Author Topic: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers  (Read 6249 times)

Cottonswab

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Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« on: December 17, 2016, 01:56:07 AM »
I will soon be living in a camper van or truck with slide-in camper and I am looking for some advice on buying and storing bicycle(s). 

About Me
I have never bought a bike before, as the last bike I had was a gift from my parents that I rode from the age of 10, which I rode for 15 years, before it became unserviceable.  I have rented and borrowed road bikes and mountain bikes (no shocks, front shocks, and dual shocks).  I have never made any major repairs or modifications to my bikes.

I will most likely be living in a high roof Sprinter/Transit Van or hard shell slide-in truck camper.  Any bike(s) will need to share limited space with my climbing, skiing, and whitewater kayaking gear. 

Intended Usage
When living in a van, I primarily intend to use bike(s) to access distant climbs, run errands, and for low-impact recovery excersize between hard climbs.  I plan to live and ride in variety of locations, ranging from off-road places (Moab slick rock or South Platte), to suburban places (e.g., Squamish, BC or Boulder, CO).

I do not plan To do: competitive racing, uberlong tours, or aggressive downhilling. 

Bike preferences

I have tried to list my general bike preferences, in order of high to low:

1.  Off-road worthy tires / low risk of flat tires
2.  Low stress on back and forearms
3.  Energy efficient (but do not require specialized bike shoes / clothing)
4.  Compact (easily stored)
5.  Low cost
6.  Low maintenance

Specific Questions

1.  Better to have a quiver of 2 more specialized bikes or 1 all-around compromise?
2.  What "type" of bikes do you recommend?
3.  What are the best online review sites for the types of bikes you recommend?
4.  Are there an specific brands or models that you would recommend?

DirtDiva

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2016, 08:30:29 AM »
It sounds to me like a mid-range front-suspension mountain bike would fill the ticket.  With the flip of a quick-release you can take off one or both wheels to make it more compact for storage.  Essential tools would include a tire pump, some bike lube, rags, and a multi-tool.

I would recommend looking for a used bike either on your local Craigslist or Pinkbike.com.  Specialized comes to mind as a good quality brand with more affordable prices, i.e. Rockhopper).

I can't imagine why you would want/need 2 bikes.  And I wouldn't spend too much if you need to lock it up to go do things (like climb or shop).

GuitarStv

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2016, 09:38:37 AM »
Intended Usage
When living in a van, I primarily intend to use bike(s) to access distant climbs, run errands, and for low-impact recovery excersize between hard climbs.  I plan to live and ride in variety of locations, ranging from off-road places (Moab slick rock or South Platte), to suburban places (e.g., Squamish, BC or Boulder, CO).

I do not plan To do: competitive racing, uberlong tours, or aggressive downhilling. 

Bike preferences

I have tried to list my general bike preferences, in order of high to low:

1.  Off-road worthy tires / low risk of flat tires
2.  Low stress on back and forearms
3.  Energy efficient (but do not require specialized bike shoes / clothing)
4.  Compact (easily stored)
5.  Low cost
6.  Low maintenance

Specific Questions

1.  Better to have a quiver of 2 more specialized bikes or 1 all-around compromise?
2.  What "type" of bikes do you recommend?
3.  What are the best online review sites for the types of bikes you recommend?
4.  Are there an specific brands or models that you would recommend?

To answer your specific questions:
1.  Space is at a premium for you.  While specialized bikes are awesome if you're actively pursuing a particular sport (mountain bikes aren't a first choice to cycle a hundred km on paved roads, road bikes aren't going to handle serious off-roading with 2+ ft drops very well), most bikes are pretty general purpose.  I think you would be far better off getting a single bike that does most of what you want.


2.  You've said the following are important to you:
a.  Off-road worthy tires / low risk of flat tires
Generally speaking, the bigger (wider) the tires you get the lower pressure you can run them at.  Lower pressures mean you get better grip going around corners and they give a softer ride (acting like a suspension).  Lower pressure tires also tend to be less likely to puncture.  There's a trade-off though.  Big, wide mountain bike tires are heavier.  You'll feel that weight every time you accelerate and every time you climb a hill.

