Re: [CR]BSA Bikes - Foldables for Paratroopers WWII ?

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2002)

Date: Sat, 02 Jun 2007 08:16:15 -0400
To: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "John Betmanis" <johnb@oxford.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]BSA Bikes - Foldables for Paratroopers WWII ?
In-Reply-To: <355379.38744.qm@web53601.mail.re2.yahoo.com>


At 09:25 PM 01/06/2007 -0700, r cielec wrote:
>Ahoy !
>
> I heard of this second hand so, I cannot provide details.
>
> I am told that one of the televised Memorial Day holiday (formerly Decoration Day) programs with WWII film footage showed BSA made bicycles that were foldable and used by certain squads of paratroopers for quick travel between objectives.
>
> Has anyone seen one of these bicycles ?
> Anybody own one ?
>
> Can anyone corroborate or provide additional information ?

Back in the 1950s in the UK, these were war surplus and sold by mail order for 70/- (the equivalent of about $10 at the time). I think they were quite heavy compared to a regular bike because of the folding feature.

http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/bsa_airborne_bicycles_(aka_parabike).htm

John Betmanis
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada