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Do you love to go biking and kayaking, but never have the room in your car to take both?  Well, there is a way to do that, and it’s with both folding kayaks AND folding bikes! Today, we will be discussing origami kayaks AND origami bikes, though “folding bikes” is the proper industry term.  Hopefully, you get the idea.

You can conveniently fit both a folding bike and a folding kayak in your trunk or back seat, and also have room for your other gear and friends or family. Life can be pretty simple and amazing, if only we think outside the box. Why take up more space than you have to, when more compact items have been created to make things easier on us?

You could ride a bike for a nice leg workout, and then fold it up, put it in the car, and carry your kayak to the water in a backpack, or the other way around: all thanks to origami technology.

Let’s take a look at the two in closer details:

History of Folding Bikes

Folding bikes, which are designed to facilitate easier storage, as well as transport, have a history that can be a bit confusing. That’s because a lot of people mistake actual folding bikes to bikes that are merely separable or portable. While William Grout is often credited for creating the first folding bike, his creation was more of a portable bicycle, since only the front wheel could be folded and the frame had to be disassembled.

It is Emmit G. Latta, an American inventor, who created the first documented folding bike. He even had his invention patented in the U.S., which was successfully granted in February of 1888. Following that, he sold the patent for his folding bike to the Pope Manufacturing Company. However, no one really knows if Pope ever produced bikes based on Latta’s patent.

Aside from Latta, American inventor Michael B. Ryan also invented another version of the folding bike, the patent for which was granted in April of 1894.

However, it is to French military officer Captain Gérard that the invention of the first folding bike is often attributed to. The only problem is that Gérard’s prototype didn’t really work. Charles Morel, a wealthy Frenchman who was completely sold on the budding bicycle trend, and Gérard then got the help of a mechanic called Dulac to perfect the design. Once it has been perfected, Morel and Gérard started manufacturing and commercializing the folding bike.

Morel and Gérard’s joint venture was a success and soon after that, even the army bought into the idea of using folding bikes. Gérard was put in charge of a regiment of soldiers using folded bikes and was eventually promoted to Captain. Later on, Morel and Gérard had a falling out due to an issue with profit shares. The patent for the bike was then sold to Peugeot, Michelin who took over the production in 1899.

It can be said that while it was Captain Gérard who made the folding bike famous, it is still Latta who created the first documented folding bike.

So, how did such a cool invention come to be?  Well, here’s a succinct video:

A Fine Example: The Montague Paratrooper Highline 20 Speed Bike

Designed for the country rider, this rugged folding 20 speed mountain bike is a favorite of many. Foldable within 20 seconds, it can easily fit in one’s truck or car, a closet or any small storage area you choose. It really is a convenient bike for many. This means that you can ride up to your destination and fold it to either walk with it or put it in a case or backpack for carrying.

The Paratrooper Highline comes in two sizes: medium for riders who are 5’7″-5’11” and large for those who are 6′-6’4″. The medium has an 18″ frame and the large has a 20″ frame. When the folding process is complete, the bike measures out to be 36″x 28″x 12″, and it weighs about 30 pounds.

The frame is aluminum and the rest is alloy and steel, with front and rear hydraulic disc brakes. It’s perfect for mountain biking and areas where there a lot of rocks, as the 27.5″ tires allow you to roll over them easily.

History of the First Origami Kayak

We have to firstly thank Anton Willis for inventing this amazing product: the Oru Bay line of origami kayaks. Boats can be big and occupy a lot of space, and that’s where the origami kayak comes to the rescue by being light weight, easy to fold, strong and can carry up to 300 pounds or more.

Origami kayaks are made up of a single sheet of polyethylene which, when folded, becomes a single box with straps. That means that the boat becomes the box and the box becomes the boat! The folded kayak can easily be carried on one’s back as a backpack or as a shoulder bag.

Of course, there are a couple of other origami kayaks including the MyCanoe.

Imagine Cruising Freely Alongside The Water…

Picture this: You are riding your Montague Paratrooper Highline bike alongside the water on a trail. You are beginning to envy the thrill of the people on the lake who are kayaking as you watch. So the idea hits you, why not kayak too?

Instantly, you remember that your kayak is in the car, so you decide to ride back and get it. You could strap it onto your back and head back to the spot where you want to go kayaking. Then unfold it from its case, stretch it out and lock the parts into place.

You can fold your Montague Paratrooper Highline, put it in its bag and take it with you wherever you want to go on the water, it’s just that easy.

But The Origami Kayak Is Too Heavy For Me!

Not all of us have those biceps and muscles to even lift the cases of either the folded bike or the origami folding kayak. In that case, take your car to the kayaking spot instead of riding the bike to it, if that’s at all possible. When you reach your destination, decide which activity you would enjoy doing first. Many people would rather go biking first. Once the hot sun shines on you for a while, you will need the refreshing breezes of the lake while floating on the water.

Once you are through with riding, come back to your car, fold your Montague Paratrooper bike and put in the back. Remove the origami kayak, strap the case onto your back and walk over to the water and start the assembly. You could always do it the other way around as well. When you get tired of kayaking, carry it back in its case and get your bike out of your car.

Is It Safe To Carry My Folded Bike On A Kayak?

The following would be the scenario if you can carry the kayak on your back while riding the folding bike, then put the bike into the assembled kayak and go out on the water. If that’s not possible, there are inflatable kayaks as well that fit into smaller backpacks, but might not have room for a bike case and could be more prone to punctures. But for now, let’s take a look at this particular combo.

The folded Montague Paratrooper bike weighs approximately 30 pounds. The Origami kayak can carry up to 300 pounds. Adding an average person’s weight of between 130-200 pounds, it means that the total max weight loaded onto the kayak would be 230 pounds. So it is definitely possible to take the bike on your kayaking trip.

Just fold it, put it in its bag and load it into the storage area of the kayak or between your legs and off you go. Make sure the bike bag is stored properly so that it doesn’t scratch the surface of the kayak.

Important Tips For Using Both Vessels Together

1. The folded bike is made of aluminum. Be careful when putting it in the kayak, so as to avoid scratches. Also, the bag for the Montague is water resistant, so a few drops of splashing here and there should not be a problem. It’s a somewhat risky venture to take the bike, but some people need to do that if it’s a long adventure.

2. The Montague Paratrooper Highline 20 speed bike comes with 27.5″ wheels. These are very strong and sturdy on the road, providing a firm grip. You can ride along with no fear of sliding or skidding while carrying the folded origami kayak on your back.

3. The need for lightning fast brakes is taken care of in the Paratrooper, with hydraulic disk brakes. This is essential, especially when on country trail rides where emergencies can appear at any moment.

4. The Oru Kayak Beach LT is very sturdy and lightweight, with more room than the other Oru models. The material that is originally used to make the kayak is designed to accommodate both heavy weights and light weights while being streamlined. The weight is distributed evenly across both sides. With its 12′ length and weight of 26 pounds, it is easy to paddle through water, even when carrying the case containing the folded mountain bike!

CONCLUSION

Yes, you can interchange both mountain bike riding and kayaking. You do not have to worry about when to carry each on your trip. The Montague Paratrooper can be folded easily into a case and so can the origami kayak, which can be folded into a box itself and strapped onto one’s back, if not shoulder carried.

The good thing about both is that they are designed for the sporty person who wants to enjoy life to the fullest. Go on, switch between kayaking and mountain bike riding, and experience double the thrill!