Tires with an aggressive, knobby tread pattern will dig in really well to mud, snow, and sand off-road.  They suck on the road though . . . they not only slow you down (you will have to pedal harder to go the same speed), but you'll find that the knobs actually cause the tire to squirm and give you less grip when cornering on a hard surface.

I've found that a 32mm tire with a bit of tread pattern on a 700C wheel is a decent compromise . . . it works well for hard packed off-road trails and singletrack, as well as on the road.  You can also get 1.5 inch tires with minimal tread patterns for the typical 26 inch mountain bike wheels that work about as well.

b.  Low stress on back and forearms
This depends on your flexibility and how comfortable you are with a bike, how you ride, and how you set it up.  I can ride my road bike in a very bent over position for five or six hours well over a hundred km and be pretty comfy.  My wife would be miserable on a similar setup after an hour.

c.  Energy efficient (but do not require specialized bike shoes / clothing)
You can put regular flat pedals (better are studded downhill type pedals - your feet don't slide around much, but you can wear any shoes with them) on any bike.  Efficiency comes from weight and aerodynamics.  You are the least aerodynamic part of a bike, so wearing tight clothing, and hunching down (like in the drops of a road bike) helps this the most.  Weight is really only a big difference when you're going up a hill.

d.  Compact (easily stored)
Pretty much all bikes come with QRs these days, so it's not too bad to pop off the front and rear wheel if you really need to jam everything down to save space.  If you're really worried about this you could look into folding bikes which are designed to be space savers first and all other bike related stuff second.

e.  Low cost
A decent bike is going to run you in the 4-800$ range new.  If you're willing to shop for a used one you could probably get one for half that.  Under that range you tend to get bikes that are poorly built, way too heavy, and use crappy components that will break and be hard to keep adjusted.

f.  Low maintenance
Bikes all require maintenance.  The type of maintenance that's required really have more to do with how and where you ride as the bike you get.  If you ride in the wet and the mud, if you grind the pedals rather than spin, if you regularly cross-chain, if you land hard after potholes and bumps vs absorbing the impact in your knees and arms . . . these are the things that will determine how long you can go between maintenance.  Fortunately most bike maintenance is pretty simple (grease, lube, replace chain / true wheels) and can be done on your own without too many special tools.


If you're planning on riding mostly flat packed trails without jumps off-road, but will do a fair amount of riding around paved areas too . . . my suggestion would be to look into hybrid type bikes.  The Giant Escape, Specialized Sirrus, Trek FX are all in this category.  They have eyelets for mounting a rack (pretty handy if you ever need to carry stuff) and fenders (if you decide to ride in rain regularly).  They have wider tires (32 mm) with a little tread on them that will be heavier than road tires, but lighter than mountain bike tires.  They don't have suspension, which is a big bonus . . . cheap suspensions suck and are heavy, good suspensions are expensive and only really needed if you're doing very aggressive off-road trials with jumps/drops.  This is a pretty good all-rounder.

Other styles I'd consider based on what you've said:
- Cyclocross bike
- Hardtail mountain bike (26 or 29er)


3.  I don't really use any specific single site.  Once you pick a type of bike, just google around for reviews and comparisons of the most popular models in that style.


4.  Any of the big bike brands should be fine.  Giant, Jamis, Specialized, Trek, Cannondale, Fuji, etc.

cincystache

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2016, 09:39:26 AM »
Sounds like an awesome lifestyle!

1. I think you can get by with 1 bike. Maybe two sets of tires depending on how often you'll switch between onroad and offroad.

2. I'd probably get a hardtail mountain bike with 29" wheels. These are also the same size as 700c wheels so you can put wide 700c tires (for road) and 29" MTB tires for offroad. It give you much more options and versatility for tire selection.

3. Nashbar has some pretty good bike selection and reviews. They usually have sales pretty often (25-30% off).

4. Nashbar has a good selection of inexpensive mountain bikes http://www.nashbar.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10052&storeId=10053&langId=-1&categoryId=204686&facet=mfName_ntk_cs%253ANashbar&metaData=&pageSize=&orderBy=&searchTerm=


I personally have a Kona brand bike I've been happy with. I found a Mahuna model at my local bike shop on clearance for $350. I'd recommend a similar entry level hardtail for your situation. It's a smooth ride, pretty lightweight and a good all around bike.

