Hi Guys, yet another item from my British Airborne collection. The folding bicycle was first developed in WW1. With the advent of British airborne forces in 1940 there arose a need to supply the troops with some form of transport that could be airlanded. The BSA company came up with a bike that was both lightweight, strong and could be folded. The were two versions, differing slightly in the downtube in which the seat attached. My bike is a second pattern that was made from 1943 onwards.
The bikes could be delivered to the battlefield in several ways:
The Paratrooper could jump from the aircraft holding the folded bike in his arms
he then played out a rope attached to the bike so that it hung beneath him "kit bag" fashion.
The bike could be airdropped on it's own Parachute. This was found to be unrelieable due to lots of buckled wheels.
Airdropped in a crate of four bikes. This was not developed until 1945. I have the blueprint of how to make the crate in my document collection.
Airlanded by glider. This was the most common and sucessful method.
Overall, the bike was not the great sucess that it was hoped for. Although a nice design, the operational drawbacks of groups of troops cycling into battle were never overcome.
The bike was also used by the Commandos and saw use on D Day.
My bike was made in 1943. The only non original feature is the seat, which is a modern replacement, and one tyre. I have used the bike quite a lot. It will take the weight of a fully equiped airborne soldier quite well. I have used it in Arnhem several times. I can tell you that Holland is not flat
and with no gears it is hard going.
Des, have you got your bike yet?
Cheers, Ade.
The bikes could be delivered to the battlefield in several ways:
The Paratrooper could jump from the aircraft holding the folded bike in his arms
he then played out a rope attached to the bike so that it hung beneath him "kit bag" fashion.The bike could be airdropped on it's own Parachute. This was found to be unrelieable due to lots of buckled wheels.
Airdropped in a crate of four bikes. This was not developed until 1945. I have the blueprint of how to make the crate in my document collection.
Airlanded by glider. This was the most common and sucessful method.
Overall, the bike was not the great sucess that it was hoped for. Although a nice design, the operational drawbacks of groups of troops cycling into battle were never overcome.
The bike was also used by the Commandos and saw use on D Day.
My bike was made in 1943. The only non original feature is the seat, which is a modern replacement, and one tyre. I have used the bike quite a lot. It will take the weight of a fully equiped airborne soldier quite well. I have used it in Arnhem several times. I can tell you that Holland is not flat
and with no gears it is hard going.Des, have you got your bike yet?
Cheers, Ade.
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