Foldable Recommendations?



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Steve Juniper

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Any recommendations for foldables for traveling from people who have = used them? I'm thinking
that for some of my traveling that might be = worth considering. Thanx! --=20

Steve Juniper [email protected]

"53% of Americans feel that Bush is more of a threat to their = country and freedoms than
Saddam Hussein. 26% don't realize it, while = the other 17% don't care"

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<DIV> Any recommendations for foldables for traveling = from=20 people who have
used them? I'm thinking that for some of my traveling = that might=20 be worth
considering.</DIV>
<DV> Thanx!<BR>-- <BR></DIV>
<DVI> </DIV>
<DVII>Steve Juniper <A=20 href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A></DIV>
<DVIII> </DIV>
<DIX> "53% of Americans feel that Bush is more = of a=20 threat to their
country and freedoms than Saddam Hussein. 26% don't = realize it,=20 while the other 17%
don't care"<BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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For some time I've been collecting information on user experiences taking bikes on planes, trains,
buses, boats, etc. There's lots of stuff on rentals, FOLDING bikes, boxing, airlines, and railroads
around the world and how to ride in/out of about 120 airports.

The obvious answer is that "it depends" ... especially on what you want to do with it (how far, how
loaded, how tightly squozed) and, of course, on how much you want to pay.

Anyhow see various opinions and links at http://www.BikeAccess.net

Steve Juniper wrote:
> Any recommendations for foldables for traveling from people who have used them? I'm thinking
> that for some of my traveling that might be worth considering. Thanx!
> --
>
> Steve Juniper [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
>
> "53% of Americans feel that Bush is more of a threat to their country and freedoms than
> Saddam Hussein. 26% don't realize it, while the other 17% don't care"
 
=v= I've been deliriously happy with my Bike Friday:

http://www.bikefriday.com/

(Tell 'em Jym Dyer sentcha, and I'll get a kickback.)

=v= To be fair, others are deliriously happy with the models they chose. Brompton also gets many
kudos from its owners, but I just don't like the little wheels. Swift Folders have nice 20-inch
wheels (like Bike Fridays), and I'd probably get one of those as well, if I had the money to
spare. <_Jym_
 
Jym Dyer <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> =v= I've been deliriously happy with my Bike Friday:
>
> http://www.bikefriday.com/

YMMV. I bought a Bike Friday 5 years ago and it was a piece of ****. Had to send it back numerous
times to get things fixed before I finally gave up. I know several other owners who had the same
experience (though I also know happy owners).

>
> (Tell 'em Jym Dyer sentcha, and I'll get a kickback.)
>
> =v= To be fair, others are deliriously happy with the models they chose. Brompton also gets many
> kudos from its owners, but I just don't like the little wheels. Swift Folders have nice 20-inch
> wheels (like Bike Fridays), and I'd probably get one of those as well, if I had the money to
> spare. <_Jym_>

Do you want a quick-folder for trips on transit, or a slow-folder for touring, etc? You have to
specify because it can make a big difference in what kind of model you need. However, if you are
looking at a Bike-Friday type bike, then I would suggest looking at Montague.
 
bikerider7 wrote:
> Jym Dyer <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>
>>=v= I've been deliriously happy with my Bike Friday:
>>
>>http://www.bikefriday.com/
>
>
> YMMV. I bought a Bike Friday 5 years ago and it was a piece of ****. Had to send it back numerous
> times to get things fixed before I finally gave up. I know several other owners who had the same
> experience (though I also know happy owners).
>

Another very positive review :

http://www.jimlangley.net/ride/bikefriday.html

Dan
 
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I boxed up a full sized bicycle once ( oh make that twice ... the return = trip too). We tied two
bikes in boxes to the top of my brothers car ... = what a hassle. We made it, but a lot of things
could have gone wrong =
(i.e. small parts falling out of the hand holds on the box).

Now I only travel with a BikeFriday I have owned about 4 years ... even = did Ride the Rockies with
it. My 700cc rim bikes are constantly having = rim/tire problems. Our 2 BikeFriday's ... 2000 miles
each ... only one = flat between us ... and no rim problems.

The down side ... having the brakes and derailleur so close to the = ground causes components to
really get gunked up when it rains. On Ride = the Rockies I had to relube all the cables by the
third day.

- Steve

"Steve Juniper" <[email protected]> wrote in message = news:[email protected]...
Any recommendations for foldables for traveling from people who = have used them? I'm thinking
that for some of my traveling that might be = worth considering. Thanx! --=20

Steve Juniper [email protected]

"53% of Americans feel that Bush is more of a threat to their = country and freedoms than
Saddam Hussein. 26% don't realize it, while = the other 17% don't care"

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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I boxed up a full sized bicycle once ( = oh make that=20 twice
... the return trip too). We tied two bikes in boxes to the = top of=20 my brothers car
... what a hassle. We made it, but a lot of things = could=20 have gone wrong (i.e.
small parts falling out of the hand holds on the=20 box).</FONT></DIV>
<DV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DVI><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Now I only travel with a BikeFriday I = have owned=20 about 4
years ... even did Ride the Rockies with it. My 700cc rim = bikes=20 are constantly
having rim/tire problems. Our 2 BikeFriday's ... = 2000 miles=20 each ... only one flat
between us ... and no rim problems.</FONT></DIV>
<DVII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DVIII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The down side ... having the brakes and = derailleur=20 so close
to the ground causes components to really get gunked up when it =

rains. On Ride the Rockies I had to relube all the cables by the = third=20 day.</FONT></DIV>
<DIX><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DX><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>- Steve</FONT></DIV>
<DXI><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DXII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DXIII>"Steve Juniper" <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A>> = wrote in=20
message <A=20
=
href=3D"news:[email protected]">news:2Si4a.146191$iG3.1765= [email protected]</A>...</DIV>
<DXIV> Any recommendations for foldables for = traveling from=20 people who
have used them? I'm thinking that for some of my traveling = that=20 might be worth
considering.</DIV>
<DXV> Thanx!<BR>-- <BR></DIV>
<DXVI> </DIV>
<DXVII>Steve Juniper <A=20 href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A></DIV>
<DXVIII> </DIV>
<DXIX> "53% of Americans feel that Bush is more = of a=20 threat to
their country and freedoms than Saddam Hussein. 26% don't = realize=20 it, while the other
17% don't = care"<BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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Hey, you guys should check out the Ritchey BreakAway. see www.ritcheylogic.com for more info. It is
a full size road bike that packs into a 10x26x28" suitcase. The complete bike is ~19lbs.

