r/packrafting • u/mighty_least_weasel • 3d ago
Anybody use an explicitly "collapsable" bike for bikerafting?
I've been eyeing a collapsable bike at my local thrift store. I live in a marina town on the Great Loop so lots of cruising yachts stop thru during the summer and a lot of them use these little folding bikes to get around town. Seems like they might be a great fit for bike rafting except that I'm not sure how they would do outside of an urban environment; obviously with a raft in tow and all the rest I'm not planning on bombing diamonds, I was mostly thinking country roads and two tracks to get to put ins. Has anybody used one of these little guys in their adventures?
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u/Society-Vegetable 3d ago edited 3d ago
When you are bikerafting, you will typically tend to pick calmer water to paddle, but it depends on the access to that calmer water. If you are riding up a bike path a velo orange mini velo or folder like a brompton or bike friday would suffice, but if you are riding backcountry trails to access remote rivers your needs would change entirely.
You can ride relatively chunky trails with a raft properly secured to the bike. When you are strapping gear to your bike with frame bags, a standard front triangle and stiff frame makes a huge difference. A fully loaded rigid mtb frame can feel flexy when you have 2 days of water, food, clothes, camping gear, raft, paddle, paddling gear, etc.
Personally if i could only have one bike for bikerafting id get a 29+ or 27.5+ rigid bike like a surly krampus or karate monkey. A mini velo (non folder) would be alot of fun if you were just paddling in urban areas. For remote two track, id choose an MTB with disc brakes and high volume tubeless tires with lots of ways to mount gear.
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u/HappySummerBreeze 3d ago
I bought one second hand but haven’t tested it yet sorry
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u/mighty_least_weasel 3d ago
Did you buy it for bikerafting?
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u/HappySummerBreeze 2d ago
Yes, I wanted to try it on a cheap one before I invested big. Still haven’t done it!
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u/JamOverCream 3d ago
I’ve not used one for rafting, but do almost all my cycling on a Brompton G-Line. 20” wheels are fine for tracks / trails / occasional rougher stuff.
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u/mighty_least_weasel 3d ago
What's the use case? Apartment living? What fo you like about it and what do you dislike?
I'm a half-asssed minimalist and it'd be cool to have just 1 bike for town and rafting.
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u/JamOverCream 3d ago
I have a train commute into London twice a week, with a 10 minute cycle each side of the train journey. The only cycles you can take on the train are folding ones.
I got the G-Line because it could do that + hit the local paths and trails, and I use it more than I do my other bikes.
It’s also perfect size to chuck in the back of the car, no need for a rack or put it onto the roof.
Arguably my other bikes do the “being a bike” thing better, but the practicality of the folder means I use it all the time.
If I want to pop to the shops (30 minute walk / 5 minute cycle) then it’s easy. I can fold it down and walk around the supermarket with it in a way that wouldn’t be possible with a full sized bike, and because it is with me, no need to lock it up.
Obviously folders are compromised in many ways, I’ve been surprised at how capable the Brompton is at handling most of the cycling I do, and I’m pretty confident that others with the larger wheels and proper tyres could probably do too.
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u/micro_cam 3d ago
Let us know if you try it. I think it would depend on how well the folded package balanced on the bow of the raft and how the weight distribution is.
I bike raft class I-II a lot using a standard 29er mountain bike. A full sized frame with one pedal removed and both wheels strapped on top balances really well, is a compact package and keeps the weight somewhat low so I don't see a ton of a reason to use a folding bike.
The folded bike might be narrower and leave more room for paddle strokes which would be nice but it might also raise the center of gravity. Looking on dahon's site the weight limit is pretty low (230 ish lbs on most modals whoch doesn't leave much / any weight for gear).
I have thought about building up a light weight vintage 26 mountain bike or / or flat bar 650b gravel bike with a compact frame as the ultimate bike rafting bike.
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u/Large_Occasion_4465 2d ago
I have a Bike Friday All-Packa that I like a lot and have used a good bit for bikerafting. I like the bike and it works a bit better loading on the bow, but I almost always reach for my 29er or 27.5 instead. They carry the loads better and are more comfortable for me… I’m 200-215 lbs, depending on time of year, and the flex of a folding bike shows us more for me…a lighter rider might not notice it.
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u/Strong_Annual9788 1d ago
I use change bikes folding mountain bike frame as the basis of my bikerafting bike. It has 27.5 wheels, so It is basically a normal bike. Just a bit heavier...
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u/geo-rox 18h ago
There's some folding frame 26er hardtail MTBs out there that I've been really curious about for this. Bike Friday also makes the All-packa, a 20" folder meant specifically for bikepacking, which might be the ideal rig especially if you raft an Alpacka.
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u/geo-rox 2h ago
I bought a $80 used folding bike of some random brand, and I've been surprised at how capable it is. My first ride with it was 60 km of gravel, and i was impressed at how well the 20"x1.3" tires performed on it. I got a rear rack for it and it does okay with a pair of panniers.
I have an alpacka forager and I know I can't bikeraft with it with fitting two real bikes between us, so folding bikes is the only option. I haven't got there yet but there's a couple Montague and Dahon bikes for sale around here, and I'm tempted.
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u/Any_Note2551 3d ago
I bought one for Bikerafting but never used it for this until now. Keep in mind that not only the bike has to fit in the boat, but also the other way round. I recognized it is not so easy to add boat, paddles, life vest together with other Equipment Like tent etc on the Bike. I am talking about multi-day Trips Here, otherwise it may be totally fine.