> When i was in junior high school (c. 1991), a friend of mine got a new "jak-n-a-sak" jacket, a coat that folded into a small bag. It looked trendy, sporty, when worn, and it could be folded up. Cool.
>
> But i just deleted an e-mail ad for the newest, dumbest innovation in collapsible junk, the backpack bike. Why would anyone want to fold up a mode of transportation and lug it around on a shoulder?
>
> I tried to rationalize it, thinking maybe it would work for hikers who also like mountain biking, but i don't think i'm too far off in assuming that for backpack hiking, packing light is essential, so that such a triviality must be left at home by the hot curlers and electric razor. dinky contraptions have no place in the wilderness.
>
> Not having seen this bike up close, i picture it being about the quality of those little multi-purpose kits sold as desperate, last-minute gift ideas in the McRae's mens' shop. It reminds me of those silly new kids' shoes with the wheels that flip out of the soles for roller-blading. Yeah, that won't break in the first day? Please!
>
> Anyone seen one of these bikes? Am i being too harsh here?
>
> Penny*still overstuffed from Thanksgiving dinners*stamp

I got the same spam and deleted it, but I took a quick look. It might be for campers who just need something to tool around the campground between motorhomes. It looks like it would fit nicely into the trunk of a car, but not in the overhead bin. In some cases, any bicycle is better than no bicycle at all. But I don't think I want one of those.
Howard