Quote Originally Posted by fasteryet
This is slightly off topic, but for you Bike Friday and recumbent riders, how easy is it for you to transport your bikes? Obviously with the BFs, you can fold them, but if you don't, would the AirGlide fit on a hitch mounted bike carrier? And what about the bents? Also, what about packing and shipping? The BF's have their suitcase, and is it really easy? Denise says she has to take off the pedal on one side, but what about the handlebars.
What Denise didn't mention is that the Bike Friday handlebars have a quick release just like the seatpost, so are super easy to "take off" (they remain attached to the bikes by the cables. The handlebars are also split down the middle for packability, but this does not affect riding at all. Packing the suitcase does take a good 15 minutes since many parts have to be wrapped to protect them during transport, so this is not something I would do unless I am going on a trip. I don't pack the suitcase just to transport the bike to a ride.

However, folding the bike to put in the trunk of a car or back of an SUV takes only a minute or two - it's very easy and makes the bike very compact. I would do that before I would rack it outside my vehicle for security sake. I should mention that I have a "Pocket" model, which are quick folders. The "Air" models with a beam take a minute or two longer to fold, from what I've read, to remove the beam.

I am lucky in that I am able to carry any of my bike(s) inside my Honda Element without even folding so have not had to deal with racks (roof or trunk). I wouldn't put the Friday on a trunk rack since it doesn't have a top tube, so, as Denise says, would not ride horizontal and might not do so well. If I had to rack it outside my vehicle, I'd use a roof rack.

Hope this helps!

Emily