Folding Bikes

[MartianDestiny]

Question out of curiosity:

You mentioned travel. Have you considered a bike with couplers or another breakaway mechanism other than folding? I can understand the appeal of a folder, especially for commuting concerns, but wondering why you ruled out other "break down" mechanisms if it's primarily for other types of travel concerns?

[Jaclyn]

I currently own two travel bikes - a Pocket Crusoe by Bike Friday and a Co-Pilot S&S coupled Co-Motion Tandem. I've traveled quite a bit with both (as well as my partner's Ritchey Breakaway 'cross bike). There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but I really like the S&S system. I like it so much that I'm sending one of my older bikes this spring to be retrofitted with couplers. If you have a bike that can be retrofit, the cost is around $600-$900.

Another option (if you are tall enough) is a Ritchey Breakaway. My partner has a Ritchey 'cross bike and loves it.

[Thorn]

(Hi Lynette! Another 2009 Pac Tour-ite, but I rode a "big bike" so you probably didn't notice me )

I own an S&S coupled bike, although I seriously gave thought to a BF. I went S&S because I'm an odd fit and I had a relationship with the frame builder for the S&S.

That said, if you're the least bit mechanically dis-inclined, you'd want to lean toward the BF. I am a slow and methodical mechanic, but the BF's were packed in 1/2 the time of my S&S -- much less disassembly. I love my S&S and, for me, the packing/unpacking is part of my vacation catharsis; others may disagree.

[DebW]

Packing an S&S coupled bike is a 1-2 hour job which includes (for me anyway) removing the right crank, both derailleurs, front brake, handlebars, seatpost, then padding every frame tube, and fitting everything very carefully and precisely into the case. Reassembly is quicker, and cable adjustments aren't required if you have cable splitters.

[Jaclyn]

Thanks, Deb, for sharing your packing times.

For the Bike Friday, I remove the front wheel, stem, handlebars, seatpost, and pedals. I use foam pipe insulation to protect the frame and the skewer for the fork. There's usually a bit of struggle to figure out how to arrange everything in the travel case. It takes me about 20 minutes if I've done it recently, and 30 minutes if it has been awhile. Reassembling goes a faster but then there's a lot of fiddling and adjustments the first ride or two.

For the tandem, we have to separate cables (we use cable splitters) - including a drag brake cable, remove (and deflate) both wheels, two handlebars, two seatposts, four pedals, one derailleur, one crank, and misc. accessories. We use a lot of pipe insulation, too. We work together and it takes at least an hour. We allow two hours, minimum, because it is stressful if we are rushed.

I'm having Bilenky retrofit the S&S couplers to my Carl Strong ti bike. I guess I thought it would pack in only 30 minutes, but based on your experience it sounds like it will take much longer than the Bike Friday. That's good to know!

There's been a discussion about traveling with tandems over on the Hobbes list. In my experience, the airlines are increasingly weighing (50 lbs max) and measuring (62 inches width x height x depth max) luggage. At LiveStrong Austin last fall I was very disappointed to see my fellow fundraisers charged as much as $350 to travel with their bicycles. The large number of bikes that weekend (both Livestrong and a Triathlon in Austin) resulted in a huge amount of oversize luggage fees. Other people report that they don't get charged; I don't like to worry about not enjoying my bicycling vacation due to problems checking in my bike(s).

[Thorn]

30 for a BF, yep...that's what I was seeing, but I'm with Deb in the 1-2 hours. However, I don't disassemble quite as much. I don't take off the crank or the front derrailleur, but I do take the fork out. We pack DH's teeny little bike the same way--not that he needs quite that much disassembly but just for consistency.

As for flying, you're not carrying a bike, but "sports equipement" or "mechanical parts" Some of the airlines will charge you even if you're within size and within weight if they know the box contains a bike (as apparently they did in Austin). My next flight is Southwest where they actually state that Bike Friday's and S&S bikes are standard luggage if less than 50 pounds. I've never flown them before but their bike policy (and pricing) had me switch this time.

[Tri Girl]

Apparently American Airlines will accept a bike as a checked back if it's 50 lbs or less and not oversized. That's what I heard from 2 friends (of friends) who just flew to Europe. Don't know firsthand if that's true or not...