When facing tight living quarters, a foldable bike is ideal to make every inch of space count. Today’s featured Montague rider, Francis from the UK, encountered this challenge head-on, splitting time living on three different boats throughout the year. Between residing in London on a riveted iron Dutch barge from 1914, keeping a sailboat on the country’s southern coast, and also spending time on his fiancée’s boat, he is no stranger to the spatial limitations one faces with a live-aboard lifestyle.
After two of his bikes were stolen in a matter of months, he began searching a new ride and decided that a folding bike best suited his needs, offering space savings and the added security of easy indoor storage. But the longer distances he traveled meant that a small wheel folder wouldn’t provide the ride quality he was looking for. A folding bike with 700c wheels was necessary, and corrosion resistance and low maintenance was a priority, which brought him to the Montague Allston. The performance and portabiltiy offered by the Allston meant he could sail and make port anywhere in the country, ride to the nearest train station, fold up his bike and take the train to London, then cycle into work. Talk about a mult-modal commute!
Between the salty sea air and the UK’s infamous rain, Francis’ bike is constantly exposed to the elements, so choosing a model that could stand up to the harsh weather was crucial. The Allston’s internal gear hub keeps the drivetrain mechanism completely sealed from water and dirt, and the carbon belt drive never rusts or needs lubrication, making it the perfect bike for the marine environment. The Allston’s industry standard components also allow it to be fully customized with aftermarket parts, and Francis started by swapping the stock handlebars for drop bars which offer more hand positions on those long rides. He followed it up with a micro shift kit and TRP Hy/Rd brake calipers to combine cable actuation with hydraulic power at the caliper.
Francis is planning an upcoming cycling and sailing adventure, traveling from London to Paris, which he’s jokingly called “an expensive way to travel for free”. He will begin by cycling to Brighton on the southern coast of England, then sail across the English Channel to Dieppe, France. After making port, the final leg of his journey will be cycling the remaining 200km to Paris.
Stay tuned for an update on this trip from the Montague Folding Bikes Blog, but in the meantime, follow Francis on Instagram at @fdmccloskey. for more about his boating and cycling lifestyle.
