RSSDilemma: World Travel, Answer: Folding bike?
Dec 15
Brompton folding bikes, Dahon folding bikes Brompton bike, Brompton folding bike, Dahon folding bike, folding bike, folding travel bike 1 Comment
Here I am with my Non-Folding bike
To fold or not to fold, that is the question? I have started an epic journey around the world representing cancer survivors with a full size bike. An epic challenge for a cancer survivor and someone who has repeatedly beat the odds. I am a survivor on a mission, delivering Unlimited Smileage to survivors around the world.
As I travel I am not always sure where the journey may lead. Most recently, I needed to take a side trip, that didn’t involve riding, and much to my dismay my bike could only go along for a portion of that trip. That was when I first started questioning my full size bike and wondering did I need to research a folding bicycle. You see Amtrak is only partially bicycle friendly. I would either need to go partially to my destination and then find someone with a truck to pick me up for the remainder of the trip or find some alternative means of transportation.
On the folding bike hunt
I must be honest, I don’t know much about folding bicycles but I am fast learning. Currently I am in the process of comparing brands and have narrowed down the options to the hand crafted folding bicycles. I think if you are going to fold the bike, quality matters. I looked at mass produced folding bicycles, however I really don’t want a folding bike that was manufactured on an assembly line somewhere. The way I look at it, I have survived many obstacles in life, I am worth the best.
My research into folding bicycles began with the typical google search and at first that was a bit overwhelming. I remembered friends who are traveling with Brompton folding bikes and started reading more on their adventures and knew that the experiences they were having were all relatively positive. I knew that meant Brompton folding bikes needed to be on my list of bikes to research. Unfortunately I don’t know anyone riding the other brands so I needed to search for reviews on folding bikes to get more info.
Traveling would be easier with a folding bicycle
I didn’t really want to inconvenience anyone and don’t know many people with vehicles big enough to transport a full size bike equipped with racks for touring. A folding bicycle would fit in the smallest of cars. I researched Greyhound, just in case there were other immediate solutions, not bicycle friendly at all. Folding bikes were looking better all the time as the only other options were to leave the bike behind or ship it. I really didn’t want to leave it behind so shipping seemed as though it would be the only viable option. So after $120 and quite a bit of hard work, I am in one place and my bike and panniers are at my next destination. This was certainly not what I consider ideal but it was the easiest solution to my dilemma.
I am doing my due diligence here, after all this is an unexpected expense and the journey needs to continue. I do know from the information I have gathered thus far, if I had owned a folding bike when I needed to make this side trip, I would have been able to take it on Amtrak as carry on. My bike and I would currently be in the same place.
Picking the right folding bike
Now this dilemma has brought me here, researching a solution for the future. I know other riders who have had similar dilemmas with transporting a full size bike and I want this trip to be about the cause not about causing me stress. I am clearly at a crossroad, a fork in the road, a bend…hmm, maybe a fold. More on my journey to follow.
I’ve been eying a custom built Brompton folding bike though….
