Whittle Your Waist with a Folding Bike

Want to whittle down your waistline and your gasoline bill?

The folding bike might be just what your doctor and your budget might order.

This isn't a misprint-I did say a foldable bicycle. Several companies manufacture these lightweight portable transportation options: Dahon, Birdie, La Stride and the Montague Corp.

The Montague Corp. was founded at the Sloane School at MIT by David Montague, a student in the aerospace engineering department. He is the inventor of the SwissBike. What makes Montague's folding bike different than the others is that it is the only full-size, 24-speed unit.

What exactly is a foldable bike and just how portable is it? I spoke with Montague and with Kevin Penrose, owner of Electric Cyclery in Laguna Beach, California and a consumer of this healthy, green and budget-friendly vehicle.

David Montague: The original idea was my dad's. He was an architect and had a patent pending on this bike. I thought it was a great idea and made some practical changes. It took about six prototypes and a couple of years. We teamed up with the military's Defense Advanced Research Project Agency.

The idea was to create a high performance bike that would allow soldiers in rough terrain to have a form of transportation where a jeep couldn't go. The heads of the various military arms knew that walking wasn't always possible. They needed something that a soldier could fold up and carry on his back.

The research project agency also funded and helped develop the GPS technology, as well as the Internet. So we knew we were entering into a good partnership.

Our military version is called the Paratrooper Tactical Bike. Basically it's a 24-speed mountain bike. It has beefy wheels and a bullet-proof frame. We now have the SwissBike, which is one of three to five models available for city and normal use.

Kevin Penrose: I like riding mine around Laguna Beach to run errands. I usually ride about 50 to 60 miles a week on it. It dodges potholes, it's good on unpaved pathways in parks and in areas where the pavement isn't exactly level.

I've seen a great deal of interest from college students who are looking for ways to get around their campus. Not only is it a timesaver for them, but they aren't having to worry about how much they're spending in gas.

The biggest thing I'm hearing and I have to agree, is that since the bike folds up in less than 30 seconds and can be kept right by the owner, there's no worry about where to lock it up or coming back and finding out that it's been stolen.

(Both Montague and Penrose said they each keep a SwissBike model in the trunk of their cars at all times.)

Q. How fast can one of these 24-speed bikes go?

Montague: That depends on the fitness level of the cyclist. Most people say they are able to do about 21 to 27 mph, but I've had some people tell me they've done 30. It also depends on what kind of roads you're on.

Penrose: Let's face it, if you're riding around a flat area, it's easier to ride at faster speeds than when you're trying to zip around the hilly areas and dodge the traffic of Laguna Beach.

Q. What should someone look for in a folding bike?

Penrose: The wheel size and the torque of the bike is very important. If you are petite, meaning under 5'3", then the regular SwissBike might not be for you. You'd probably want to try the Comfort CX model, which has a 16" wheel and would make the rider feel more secure.

If you're doing a lot around city roads, then you'd probably prefer the Crossover DX-which allows for a very smooth ride.

Most important is to have a qualified person really listen to what your needs are and let them direct you to the style which will best suit you.

Montague: The biggest thing that appeals to most people who are looking to start riding a full-size bike to improve their fitness level and cut back on the use of their car is that within 30 seconds they can fold up any of our models without the use of any extra tools.

It can be tucked away in their trunk, carried onto the metro rail system or a city bus and then kept in their cubicle at work. Many people who live in apartments store them in their utility closets. The consumer doesn't have to worry about using up much space or theft.

Q. How much space do you need for storage?

Montague: Again, it fits into the trunk of any car. The measurements are 36" x 28" x 12"; remember, these were designed originally for the soldiers in Kuwait as transportation that also had to be able to be a part of their 80-pound backpacks. The airborne paratroopers jumped with them on.

Q. What can someone be prepared to spend on a foldable bike?

Penrose: Prices for various models will obviously depend on the "bells and whistles," where they come from and styling. I'd say to be prepared to spend at least $600 to $2,000. There are some that go for less and some that go way over. Think of it in terms of standard, upgraded and luxury.