Montague Corporation (commonly referred to as Montague Bikes) is an American company that designs, manufactures, and sells full-size
folding bicycles
A folding bicycle is a bicycle designed to fold into a compact form, facilitating transport and storage. When folded, the bikes can be more easily carried into buildings, on public transportation (facilitating mixed-mode commuting and bicycle ...
. It is headquartered in
Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge bec ...
,
.
History
Early history
![Montague-Electric-Bi-Frame-early-1990s](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Montague-Electric-Bi-Frame-early-1990s.jpg)
Montague Corporation was formed in 1987 by David and Harry Montague.
Prior to the foundation of Montague Bikes,
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
-based architect Harry Montague began making plans to build a full-size folding
bicycle
A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike or cycle, is a human-powered or motor-powered assisted, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A is called a cyclist, or bicyclist.
Bic ...
that could accommodate his 6'2" frame. He started sketching designs for the bike in the early 1980s and had a prototype (the "BiFrame") by 1984.
The BiFrame used the "Concentrus" system, which unites the two parts of the frame with concentric seat tubes, one nested inside the other.
![Montague-BMW-1996-Olympic-Bike-Folded](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Montague-BMW-1996-Olympic-Bike-Folded.jpg)
Montague obtained a patent for the bike design and the Concentrus system by 1987.
That year, his son David Montague, used his father's folding bike as a potential business model for an entrepreneurship project while attending
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...
(MIT). With $300,000 in capital, the two launched and incorporated their folding bicycle company as Montague Corporation in Massachusetts later in 1987.
1988-1996 BiFrame design and BMW partnership
The company began selling in the
U.S.
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
market in 1988.
It also sold bikes in
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
,
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
,
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
, and in
Great Britain
Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...
through a joint marketing deal with the
Raleigh Bicycle Company
The Raleigh Bicycle Company is a British bicycle manufacturer based in Nottingham, England and founded by Woodhead and Angois in 1885. Using Raleigh as their brand name, it is one of the oldest bicycle companies in the world. After being acqui ...
. In 1989, Montague sold around 2,200 BiFrames worldwide.
While producing the BiFrame design, Montague worked closely with the
Schwinn Bicycle Company
The Schwinn Bicycle Company is an American company that develops, manufactures and markets bicycles under the eponymous brand name.
The company was originally founded by Ignaz Schwinn (1860–1948) in Chicago in 1895. It became the dominant manuf ...
, and in 1991 the Schwinn Montague M1000 was first marketed and sold through Schwinn dealers.
Beginning in 1992, Montague began producing a line of folding
mountain bikes
A mountain bike (MTB) or mountain bicycle is a bicycle designed for off-road cycling. Mountain bikes share some similarities with other bicycles, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain, which m ...
in a partnership with the car company
BMW. The bikes were initially sold in
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
and came to American BMW dealerships in 1994.
The Montague BMW BiFrame was chosen as the official mountain bike of the
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...
in
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
,
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
and was also featured in the closing ceremonies.
''
Popular Mechanics
''Popular Mechanics'' (sometimes PM or PopMech) is a magazine of popular science and technology, featuring automotive, home, outdoor, electronics, science, do-it-yourself, and technology topics. Military topics, aviation and transportation o ...
'' honored the company with a Design & Engineering Award for its design of the special BMW Olympic Games mountain bike.
Other folding bike models Montague developed in the 1990s included the TriFrame
tandem bicycle
A tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle (occasionally a tricycle) designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement (fore to aft, not side by side), not the number of riders. Patents relat ...
and the Montague Backcountry mountain bike.
1997-2009 DARPA, Paratrooper and X-Series
![Montague-Paratrooper-in-Afghanistan](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Montague-Paratrooper-in-Afghanistan.jpg)
In 1997, the
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.
Originally known as the Adv ...
(DARPA) gave Montague a two-year grant to develop an all-terrain, heavy-duty, folding electric mountain bike that could be utilized by
paratroopers
A paratrooper is a military parachutist—someone trained to parachute into a military operation, and usually functioning as part of an airborne force. Military parachutists (troops) and parachutes were first used on a large scale during Worl ...
. With this grant, the company created the Tactical Electric No Signature (TENS) mountain bike which was equipped with a battery-powered motor that was largely undetectable by ear, radar, or infrared devices.
The bikes, which had a new "X-Frame" design, were used by U.S. military members in conflicts in
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
and
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
.
![Montague-Hummer-Bike-and-Hummer-H2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Montague-Hummer-Bike-and-Hummer-H2.jpg)
The first civilian bikes using the new X-Frame design (dubbed the "X-Series") were introduced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The first two bikes in the X-Series were the Montague CX 21-speed Comfort Bike and the Montague MX 24-speed Mountain Bike.
In 2001, the company released the Paratrooper military mountain bike, which was a commercial, non-electric version of the TENS bike it had developed for DARPA.
In the early 2000s, Montague developed a promotional bicycle, dubbed the "
Hummer
Hummer (stylized as HUMMER) is a brand of pickups and SUVs that was first marketed in 1992 when AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee. Although discontinued in 2010, Hummer returned as a sub-brand of GMC in 2020. ...
