Story and photos by Jason Spitz
When Monica, my co-captain and life partner, and I pulled away from our Florida dockside home in the spring of 2020, we sold our cars, furniture, and belongings, including our beloved carbon fiber street bicycles. After years of local and long-distance cycling, we questioned whether we wanted (and more importantly, would we use) folding bicycles aboard our 40-foot catamaran, S/V Breathe. Reviewing the options at that time, we decided to forgo bikes.
Fast forward to the spring of 2024. Following four years of full-time tropical cruising, we’ve walked a lot and concluded that 5-7 miles is the limit we enjoy walking most days. That provides a 3.5-mile maximum distance from any anchorage/dock. And for us, it’s been limiting. Yes, sometimes you can rent a car/bike, hitchhike, or get a loaner. But often, it’s not feasible, safe, or easy. In Nevis, we rented bicycles for a full-day island tour several years ago. Searching the internet today yielded no availability at several Nevis rental sites and bike tour prices that start at $125 per person for 2.5 hours! We’ve found that daily rentals throughout the Caribbean generally range from $10 to over $75 per bicycle, depending on location and type. And, of course, there’s no guarantee on condition, size, or availability. We’ve received bicycles with chains that don’t stay on and gearing or brakes that don’t work.
Picturing ourselves cycling through tropical island settlements and coastal towns, grabbing provisions, and enjoying scenic rides along the shoreline, we decided the right folding bike would enhance our cruising experience and extend our adventures. But let’s face it — space and weight are at a premium on a cruising boat and deciding whether to bring a folding bike along can feel like a big dilemma. With feedback from fellow cruisers, a lot of online research, and discussions with bike shops and manufacturers, we share some questions to ask yourself about adding bicycles to your boat, including the pros and cons of having a folding bicycle on board, and compare several brands to help you make an informed choice that suits your boat, budget, and lifestyle.
First, ask these questions:
- Did you bicycle before you were on the boat? Do you enjoy biking? Will you likely use the bikes?
- How much weight can you lift safely from your boat to the dock and/or dinghy?
- Is biking accessible and are the roads safe for the areas you will cruise?
- How far do you want to venture from your anchorage/dock?
If the answers lead to a yes decision, then set some parameters for your bicycle selection. These were the features that were most important to us:
- Bike weight of 30 pounds or less, inclusive of fenders and a rear rack
- Comfortable geometry and capable of at least 225-pound rider weight
- 20-inch wheels or larger
- “Rust-free” componentry and well-made
- $1,000 maximum budget per bike
These were most important to us because choosing the wrong bike can lead to frustration — think about struggling with a heavy frame while trying to get it on board or dealing with a complicated folding mechanism that doesn’t work when you need it most. Not to mention the disappointment of discovering your chosen ride doesn’t handle well on uneven terrain, doesn’t have adequate gearing, or rusts on/in your boat and quickly becomes unusable.
Our desired features removed e-bikes from consideration due to weight and/or wheel size, as well as our desire to not add additional portable lithium-ion batteries on the boat. After reviewing “inexpensive” ($250-500) folding model features and online reviews, we also removed those from consideration. They typically are made of “carbon steel” so they are extremely prone to rust, and most utilize low quality parts overall. Beware of those models, as they will certainly rust, and many have been deemed “unsafe” by multiple riders due to poor construction, parts, and mechanisms. Full-size big box store non-folding bikes can be found for as little as $150 and can be strapped to the lifelines, but they’re heavy, made of steel, and typically have only one gear. You’re lucky if they last a season in a marine environment. Brompton folding bikes are unsuitable due to the small wheel size, lack of available gearing for most models, and the extremely high price for rust-resistant models.
In the remainder of this article, we’ll dive into the three options that met our must-have feature list: the Dahon Mariner, the Priority Folder, and the Zizzo Marino.
