RSSRider or Mechanic? Folding bicycle travel explored
Jan 31
Brompton folding bikes Brompton bike, Brompton folding bike, folding bike, folding travel bike No Comments
Those of you that have read any of my other posts know that I have been trying to decide whether my trip around the world for charity would be easier if I was traveling with a folded bike. Full size bike or traveling with a folded bike… one more thought to consider.
I thought I had researched everything, it turns out there is an advantage to traveling with a folding bicycle that I hadn’t considered. As I unpacked my bike and started putting it together there was the obvious fact, I had to reassemble the bike. Of course I knew that had I been traveling with a folding bike I could have saved myself some time and effort. What I hadn’t thought of was something not as obvious.
Brompton folding bicycle travel
I put the kickstand in place, reattached the pedals, handlebars, mirror, racks, fenders, and seat. Front wheel on, I thought let me double check everything and then I should be ready to ride. The initial reassembly took me about 30-40 minutes, I had some problems. I could have been miles away had I been doing my travels with a folded bike.
When a travel folding bike finally dawned on me
I realize that something is loose in the front end of the bike, the brakes were rubbing and the front rack wasn’t completely level. I adjusted the brakes, leveled out the rack, but could not figure out what was wrong with the front end. All bolts were tight, I couldn’t find any parts in the shipping box that may have belonged to it, yet I knew something was wrong. I couldn’t ride, I would need to find a bicycle shop and I would need to find a ride there. Frustration is the best way to describe how I was feeling, I knew I should have been traveling with a folding bike.
Jump ahead to the next day, I find a bike shop, I find a ride. Now I have the joy of fitting this big bike in the back seat of a small car. We had to angle the bike and leave the handlebars sticking out the window. Good thing I am in Florida where it is warm. I hope at this point you are getting a very vivid picture of how much easier this would have been if I had been traveling with a folding bicycle.
Some folding bikes I’m considering
Off we go, 19 miles down the road, to find the bike shop. We barely made it before the shop closed. On a beautiful day when I could have been riding. If only I had that folding travel bike. I took my bike in and the owner looked at it and said well it looks like you might be missing a spacer, he then tells me that he hopes not because he is low on stock and might not have any to fit. He assured me that they are an easy part to lose, not reassuring for any future trips with a full size bike. All I can think is, it is time to start traveling with a folding bike. I now have visions of folding bicycles running through my head.
In all my research into the differences between my full size bike and traveling with a folded bike I had never considered the loss of parts. He checked the bike and it turned out something was just not seated properly. What did I learn, when traveling with a folded bike, no dis-assembly, and no lost parts.
At this point I’m pretty sure I’ll go with a Brompton folding bicycle for my touring adventures. We’ll see…