Tactical Mountain Bike," for
General Motors
The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
' Hummer line of vehicles. Promotional distribution of Montague-designed Hummer bicycles took place through GM dealerships.
In 2008, Montague introduced the SwissBike line which featured the company's first mountain bikes designed for road use, including the SwissBike LX
and SwissBike TX Commuter.
By 2009, Montague bikes were being sold in 18 countries with 400 dealers in the United States.
2010 to present
![Montague-FIT-open-and-folded-composite](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Montague-FIT-open-and-folded-composite.jpg)
The company continued developing pavement-specific bikes into 2010 and beyond. The pavement versions were the first Montague bikes to feature 700c road wheels and a new double top tube design. In 2011, Montague added to its Pavement bike line with the Boston 8, the first folding bike to incorporate the
Shimano
, originally and later , is a Japanese multinational manufacturing company for cycling components, fishing tackles and rowing equipment, who also produced golf supplies until 2005 and snowboarding gear until 2008. Named after founder Shozaburo ...
Nexus 8 speed
internal-gear hub.
Montague also continued releasing new iterations of their Paratrooper line with the Paratrooper Pro in 2012.
The following year, the company started selling framesets as standalone products, allowing manufacturers and hobbyists to incorporate Montague folding frames into their models.
In 2015, Montague helped institute the "
Park & Pedal" program in the
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
area.
The program encourages commuters to drive part of the way to work, park in one of several designated lots outside the city center, and ride their bikes for the remainder of the commute. It was originally devised by founder David Montague and was implemented in conjunction with the Massachusetts
Department of Conservation and Recreation
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. The DCR's mission is ...
and the
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
The program was expanded to more locales in the
Greater Boston
Greater Boston is the metropolitan region of New England encompassing the municipality of Boston (the capital of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the most populous city in New England) and its surrounding areas. The region forms the northern ar ...
area in 2016.
Montague introduced a new folding system called "DirectConnect" in 2016. It allows a bike to be folded using one release on the wheel and one lever on the bike's frame. The company also partnered with
Shapeways
Shapeways, Inc. is a global, 3D printing marketplace and service, publicly traded company. Users design and upload 3D printable files, and Shapeways prints the objects for them or others. Users can have objects printed in over 55 materials and f ...
to
3D print
3D printing or additive manufacturing is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined or solidified under computer co ...
aluminum prototype components for its bicycles for the first time.
It also launched several new models in 2016 including the Urban,
Paratrooper Elite,
FIT, and Allston, the first to employ a belt drive in place of a traditional
bicycle chain
A bicycle chain is a roller chain that transfers power from the pedals to the drive-wheel of a bicycle, thus propelling it. Most bicycle chains are made from plain carbon or alloy steel, but some are nickel-plated to prevent rust, or simply ...
.
Products
![Montague-DirectConnec-Latch-Up-Close](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Montague-DirectConnec-Latch-Up-Close.jpg)
Current Montague bike models use the patented DirectConnect folding system, and are equipped with full-size 26", 27.5", or 700c wheels.
When folded, the bikes measure approximately 36" x 28" x 12".
Montague has pavement-specific models that utilize 700c wheels, including: Boston,
Allston,
Crosstown,
Urban,
Navigator,
and FIT.
Some models (including the Navigator, Allston, and FIT) are equipped with Montague's "RackStand" which serves as both a rear rack and a potential kick stand when released from the seat tube.
Montague also produces the Paratrooper line of folding mountain bikes that utilize either 26" or 27.5" wheels.
Included in the Paratrooper line are the Paratrooper, Paratrooper Highline,
Paratrooper Express,
and Paratrooper Elite.
Some Paratrooper models, including the Highline and Elite, utilize
RockShox
RockShox Inc. is an American company founded by Paul Turner in 1989, that develops and manufactures bicycle suspensions. The company led in the development of mountain bikes. It is now part of SRAM Corporation.
History
Start
RockShox was fou ...
suspension systems.
The company also offers
electric pedal assist models, including the E-Crosstown.
Several bike models use an Octagon adjustable steering assembly that allows the handlebar to be adjusted in height without the use of tools. Most Montague bikes also utilize a Shimano drivetrain.
The Allston model is equipped with a Gates carbon belt drive and a
Shimano Alfine internally geared hub rather than a traditional bike chain and hub gear setup.
See also
*
Bicycle infantry
Bicycle infantry are infantry soldiers who maneuver on (or, more often, between) battlefields using military bicycles. The term dates from the late 19th century, when the "safety bicycle" became popular in Europe, the United States, and Austra ...
*
Tidalforce Electric Bicycle
The Tidalforce Electric Bicycle was an electric bicycle manufactured by Wavecrest Labs from 2003 until the company went out of business in 2006. All models of Wavecrest Tidalforce electric bikes have a 36 volt electric hub motor built into the r ...
References
External links
Official Montague Corporation website{{Folding bicycles
Folding bicycles
Cycle manufacturers of the United States
Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1987
1987 establishments in Massachusetts