h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: A British Weapon - the BSA Paratrooper's Folding Airborne Bicycle - A87758149
Author: Bluebottle - U43530

Guess what? I have successfully written an article less than 1,000 words long!
An article about a bicycle that my Dad owns.

I confess that I have included a link to a modern bicycle based on the original design. Please note that I have never owned or ridden the bicycle, nor do I express an opinion either negative or positive regarding it other than to use it as independent evidence that the BSA Paratroopers' Airborne Folding Bicycle design is still highly influential 70 years after it was originally created. I am considering removing the link.

<BB<

You're certainly piling them in at the moment.

1 spelling mistake - "Differences include a single back pedal brake rather than the original two breaks " two brakes.

Which reminds me - how do you calm down a grammar pedant ? Pat them on the hand and say "their, there, they're."

I like this Entry BB!

One or two queries:

By D-Day, however, lighter motor vehicles such as jeeps had been introduced that could be carried in gliders, reducing the reliability placed on the humble bicycle. [These] were still used, however once disposed of were quickly acquired by those living locally to where the bikes were abandoned. They became a common sight in parts of rural France and the Netherlands after the war.

I think this could be tidied up a little - I think you mean

[Bikes] were still used... to where they were abandoned.

I got a bit confused as to whether you meant that the jeeps were abandoned.

without the ability to fold and with proper pedals.

You say earlier that the folding bike had cylindrical pedals. But I am not really able to comprehend this description, as I don't know which bit is a pedal crank shaft, nor where the pedals would be pushed. Perhaps you could simplify it a bit, explain it a bit more?

The bike weighed 21lbs, less than the design specification

do you mean [even less than the original design specification]?

I think this is great - there are a lot of cycle enthusiasts all over the world. I have an acquaintance who exports British folding bikes to Japan, where there are a lot of afficianados, apparently.

Interesting.

>>a single back pedal brake rather than the original two breaks<<

>>a single back pedal brake rather than the original two brakes<<

MMF

Fascinating. I never knew that.

Hopefully I've made it a little clearer - but it's now slightly over 1,000 words

If envy counts as a hobby, then this could count as an entry for Create purposes. (It's my Dad's bike, and I want it! I was there when he bought it, when I was about 6, and I remember it well.)

<BB<

This is great I knew nothing about these airborne bicycles.

I'm very surprised to hear that as many as 60,000 were used in combat? Is that true?

Is there any evidence that they were effective? Are they mentioned in any particular reports, for example?

Icy

Exact records of how many were constructed were not kept, however the serial numbers each were stamped with imply that between 60-70,000 were made.

As to their effectiveness, they were designed when it was assumed that the British and Canadian army would be operating without petrol. By 1944, when D-Day took place, tremendous planning ensured that a supply of petrol was available to the British, Canadian and American troops operating in France, and so the bikes were not used as much as intended. They were used around airfields, carried by British tanks and other vehicles and used by tank crews etc as runaround vehicles to go short distances. But not really in combat situations apart from at Arnhem (where they made little difference to that disaster). Bicycle messengers were also used.

The bicycles were used to attack the German radar station at Bruneval on 27 February, 1942. Troops landed 8 miles from the site, cycled there, seized important RADAR components and destroyed the base, returning to the landing craft quickly and safely, suffering very few casualities.

I'll add a bit about that raid to the article.

<BB<

Thanks for that. It really rounds off a fine entry

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