|
On Your Bike
 Cycling is one of the most popular ways for grey nomads to get their daily/weekly/
monthly/yearly dose of ‘proper’ exercise … and it’s not hard to see why.
As well as allowing vehicle-weary travellers to get plenty of fresh air while exploring new regions, a bike is also a very practical and useful mode of transport. If you’re camped near a town it can be quicker and easier to pop in to the shops on the cycle rather than fighting for a parking space, particularly if you’re in a larger vehicle. Or, if one half of a grey nomad couple has taken off in the car for the day, the other partner does not have to be ‘trapped’ at the campsite … and it’s just a great way to get up close and personal with all of the interesting sights and attractions within striking distance of your camp.
We have all seen cycles racks on the backs of caravans and motorhomes which effectively declare the travellers to be serious about getting their Big Lap exercise. But we have also all noticed the number of times that those same cycles seem to stay on the racks permanently.
And that is the big dilemma for many nomads packing for the big one … taking the bikes sounds like a great idea and “we’d really like to get into cycling” but “what if we don’t use them and they stay on the racks to become a nuisance.”
Some people are also concerned about how bike racks will stand up to being bounced up and down on corrugated roads for months and years on end.
The answer … at least for some people … has been the folding bike. The advances in technology in recent years has made this form of cycle a realistic and affordable option for grey nomads.
“We have really been seeing a lot more interest in folding bikes from grey nomads planning a big trip,” says Paul Williams, the owner of the popular Bicycle Store in Sydney. “They are ideal because they are sturdy, they don’t get dusty and dirty on the back of a van, they are not at such a risk of getting stolen … and best of all, of course, they are extremely versatile and portable.”
Indeed, folding cycles such as the Dahon Speed D3 can be folded up to a size of 33cm x 64cm x 81cm … that’s 13" x 25" x 32" to you and me. And that’s a three-speed bike weighing just 12.4 kg (27.3 lbs) but capable of carrying a rider who is up to 6’4” tall and weighing up to 105 kg (230 lbs). Oh, and if all of the hard work of putting the bike up and then folding it away again is scaring you off … the manufacturers assure us that the time it takes to fold back into its bag is about 15 seconds!
"The bikes really are very tough," says Mr Williams. "You can go along tracks and things like that but they are obviously not designed to be mountain bikes and take on the super rough stuff."
And the cost? Mr Williams says good portable bikes range in price from around $500 up to $1500. While news like that may not mean the big bike decision is in the bag, it could just set the wheel in motion. Boom, boom! Happy cycling.
Have you taken a folding bike away with you on the big one? here to let us know the pros and cons.
|
Which
Billy is best for
you? 
When the sky is
the limit