Keep us posted on your pick and how it works out.



dodojojo

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2016, 07:02:17 PM »
How about a folding bike?  This summer I bought a Dahon D7 off Craigslist for $150.  The wheel size is 20 inches and the tire width is 1.75 inches.  I use it as my errand/town bike.  It's not much for speed or long distances but I'm having fun on the smaller wheels.  Handy to bring onto the train, even in its unfolded state as it's just easier to handle than my regular-sized road bike.  If you want to keep the bike inside your camper, it can be folded and hauled inside.

Cottonswab

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2016, 01:19:38 AM »
Thanks for all the advice thus far

Linea_Norway

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2016, 03:05:22 AM »
How about a folding bike?  This summer I bought a Dahon D7 off Craigslist for $150.  The wheel size is 20 inches and the tire width is 1.75 inches.  I use it as my errand/town bike.  It's not much for speed or long distances but I'm having fun on the smaller wheels.  Handy to bring onto the train, even in its unfolded state as it's just easier to handle than my regular-sized road bike.  If you want to keep the bike inside your camper, it can be folded and hauled inside.

Indeed. I was thinking of a Brompton bike. Such bikes are probably also available with more off-road tires. A normal Brompton tackles gravel roads well. Size is like a suitcase. The only thing is that carrying luggage on it is a challenge. Otherwise a mountain bike of some kind should do and you should be able to fix it to the outside of the van.

patrickza

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2016, 08:20:01 AM »
Indeed. I was thinking of a Brompton bike. Such bikes are probably also available with more off-road tires. A normal Brompton tackles gravel roads well. Size is like a suitcase. The only thing is that carrying luggage on it is a challenge. Otherwise a mountain bike of some kind should do and you should be able to fix it to the outside of the van.
Yes, I love my Brompton. My recent trips (Namibia and Malawi) have had a lot of gravel and they're just fine on it, though I don't think the OP wants to go the folding route.

Also they have absolutely no problem carrying plenty luggage, the front bag can hold 30 liters, and I either carry a 46 liter backpack on the rear rack, or my DIY collapsible flightcase. See this thread: http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/testing-out-a-sabbaticalfire-bicycle-touring-lifestyle/



GuitarStv

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2016, 08:28:01 AM »
You ever have issues with the radially spoked front wheel on your Brompton?  It seems like an odd choice for a touring wheel, my understanding was that the typical cross 3 pattern makes for a tougher wheel with less chance of detensioning.  Maybe the smaller wheel size and bigger tires make up for the lacing strength loss though?

mskyle

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2016, 09:42:06 AM »
My sister lives in a Sprinter and generally has two mountain bikes (and/or loads of skis and snowboards) in there at all times; the quick-release wheels come off and they slide in under the sleeping area. Maybe I'm imagining the wrong thing but a slide-in truck camper seems way, way, way smaller than a Sprinter, and might require a folding bike. I would probably go for a basic hardtail mountain bike in your case, possibly with two sets of tires and/or wheels (knobby and wider for off-road, smooth and narrower for on-road).

Linea_Norway

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2016, 09:45:06 AM »

Yes, I love my Brompton. My recent trips (Namibia and Malawi) have had a lot of gravel and they're just fine on it, though I don't think the OP wants to go the folding route.

Also they have absolutely no problem carrying plenty luggage, the front bag can hold 30 liters, and I either carry a 46 liter backpack on the rear rack, or my DIY collapsible flightcase. See this thread: http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/testing-out-a-sabbaticalfire-bicycle-touring-lifestyle/


Smart! I never thought of a Brompton as a longer cycle vacation bike, but it obviously is. We have used it most for day trips when going somewhere by train or car.

dodojojo

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2016, 12:05:34 PM »
I have a small basket bunge corded to my rack on my folding bike.  It provides enough space for running basic errands and holding a large bag of grocery.  My dahon, like the Brompton, also has a luggage truss bolt in the front.  I would have to purchase the truss and then a rack/bag/basket to attach. That would give me more carrying capacity.  I'm considering it, especially as I would like to do some weekend train/touring trips next year.  But for now the basket is enough.

