| What an innovative, practical thing a folding | | | | When you are in a really tight squeeze, folding |
| mountain bike is! If space is an issue and leaves | | | | pedals which reduce the width of the bike, are |
| your regular bike out in the cold, one of these | | | | available.The folding features of the Montague |
| bikes will be your solution.There are many | | | | folding mountain bike, allows for the optional use |
| versions of the folding mountain bike. They vary | | | | of a steel kickstand. For extra protection, a hard |
| from heavier and less portable, to lightweight and | | | | case has now been added for airline travel. This |
| tough. Transporting them in buses, trains, or | | | | case allows your folding mountain bike to travel as |
| airplanes, is easy. At your destination, you have | | | | luggage, leaving your hands free.In another class |
| your means of transportation at your beck and | | | | altogether are the Bike Fridays. These would |
| call.The Hummer is a state of the art folding | | | | probably be classified as collapsible, rather than |
| mountain bike, manufactured by Montague. This is | | | | folding, but has a complicated and slow |
| the world's leading manufacturer of folding bikes. | | | | mechanism for assembling and disassembling. |
| It is modeled on a line of full sized folding bikes | | | | They are nevertheless a line of excellent quality |
| originally designed for the U.S. Marines as a military | | | | folding mountain bikes, comparable to custom |
| bike for tactical use.The Hummer has full size | | | | bikes.Another folding mountain bike is the Airnimal |
| wheels and knobby tires, usable on any terrain. To | | | | Rhino which is Airnimal's first official off-roader. It |
| fold the Hummer takes under 30 seconds, and | | | | has 20" wheels, and front and rear suspension as |
| involves no tools. This mountain bike folding | | | | efficient on city potholes and kerbs, as on rough |
| system is a patented military design.The Hummer | | | | off-road terrain.A completely new approach to |
| bikes are strong, durable, light, and tough. It is | | | | folding mountain bikes, is apparent in the Giatex |
| rumored that they have been made to be | | | | Stretching Bike. Its steering column folds down, |
| dropped from a plane, without sustaining damage! | | | | but the frame doesn't fold in the middle. Instead, |
| You know that a Hummer folding mountain bike is | | | | it has a large stainless steel bar, along which the |
| sturdy, when it boasts extensive testing by the | | | | back part of the bike slides. The resulting length is |
| Marines.Other pluses to the Hummer include | | | | about 37 inches. If the front wheel is removed, |
| Shimano precision index shifters for a quick gear | | | | this can be reduced to 30". The Giatex has good |
| change, front suspension with a front disk brake, | | | | components and rides well, with lightweight |
| and 24-speed Shimano drive train. The folding size | | | | portability.The Giatex also features a 6 speed |
| is 36" x 28" x 12".Another folding mountain bike in | | | | Shimano rear derailleur, which is considerably more |
| the Montague stable, is the Paratrooper Mountain | | | | useful than the 3 speed gear inside the rear hub |
| Bike. This rugged rider unfolds without the need | | | | of most other 16" bikes. The gearing isn't aimed |
| for tools. The use of standard mountain bike | | | | at speed, as much as at making the bike easy to |
| wheels and components, simplifies maintenance. | | | | ride.A folding mountain bike may not be sturdy |
| Jumping obstacles is fun for this soldier! It has | | | | enough for serious bikers, or on very rough |
| superb braking power.The innovative engineering | | | | terrain, but it has its place and sure comes in |
| behind any Montague folding mountain bike, | | | | handy at the most unexpected time.If you'll |
| ensures structural integrity and strength. The | | | | excuse me, I'll now bag my bike and be off...For |
| Paratrooper folds in less than thirty | | | | more information visit |
| seconds.Montague doesn't stop at their unique | | | | Best-Mountain-Biking.comRika Susan of |
| folding mountain bikes. A range of accessories add | | | | researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the |
| to the pleasure of using a Paratrooper or | | | | Web.Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan. |
| Hummer bike. A soft carrying case, made of 420 | | | | This article may be reprinted if the resource box |
| Denier nylon, protects your bike while in transit. | | | | and hyperlinks are left intact. |