Chuck Ankeny, the owner of Freedom Folding Bikes, the Montague dealer in Boulder, CO built up his own Paratrooper with a full Shimano XT drivetrain, RockShox Reba fork, Magura MT5 hydraulic disc brakes and a Brooks Cambium saddle. He then added Blackburn Outpost bikepacking bags and fork mounted cargo cages for off body load bearing.
This is the ultimate adventure bike, perfect for exploring back country wilderness, off-road touring, and camping. The best part? Just like all of our stock bikes, it folds in seconds for the car trunk or train so you can get to the trail hassle-free.
27.5″ wheel are equipped with super wide 2.4″ tires to roll over just about anything.
The cockpit is set up for comfort and convenience. Ergon grips provide multiple hand positions, a phone mount allows for navigation and quick access for those Instagram shots, and a Lezyne Stuff Caddy allows easy access to anything you want to toss in there.
While some rigid forks have eyelets for mounting racks and cages on the side, it takes a bit of ingenuity to use these Blackburn Outpost Cages on a suspension fork . Here they’re bolted to hose clamps which securely attach them to the fork lowers.
Nice wide bars with Magura hydraulics and a remote fork lockout!
Keep an eye out for more pics of this all-terrain folding bike in action when Chuck takes it to the Sedona MTB festival later this month. If you’re in Boulder, stop in for a visit at Freedom Folding Bikes.
sweet I did exact same thing with my 2017 paratrooper pro except for the bags and I used deore XT brakes and SLX gears the bike is sweet now and carbon fiber bars.
Just wondering!! Could the highline model, with xt-xtr components handle a pro XC race?? Thanks!!
Our frames use standard hardtail geometry and accept all standard components, so I would say yes! The specifications of the Elite would probably be closer to what the pros are using but you could certainly upgrade the parts on the Highline if you prefer that frame. Those frames are the same other than paint and decals.
Is this the same base frame geometry as the low spec’d $400 complete(26″, mech disc front, v brake rear)? I got one as a gift and wanted to do a 27.5 touring build with a sturmey drum rear.
If that bike is equipped with a disc brake on the front and a v-brake in the rear, then it’s a fairly old model (early 2000s?). In that case the geometry would be a bit different from our current Paratroopers. You would likely have a hard time fitting 27.5″ wheels, especially with a wide tire.
Very exciting innovation Chuck A. has done here ! An entire array of thoughts and positive ideas com to mind here. In the shortest possible synthesis of my thoughts; is there anything remotely similar to a “Trade Show” or “Design Showcase” especially in this very bizarre “COVID Era” maybe a Zoom or FB video version ?
Anyhow, if there is something more I should be doing to be in the know in this area, please let me know.
Very Impressed in NH
Sherm Sewell
I have the 2019 model of the Paratrooper Pro. I am an avid Mtn.. XC rider. I ride on 26x 2.5s Kenda small blocks 5months now commuting now in the winter. The tires are great on the flats and now work really well with snow and ice. Safer to ride the bike over the ice than walking on it with these tires!