| What an innovative, practical thing a folding mountain | | | | mountain bikes. A range of accessories add to the |
| bike is! If space is an issue and leaves your regular | | | | pleasure of using a Paratrooper or Hummer bike. A |
| bike out in the cold, one of these bikes will be your | | | | soft carrying case, made of 420 Denier nylon, |
| solution. | | | | protects your bike while in transit. When you are in a |
| There are many versions of the folding mountain | | | | really tight squeeze, folding pedals which reduce the |
| bike. They vary from heavier and less portable, to | | | | width of the bike, are available. |
| lightweight and tough. Transporting them in buses, | | | | The folding features of the Montague folding |
| trains, or airplanes, is easy. At your destination, you | | | | mountain bike, allows for the optional use of a steel |
| have your means of transportation at your beck and | | | | kickstand. For extra protection, a hard case has now |
| call. | | | | been added for airline travel. This case allows your |
| The Hummer is a state of the art folding mountain | | | | folding mountain bike to travel as luggage, leaving |
| bike, manufactured by Montague. This is the world's | | | | your hands free. |
| leading manufacturer of folding bikes. It is modeled on | | | | In another class altogether are the Bike Fridays. |
| a line of full sized folding bikes originally designed for | | | | These would probably be classified as collapsible, |
| the U.S. Marines as a military bike for tactical use. | | | | rather than folding, but has a complicated and slow |
| The Hummer has full size wheels and knobby tires, | | | | mechanism for assembling and disassembling. They |
| usable on any terrain. To fold the Hummer takes | | | | are nevertheless a line of excellent quality folding |
| under 30 seconds, and involves no tools. This | | | | mountain bikes, comparable to custom bikes. |
| mountain bike folding system is a patented military | | | | Another folding mountain bike is the Airnimal Rhino |
| design. | | | | which is Airnimal's first official off-roader. It has 20" |
| The Hummer bikes are strong, durable, light, and | | | | wheels, and front and rear suspension as efficient on |
| tough. It is rumored that they have been made to be | | | | city potholes and kerbs, as on rough off-road terrain. |
| dropped from a plane, without sustaining damage! | | | | A completely new approach to folding mountain |
| You know that a Hummer folding mountain bike is | | | | bikes, is apparent in the Giatex Stretching Bike. Its |
| sturdy, when it boasts extensive testing by the | | | | steering column folds down, but the frame doesn't |
| Marines. | | | | fold in the middle. Instead, it has a large stainless |
| Other pluses to the Hummer include Shimano | | | | steel bar, along which the back part of the bike |
| precision index shifters for a quick gear change, front | | | | slides. The resulting length is about 37 inches. If the |
| suspension with a front disk brake, and 24-speed | | | | front wheel is removed, this can be reduced to 30". |
| Shimano drive train. The folding size is 36" x 28" x | | | | The Giatex has good components and rides well, with |
| 12". | | | | lightweight portability. |
| Another folding mountain bike in the Montague stable, | | | | The Giatex also features a 6 speed Shimano rear |
| is the Paratrooper Mountain Bike. This rugged rider | | | | derailleur, which is considerably more useful than the |
| unfolds without the need for tools. The use of | | | | 3 speed gear inside the rear hub of most other 16" |
| standard mountain bike wheels and components, | | | | bikes. The gearing isn't aimed at speed, as much as |
| simplifies maintenance. Jumping obstacles is fun for | | | | at making the bike easy to ride. |
| this soldier! It has superb braking power. | | | | A folding mountain bike may not be sturdy enough |
| The innovative engineering behind any Montague | | | | for serious bikers, or on very rough terrain, but it has |
| folding mountain bike, ensures structural integrity and | | | | its place and sure comes in handy at the most |
| strength. The Paratrooper folds in less than thirty | | | | unexpected time. |
| seconds. | | | | If you'll excuse me, I'll now bag my bike and be off... |
| Montague doesn't stop at their unique folding | | | | For more information visit Best-Mountain-Biking. |