William Sperling, a doctor of pulmonary and critical care medicine, wrote an interesting article last year for San Diego Physician with the headline, “Tandem bicycling and RVing.”

In it, Sperling talks about the fun he and his wife, Barbara, have combining their love of RVing with bicycling.

“Whenever we reach our camping destination,” he writes, “we hop on our bikes and off we go to enjoy the surrounding area. The RV allows us to visit many wonderful state and national parks where the scenery is spectacular. We can then explore with our bike areas that are even more exciting.”

Increasing numbers of RVers are doing just that, and their ranks range from young families with children to triathlon enthusiasts to empty nesters and retired couples looking to take in the scenery, according to manufacturers of bicycles, racks and related accessories.

Indeed, more than 14 million bicycles were sold in North America last year, and many of them were purchased by RVers, according to Jim Morris, owner of Swagman Bicycle Carriers, Penticton, B.C., citing National Sporting Goods Association statistics.

One reason that bicycles are so popular with RVers is that they offer a convenient mode of transportation while camping. Many RVers find bicycles a useful way to get around some of the larger campgrounds or to pick up a few things from the store without having to move their rig. RV rallies, shows and other events often take place in large outdoor venues, where having a bicycle makes getting around much easier.

While many RVers use bikes for convenience, other RVers, like the Sperlings, use their bikes to take advantage of the increasing numbers of bike trails. These trails have popped up not only in state and national parks, but in other scenic areas across the country. For example, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a non-profit program that converts abandoned railroad corridors into trails, which are often flat and ideal for biking. The program lists more than 11,000 miles of scenic bicycle trails across North America, and the list continues to grow.

And there’s the fact that bicycling is simply good exercise.

“I think fitness in people’s lives has become more of a priority,” Morris said, adding that there are growing numbers of biking and mountain biking clubs, not to mention special biking events in places like Lake Tahoe or Mammoth, Calif., which are capturing the attention of RVers.

Manufacturers and retailers, for their part, see the increasing pairing of bicycling with RVing in their sales statistics.

“The older folks are buying the folding bikes and the younger ones [are buying] the racks for bikes they already have,” said Ron Weatrowski, manager of the Camping World store in La Mirada, Calif.

Dahon, a Duarte, California-based manufacturer of folding bicycles, saw its sales jump 30% from 1999 to 2000, and the company expects continued strong sales this year, said Pete Mole, manager of the company’s distribution center.

Mole said folding bikes are popular because they don’t require racks and can be stored inside an RV where they can be kept free of dust and protected from the elements. There are several folding bikes on the market today.

Worksman Cycles manufactures folding bicycles and tandems and grows the market for its products by making them easy to use. Realizing that carrying bikes on an RV trip can be a hassle, Worksman has designed cycles that complement the RV lifestyle.

“RV users want cycles that are comfortable, safe and easy to transport,” said Wayne Sosin, vice president of the Ozone Park, N.Y., company. “Many RVers are at the age where they appreciate the small wheel size, easy-on frame, coaster foot brakes, wide padded seats and sturdy design.”

Roadmaster & Aceme sells the Dual Glide Folding Electric/Pedal Cycle, which combines the ease of a motorized bike with pedal power. This versatile model allows convenience for RVers as basic transportation as well as fun and exercise along the biking trails.

Bike Racks and Carriers

Although it’s feasible, storing bikes, which don’t fold, inside an RV can become a nuisance. While bicycle manufacturers are seeing rising demand for their products, so are manufacturers of bicycle racks.

Morris, of Swagman, said about 400,000 bike racks were sold in North America last year, according to industry statistics, and a rising percentage of racks are being used with RVs.

For many bicycle-rack manufacturers, the challenge is not only keeping up with changing bike styles, but the changing styles of RVs, according to Tom Graffy, president and chief executive officer of Top Line Manufacturing, a 27-year-old company based in Paramount, Calif., that specializes in providing bicycle racks for the RV industry.

When you start shopping for a bike rack, you’ll find several types of carriers available. You’ll need to consider your type of RV and the type of bike that you have when determining which bike carrier is right for you.

One of Topline’s most popular products is a bike rack that mounts on to the ladder of a motorhome or trailer, allowing the tow hitch to be used for car or boat. The rack accommodates regular bikes as well as folding bikes.

RVing families who carry several bicycles will need to find carriers that can accommodate them. Don McLemore, owner of Columbus, Georgia-based Masterbuilt A Outdoor Products, is seeing continued strong demand for a Hitch Haul bicycle rack the company introduced more than a decade ago, which is capable of holding up to four bicycles. He said it’s important for RVers to look for racks that are easy to use and can accommodate different styles and sizes of bicycles.

Harley Kravitz, president of Acar Industries, a Willoughby, Ohio-based bicycle rack manufacturer, said it’s also important for RVers to check with their dealers to ensure that their bumpers, racks or sewer-hose bumpers can support the racks they intend to purchase for their vehicles.

Acar, which has been making bike racks for RVs since 1969, manufactures everything from ladder-mounted bike racks to bike racks that fit on top of pop-up trailers.

Looking to the future, bicycle and bike-rack manufacturers see the industry providing more and more options, which will be available through Camping World and other aftermarket stores.

Dahon, for example, has a development program that is picking up new patents at a rate of five per year.

Many of the latest innovations in bicycles and bicycle racks can be seen at industry trade shows in Las Vegas, including the annual Interbike International Bicycle Expo and the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show.