| Feature | Dahon Mariner | Priority Folder | Zizzo Marino |
| Price (list) | $949 | $949 | $899 |
| Bike Weight | 27 lbs | 29 lbs | 27.5 lbs |
| Size Folded | 26x13x32in | 31x16x30in | 27x13x31in |
| Max Weight | 230 lbs | 230 lbs | 240 lbs |
| Speeds | DAHON Custom 8-Speed Rear Derailleur | NEXUS 8-Speed internal geared hub | Shimano Altus 8-Speed Rear Derailleur |
| Cassette/Chain | Aluminum cassette & YNB Chain | Gates CDN-22t sprocket & Gates Carbon Drive belt | Shimano HG 11-32T stainless cassette & KMC “rustbuster” chain |
| Easy/Secure Folding | Y | Y | Y |
| Front/Rear Fenders | Y | Y | Y |
| Cargo Rack & Kickstand | Y | Y | Y |
| Front/Rear Fenders | Y | Y | Y |
On the web, find these companies at:
- https://usa.dahon.com/products/mariner-d8-brushed?variant=31293180117041
- prioritybicycles.com/products/folder
- zizzo.bike/products/marino
Overall, the specifications and costs of these three competitors are relatively similar and represent the three best choices for average-size cruising boats. The Dahon Mariner has been around for many years and has historically been the “boater bike choice.” Although they are a solid brand, we have not been impressed by the Mariner bicycles we’ve seen on boats and at marinas and are not a fan of stainless-steel chains in the marine environment. Also, Dahon uses many custom parts, which become problematic to replace. And we know everything metal rusts and requires replacement in a marine environment. So just as in 2020, the Mariner was a “no” for us.
Zizzo, known for economical folding bikes, launched the Marino in 2024. It claims to have upgraded most of the components, parts, screws, nuts, and bolts to rust-proof/resistant materials to bring you a rust-resistant rating of 99.75 percent (based on a 24-hour saltwater spray test). We have not seen this bicycle in person yet, but we like the fact that Zizzo mainly uses Shimano and other off-the-shelf non-proprietary components. However, the bike’s chain and cassette remain traditional stainless steel. And that means grease, dirt, and maintenance. Zizzo often discounts bikes substantially and of the three bikes, you’ll likely find the lowest price on this model.
Finally, the Priority Folder. Spoiler Alert! It’s the one we chose and have been riding for the last several months. When I began my search this year, I remembered reading about “carbon belts” and “sealed internal hubs,” so I started searching for folding bicycles that might have these features. When I found Priority Bicycles, they were new to me, but it turns out it’s a small New York City company that started in 2014.
In reviewing the Priority Folder sales materials, I found the focus is on the urban commuter, and the boating community was non-existent. I located nothing online from riders who were cruisers. So, I contacted Priority to ask more questions and offer a boater’s perspective on the bikes. They responded and offered to ship us two bicycles. We love the carbon drive belts and internally geared hubs. There’s no grease, no maintenance, and no mess. After a recent bike ride through the mud and sand, we simply hosed off the wheels, and they look like new. We’ve found shifting easy and intuitive. The bikes feel steady off-road and on-road and handle bumps fine. We’ll see how the Folder holds up long-term to the marine elements, but based on the quality of components, and five months of use, we believe they will do well.
According to the Priority Bicycle story, the company states: “We’re committed to making the best low-maintenance bicycles in the world, period. Our strategy is simple: high-quality parts, an efficient supply chain, low overhead, and an online business model. No gimmicky bells and whistles. No frills.” We’ve found this to be accurate, along with the Best Customer Service claim. Staff respond seven days a week to text, chat, email, and phone calls.
An example: one of my pedals was not tightened into the crankshaft and stripped out the crank on the fourth or fifth ride. In defense of Priority and all the other online sellers, they all recommend having a bike shop check and tune the bicycle prior to riding. We did not. When I sent a photo and asked to get another crank arm, they just sent me a new one the same day and stated the obvious — pedals must be kept tight or they’ll do this. I wasn’t charged for the replacement.
Ultimately, the best folding bicycle for your cruising boat will depend on your personal preferences, space onboard, and budget. Whichever bike you choose, having a compact and portable mode of transportation on board will enhance your cruising experience and make exploring new destinations a breeze.
Jason Spitz and Monica Schandel are co-captains of S/V Breathe, a 1999 Manta 40 catamaran, and partners in their underwater photography business, Breathe Sail Dive, LLC. Both have held USCG master captain’s licenses with sailing endorsements and have been sailing for most of their lives. Follow their adventures at www.facebook.com/breathesaildive and purchase their photography at www.breathesaildive.com
Priority Bicycles offers Caribbean Compass readers a 10 percent discount on Priority Folder bicycles using the discount code BREATHE
(Note: The authors received their Folders from Priority Bicycles. They do not receive any additional compensation for reviews or sales of Priority Bicycles or accessories).