If a folder isn't in the cards, I would opt for an old school steel mountain bike (like the Trek 800) with not too knobby tires.  Those bikes are bombproof and pavement-friendly tires will roll well enough for both gravel and asphalt.  These are bikes are easy to find on Craigslist too.

SisterX

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2016, 01:21:57 PM »
Only two pieces of advice. The first is that if you want something that's comfortable and easy to ride, you need to be sure that it properly fits you. I had a hybrid bike (might be perfect in your situation, btw, as it does neither roading or mountaining particularly well or particularly poorly) and it would make my wrists and back ache after a few miles. Later on I got a bike that fit much better and now I can do 40+ miles with no issues.

Second bit of advice is a brand of tire that seems to be mostly resistant to punctures: Schwalbe. I've got them on my bike and have had not a single flat after more than a year of city riding. They're also what my brother uses and recommends, and here's his biking credit. If he trusts them to go around the world with him, you know they're good. The only issue might be getting the right size for whatever bike you end up getting. I've never needed to look into whether or not they do specialized tire sizes or whatever.

Any possibility of putting a bike rack on the back of your vehicle? You can find some that have locking mechanisms, if you're worried about theft.

Cottonswab

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #13 on: January 16, 2017, 06:23:37 AM »
Thanks to all who responded!

spokey doke

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #14 on: January 16, 2017, 08:47:21 AM »
Based on your criteria, I would definitely be in the market for a hard tail or fully rigid mtn bike (not a hybrid, although since most of the former are now 29" inch wheels it is more rim width and the spacing for bigger tires that are the difference).  Putting 2.3-2.4 inch tires will give you a bit of cushion and a bit of extra traction (again, I would not go with a hybrid or cross bike for riding to remote climbs on trails).  You will pay a bit of a penalty in efficiency for running errands, but who cares if you are not racing or doing 100 miles +.

Shocks and suspension forks add weight, complexity, cost, and maintenance liabilities.

And BTW, your are talking about my dream here, so enjoy it and congrats!

CanuckExpat

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #15 on: January 16, 2017, 10:33:43 PM »
Is it important to you that the bike be easily carried inside the van/camper, or is carrying it outside an option?

Cottonswab

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #16 on: January 17, 2017, 12:06:02 AM »
I prefer to keep the bike inside for stealth and security reasons.

CanuckExpat

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #17 on: January 17, 2017, 07:04:24 PM »
If you are going to keep it inside, I would say that is more reason to consider a folding bike. You might not use the folding aspect that often, but the fact that they are smaller makes it much more practical for getting inside without struggling, and storing inside without disassembling.

I had a small Dahon in the past, found it pretty versatile and had no problem carry a normal grocery load on the rack.

spokey doke

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #18 on: January 18, 2017, 01:45:54 PM »
If you are going off road (as in something other than groomed park trails), I would get a mountainbike (again, not a hybrid or folding bike).  If you need to have something more efficient for road riding, changing the tires is all you need to do.

For reviews, go to mtbr.com and search for hard tails or fully rigid bikes.  Just about every decent bike company makes one, and if you are going on the cheaper end of things, they are all very similar, likely made in the same factory, so getting the fit/price/particular that works for you is really all you need to worry about.  Don't buy el-cheapo Wal-Mart bikes.

The best way to tell what bike to get is to spend the time to go to bike shops (more than one) and ride a bunch of bikes (paying attention to what is the same/different, including little things like tire pressure, which can make a big difference in how a bike feels just pedaling around the shop).

Once you get familiar with what is what, then you can include craigslist offerings.

Riding is the best source of insight into riding (complemented by some good reading)...

robartsd

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Re: Bike Advice For Van Dwellers
« Reply #19 on: January 18, 2017, 02:36:54 PM »
I think the biggest factor is how rough a trail you want your bike to be able to handle. If you anticipate using the bike only on trails that are mostly smooth, a folding bike might be a decent option. If you want trail riding that a folding bike won't handle, you probably want a hard-tail mountain bike and may want a second set of tires for more efficient pavement riding. The most space I would consider devoting would be a hard-tail mountain bike with two sets of wheels - absolutely no need for more than one frame for your needs.