiting someplace and sell it to another cruiser when you leave. My
wife and I live on our boat for ten years sailing from Canada to South
American. Now living in sunny SW Florida.
Mike

[Paul Cassel]

NE Sailboat wrote:
How many speeds? Drop down or mtn handlebars? Soft seat, or firm?

Did she squeal if not greased?

How long did you keep her onboard?
secrets never to be revealed.

[NE Sailboat]

Dennis ,, you convinced me!

I have a Trek road bike. It is an old favorite. Very light.

I will figure out a plan for taking it aboard. Probably use two bags. One
bag = front wheel and equipment. Second bag = the remainder of the bicycle.

As you wrote,, the hard part seems to be the getting and going. How to get
the bicycle to the boat and how to get the bicycle off the boat.

But ,, it will be worth it .. I know that.


Planning ... always planning ..


========================
"Dennis Pogson" wrote in message
...
John wrote:
On Apr 30, 1:15 pm, "NE Sailboat" wrote:
I know there are foldup bicycles, etc .. but .. what about an old
banger ..

How can one attach? Or store?

Any thoughts?

Something else to think about . . . unlike most things in your boat
which are corrossion resistant (note I did not say corrossion proof)
to some degree or another . . . bicycles begin to rust almost
immediately unless you really stay after them. I grew up a few blocks
for the ocean and had more than a few friends riding "solid rust"
bicycles. Even such things as the springs beneath the seat (saddle?)
would rust. Nowadays with composite frames, small or no fenders, and
a lot less chrome, this might be less of an issue.

Happy trails.

John

Yet another myth to explode.

As an ex racing cyclist-turned-sailor I explored the possibilty of
cruising
with 2 very expensive racing machines in the early eighties. Being
involved
in waterproof clothing manufacture led me to design 2 custom zip-on
waterproof covers for the bikes, but there are other solutions if your
boat
is roomy enough. On our 34-footer we usually tied the bikes across the
stern, and in rough weather were able to pass them down below. We once
took
4 bikes and crew to the Isle of Man during TT Race week and cycled round
the
course after the racing, a little congested aboard the sailboat if I
remember correctly, but it was worth it!

We cruised extensivly off the West of Scotland for about ten seasons, and
never went anywhere without the bikes.

Rust was not a problem, due to the extensive use of alloys throughout
racing
bikes, also we were fastidious to the point of madness in keeping the
machines salt-free.

The biggest broblem with expensive bikes at sea is not rust, or oxidation,
but getting the bikes to and from the boat in anchorages which have no
marina-style pontoons, which, as you may guess are plentiful in the West
of
Scotland.

We usually solved this by one of us stepping into the dinghy, fitting the
outboard, then the other crew handing down the bikes, which were laid flat
across the front of the dinghy and held together with a bungee plus a
tight
grip from the first mate! We developed a system which worked, to everyone
else's consternation, and became the talk of the cruising fraternity off
the
West Coast. Sailors dressed in Lycra are a rarity, you must agree!

Obviously if the wind and waves were too bad, we would abort or delay our
departure, but I can honestly say this was rare. (who would choose a
stormy
anchorage for an overnight stay anyway?).

We cycled round virtually every beautiful inhabited island on the West
Coast
over a period of some ten years, and I can honestly say the pleasure of
cruising was increased tenfold, despite the extra hard work involved in
the
maintenance and conveyance of the bikes. Traffic-free roads, and magical
scenery, made it all worthwhile.

I'm now too old to think about taking myself, let alone the bikes, to sea
again, but if you are young and fit, try it. You don't know what your are
missing! You will discover places and meet people you never knew existed,
beautiful bays, white sandy beaches, completely deserted, and will wish
you
had done this years ago!

Oh, lest I forget, a dram of the local Malt Whisky tasted just as good
ashore as on board!

Dennis.

[Larry]

Peter Hendra wrote in
:

Damn it Larry,
Why wait until now to say so. I have always wanted one of these but
the ones I saw that were available were only 12 volt and I hope to set
off in a couple of weeks - probably too late to have it shipped.
.

Ah, sorry. I just got back from a little diner about a mile from here.
I rode the BladeZ. It's a beautiful day in Charleston...(c;

If you DO buy one, be sure to get a STRONG cable lock to make sure you
can KEEP it. Don't think your remote dock 2 miles from the parking lot
at the marina is safe, either. "They", your mates down the dock, won't
keep it like real thieves, but they'll certainly "borrow" it if it's not
locked down...(c;

I don't really mind them borrowing it, but, DAMMIT PLUG IN THE CHARGER
WHEN YOU GET BACK so I don't find it DOA from some yachtie cruising
around on MY battery pack!

Larry
--
Walking your dead scooter to the car at the end of a day sucks.

[[email protected]]

Hi all
we are cruising for 3 years now continiously,with 2 mountain bikes on
board,cheap things we bought in portugal for 49 euro each.since then
they ve proved really must have as sometimes the super markets are
quite a way ,and also you get to want to go out more .... from the
boat i mean ,as it is easy to get to places that without them would
have costed a taxi fare .......
If you are going to cruise north france,north spain,portugal,or even
the med and even if you anchor a lot ,they are not that bad to
have .we keep them when sailing in the saloon ,tied to the mast ,and
our boat is only 31 feet.
good sailing
g

[Keith]

On Apr 30, 12:15 pm, "NE Sailboat" wrote:
I know there are foldup bicycles, etc .. but .. what about an old banger ..

How can one attach? Or store?

Any thoughts?

I've got a couple of used mountain bikes I bought for $25 each. Oil
them up good, ride till they fall apart,deep six 'em and buy another
pair. Each pair will last several years.

[Hoges in WA]

"Keith" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Apr 30, 12:15 pm, "NE Sailboat" wrote:
I know there are foldup bicycles, etc .. but .. what about an old banger
..

How can one attach? Or store?

Any thoughts?

I've got a couple of used mountain bikes I bought for $25 each. Oil
them up good, ride till they fall apart,deep six 'em and buy another
pair. Each pair will last several years.


So that's where the fish-on-a-bicycle joke started. It was YOU!!

[sherwindu]

Down in Florida many years back, I met a guy cruising with an old bike tied to
his
bow pulpit. I'm sure the salt water did a number on it, but maybe he washed it
down
frequently. He was hopscotching down the coast with his boat. Pedling back to
his
van to move it up for his next leg. He had a small sailboat, thus the need to
keep it
on the deck. Strangely, he had a gimpy leg which he could not bend at the knee.
You have to give him credit, but I always wondered how he pedled his bike.

Sherwin D.

Keith wrote:

On Apr 30, 12:15 pm, "NE Sailboat" wrote:
I know there are foldup bicycles, etc .. but .. what about an old banger ..

How can one attach? Or store?

Any thoughts?

I've got a couple of used mountain bikes I bought for $25 each. Oil
them up good, ride till they fall apart,deep six 'em and buy another
pair. Each pair will last several years.