Tooling around the campground or exploring new destinations on a bike is
worth every spin of the wheel, but packing the bike doesn’t have to
mean wrestling it through the motorhome door or attaching a rack on the
RV only to worry about the bike getting weathered. Instead, Downtube has
a bike that folds up so small you can fit it in a suitcase.
Downtube bikes come in eight- or nine-speed designs and are
easy to fold and unfold. The 8H is its most popular eight-speed, with
20-inch-wheels, a front suspension and an internal hub, which means no
external shifter and no gears – so there’s no way to improperly shift.
And with the shifting mechanism completely sealed, it stays clean and is
maintenance-free. The FS (full-suspension) is said to be the lowest
priced nine-speed folder out there. It’s a 20-inch-wheel bike with a
preload-adjustable transarch suspension fork, alloy and stainless frame
and stem quickreleases.
But before taking off on your RV trip, be sure to check out the
bike-fitting instructions on the company’s Web site, to make the proper
adjustments to optimize your bike-riding comfort. Prices range from
$299 to $585.
Downtube, (215) 245-4032.
