Category: Lifestyle
That the PLU of my favorite apple is the same as my favorite material?
Tall bikes, bike corrals, bike garages-this city is hooked up.
If you have a folding bicycle with a maximum of 20″ wheels, then you probably can take it with you when you travel! It is the best way to see a city in my opinion. You get activity, quick travel, easy parking and it’s hella fun! When bike rentals tend to be crappy and/or expensive, it may be worth it for you, depending on how much you travel and how much you value another bicycle. This post assumes you have a folding bike already. I do have a take-apart travel bicycle planned, but it won’t be built anytime soon.
So you want to pack your bike in a luggage. Find a cheapo hard shell 29″ or 30″ luggage. IMPORTANT TO GET BIGGIE LUGGAGE MON! I found several available for well under $100 at Home Goods (discount overstock type bricks and mortar retail store). The teal beauty pictured below was $60!
Ok first step:
Unhook and remove brake cables.
Next-
Remove the derailleur. On this Dahon Speed P8, the derailleur is really tucked in tight. Removing the derailleur eases the removal of the rear wheel and protects it during travel.
Next:
DON’T LOOSE THE DERAILLEUR BOLT AND WASHER!!!! These are very difficult to replace (so I am told) and you won’t be able to ride if you don’t have it!
Next.
Remove the wheel skewers and put them along with the derailleur bolt in a safe spot, like an on board sachet. Leave easy access to the sachet and be sure to put your multitool in there when you’re done because TSA hates bike tools in carry-on luggage!!!!!! They questioned me twice at great length about it when I brought it in my bag. It’s a definite red flag item.
Nexto—
Now, remove the wheels, deflate the tires, remove the seat post, and slide the top steered tube out.
Proximo—
Now fold the pedals, fold the bike (so that a fork blade gets between the rear stays), get the top steerer to fit somewhere and slide the seat post wherever it fits. Using padding will help to protect the frame. I found some memory foam in my shop, but hotel towels would work too.
an now
Add some protection around that nasty cassette. That thing is super hardened and will tear through anything (‘cept a dura-ace chain). So be careful. Key in your wheels so they fit nice. Did you remove the air from the tires? It’ll help with the fit. (nice perk on a Speed P8: the seat post is a pump!)
Now strap it down and zipper up! I like putting an extra locking strap around the case upon completion.
In the future, in addition to the breakaway frame, I’d like to make a luggage that converts to a trailer! But that may be better left in my virtual wanderlust world. HAPPY TRAILS!
More infrastructure in the appropriately
Monikered windy city. Out was 50 minutes, back was like in 5!
With bonus lens flare
In Chicago there’s an extensive bike route network with convenient tunnels going under major thoroughfares like this
A few days with the folder in chi-town.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, will create a “Crossrail for the bike” as part of his plans for a nearly £1 billion investment in London cycling. The route will run for more than 15 miles, very substantially segregated, from the western suburbs through the heart of London to Canary Wharf and Barking.
Not many bikes in Hong Kong because this city has its share of steep streets, real steep. These bikes are down on the lower streets where it is flatter and more trading going on.