For the record, yes I do work for Ritchey, so take that for what it's worth.
 
[email protected] (Jenn) wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> Please, tell us more! How long have you had it, what kind of rides do you do, which travelling
> case do you use, what are it's plusses and minusses, etc.!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jenn

I use my Airnimal for light "credit card" touring. If you look at the gallery on their website my
bike is the 5th one down on the left, leaning against a tree. It's pretty lavishly equipped with
Campy Centaur. I have been able to closely duplicate the geometry of my normal road bike - Airnimal
has lots of diferent stems to fine tune the fit. The only "strangeness" of the bike is the chunk of
elastomer that they included where the bike snaps together. I think the idea was to eliminate any
squeeking at this critical juncture, and also compensate for the slightly harsher ride of the
smaller wheels; however, it also serves as constant reminder to me that I must pedal circles, since
the bike will bob or "pogo" especially at high cadence. By the way, the elastomer is available in 3
different hardnesses for different weight riders and personal preference. I purchased the suitcase
that Airnimal offers, which appears to be an "off the rack" design from the Orient. The bike packs
easily and quickly, and there's plenty of room in the case for extra stuff, but the case does seem a
little flimsy. However, it's already flown around the world several times without incident. By the
way, I found the people at Airnimal very easy to work and reliable. Fred
 
> Friday : http://www.bikefriday.com/largePRPro.jpg
>
> Airnimal : http://www.airnimal.com/gif/gallery30.jpg
>
> The latter certainly looks more robust to me, although I have known excellent riders who've had
> very positive Friday experiences.

=v= The Friday is solid; that cage back there is very robust (and lightweight). For more comparison,
here's the model of Bike Friday that I own, which is V-framed like the Airnimal:

http://www.bikefriday.com/largeag.jpg

That's not even a cage, but it's very strong and robust. <_Jym_>

P.S.: Bear in mind that the Airnimals have 24-inch wheels. So even though the photos are about the
same size, the bikes are going to be different sizes.
 
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There are probably 300 different folding bicycles, so you need to have = some idea of what you want
to do with it. For public transit you want something = that folds very fast and very small, i.e. a
Brompton, while for carrying in a car trunk = you can go for something a little larger and more
capable. If you just want something = to take on a commercial airliner without paying extra, and are
willing to spend ten = minutes on each end, then you can get something as good as a regular
cumbersome.

Check out www.gaerlan.com He manufactures his own high end folder as = well as selling a model based
on a Dahon frame, as well as some mass market Dahon's and a Montague. Dahon's are vastly different
than how they were = 15 years ago, they have some decent products.

"Steve Juniper" <[email protected]> wrote in message = news:[email protected]...
Any recommendations for foldables for traveling from people who = have used them? I'm thinking
that for some of my traveling that might be = worth considering. Thanx! --=20

Steve Juniper [email protected]

"53% of Americans feel that Bush is more of a threat to their = country and freedoms than
Saddam Hussein. 26% don't realize it, while = the other 17% don't care"

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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>There are probably 300 different = folding bicycles,=20 so you
need to have some idea</FONT></DIV>
<DV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>of what you want to do with it. For = public transit=20 you want
something that folds very</FONT></DIV>
<DVI><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>fast and very small, i.e. a Brompton, = while=20
for carrying in a car trunk you can go for</FONT></DIV>
<DVII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>something a little larger and more = capable. If you=20 just want
something to take on a</FONT></DIV>
<DVIII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>commercial airliner without paying = extra, and are=20 willing to
spend ten minutes on each</FONT></DIV>
<DIX><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>end, then you can get something as good = as a=20 regular
cumbersome.</FONT></DIV>
<DX><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DXI><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Check out <A=20
href=3D"http://www.gaerlan.com">www.gaerlan.com</A> He manufactures = his own=20 high
end folder as well</FONT></DIV>
<DXII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>as selling a model based on a Dahon = frame, as well=20 as some
mass market</FONT></DIV>
<DXIII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Dahon's and a Montague. Dahon's are = vastly=20 different than
how they were 15</FONT></DIV>
<DXIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>years ago, they </FONT><FONT = face=3DArial size=3D2>have=20 some
decent products.</FONT></DIV>
<DXV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DXVI>"Steve Juniper" <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A>> = wrote in=20
message <A=20
=
href=3D"news:[email protected]">news:2Si4a.146191$iG3.1765= [email protected]</A>...</DIV>
<DXVII> Any recommendations for foldables for = traveling from=20 people who
have used them? I'm thinking that for some of my traveling = that=20 might be worth
considering.</DIV>
<DXVIII> Thanx!<BR>-- <BR></DIV>
<DXIX> </DIV>
<DXX>Steve Juniper <A=20 href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A></DIV>
<DXXI> </DIV>
<DXXII> "53% of Americans feel that Bush is more = of a=20 threat to
their country and freedoms than Saddam Hussein. 26% don't = realize=20 it, while the other
17% don't = care"<BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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