folding bikes/fold-in-half adaptation

My wife and I have been touring on BikeFridays for years. They seem pretty
sturdy and with panniers fore and aft can carry more weight than I want to
haul around.

See some pics on http://www.gfarnsworth.com/Famazine/BikeTrips.cfm --
especially the Netherlands trip.

George

"bobdobbs" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone had a good (or bad) experience with touring on a fold-up
bicycle - either the traditional kinds like Bromley and Bike Friday -
or with a $400 retrofit that allows their existing bike to fold in
half? I take my bike on planes and carry panniers. Most of the fold-up
bikes I see don't really seem suitable to carrying 35-40 pounds like I
do.

I have a Waterford Adventure Cycle with S & S couplers, the $400
retrofit you are talking about, I think. The couplers let the bike
come apart into two pieces.

The bike rides like a regular bike. I've toured over 1000 miles on it
and I love it.

I have a packing case that is the regulation size and the airlines take
as if it were a big suitcase for no extra charge. The real problem is
a) packing the bike up and b) getting it through security without them
taking it out of the case (see problem (a)).

It took me 4 hours to put the bike in the box the first time. I now
have it down to 90 minutes.

Coupled bikes don't fold in half. They come completely apart.

I would recommend S&S couplers without reservation. At $50 a whack for
airline fees, I'm well on my way to paying off the $400 I paid for the
couplers.

Ray

"George Farnsworth" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:5b1fe.1502$hb1.340@trnddc05...
: My wife and I have been touring on BikeFridays for years. They seem pretty
: sturdy and with panniers fore and aft can carry more weight than I want to
: haul around.
:
: See some pics on http://www.gfarnsworth.com/Famazine/BikeTrips.cfm --
: especially the Netherlands trip.
:
: George

Is that a New World Tourist you have? I am interested in buying one.

Pat in TX

Yes, we have two NWT's. Mine (blue) has drop bars and ergo shifters to
match my 'Dale. Cathy's has flat bars and some kind of rapid-fire
shifters. Both are 21-speeds.

George

"Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"George Farnsworth" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:5b1fe.1502$hb1.340@trnddc05...
: My wife and I have been touring on BikeFridays for years. They seem
pretty
: sturdy and with panniers fore and aft can carry more weight than I want
to
: haul around.
:
: See some pics on http://www.gfarnsworth.com/Famazine/BikeTrips.cfm --
: especially the Netherlands trip.
:
: George

Is that a New World Tourist you have? I am interested in buying one.

Pat in TX

"George Farnsworth" : Yes, we have two NWT's. Mine (blue) has drop bars and
ergo shifters to
: match my 'Dale. Cathy's has flat bars and some kind of rapid-fire
: shifters. Both are 21-speeds.
:
: George

I'm thinking about getting the 3 speed internal hub set up to replace the
front derailleur. I haven't actually seen one, though. Too bad you aren't in
Dallas and I could have a look at your setup!

Pat

Quoted message said:

I'm thinking about getting the 3 speed internal hub set up to replace the
front derailleur. I haven't actually seen one, though.

I had the 3 speed internal hub on our Tandem Twos'day. It worked very well,
the main minuses being the weight and the fact you couldn't change the ratio
between the three gears. Still, a good bomb-proof choice for travelling.

Chris Neary
[email hidden]

"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could
you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the elements I
loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

: >I'm thinking about getting the 3 speed internal hub set up to replace the
: >front derailleur. I haven't actually seen one, though.
:
: I had the 3 speed internal hub on our Tandem Twos'day. It worked very
well,
: the main minuses being the weight and the fact you couldn't change the
ratio
: between the three gears. Still, a good bomb-proof choice for travelling.
: Chris Neary
:

I have an old Schwinn from 1964 with a two-speed hub plus Bendix brake in
the rear wheel. Yesterday, I was dismantling it as part of my project to
restore it. Well, lemme tell ya, when that rear wheel came off, it felt as
if it weighed about 40 pounds! That makes me leery of getting an internal
hub, but the thought of getting a front derailleur out of whack isn't
exactly desirable, either.

How do you change gears while you are riding with your set up?

Pat in TX

Quoted message said:

I have an old Schwinn from 1964 with a two-speed hub plus Bendix brake in
the rear wheel. Yesterday, I was dismantling it as part of my project to
restore it. Well, lemme tell ya, when that rear wheel came off, it felt as
if it weighed about 40 pounds! That makes me leery of getting an internal
hub, but the thought of getting a front derailleur out of whack isn't
exactly desirable, either.

How do you change gears while you are riding with your set up?

It's been several years since we owned the Twos'day, so I am getting a
little foggy about it's operation. IIRC, it was necessary to reduce force on
the chain to shift. I also remember you could shift while stopped.

Chris Neary
[email hidden]

"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could
you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the elements I
loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

: It's been several years since we owned the Twos'day, so I am getting a
: little foggy about it's operation. IIRC, it was necessary to reduce force
on
: the chain to shift. I also remember you could shift while stopped.
: Chris Neary

Yeah, with the Schwinn, you have to act as if you are going to set the
coaster brake--but not go so far as to engage it. It's a kind of
pedal-backward-but-just-a-little-bit action and that changed the gear.
Pat in TX

Quoted message said:

I'm thinking about getting the 3 speed internal hub set up to replace the
front derailleur

Thinking on getting exact setup as well

: >I'm thinking about getting the 3 speed internal hub set up to replace the
: >front derailleur

: Thinking on getting exact setup as well

I asked at my LBS and they said they had worked on New World Tourists and
found them to be well made with quality parts--and that the internal hub
removed a potential trouble spot. Did you see the "hints" on making the bike
nicer on the Bike Friday website? A user wrote that he added cartridge-type
brake shoes to make the braking stiffer, upgraded the chain from KMC to one
that is quieter, put on wider tires (up to 1 3/4"😉, and added a Thudbuster
seat post.
I am still trying to find anyone who has one in the area where I live so
that I could try a test ride.

Pat in TX

Thanks, Ray. How much disassembly is required beyond taking the bike in
half (i.e. wheels, pedals, handlebar stem, etc. How come it is so time
consuming?

Also, would you recommend the retrofit on an existing touring bike?
Thanks, Phil