Category: Rides
Road, gravel & single track in the city, country and woods.
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!
In Chicago there’s an extensive bike route network with convenient tunnels going under major thoroughfares like this
Biked up the Dragon River and took the easy way back. Our captain still got the workout, albeit in tandem with a cigarette break.
Here’s a photo whilest mountain biking near Yangshuo, which is near Guilin, which is west of Shanghai and that’s China. The natural beauty of China is truly breathtaking. 
Nice Wissahickon ride.
MTB in Philly today. 25 miles of what really wants to be an autumn day, but still plenty of green trees. Lovely day indeed!
This route in and around Phila is a great shorter ride – filled halfway with hills. You have a nice flat warmup, to a great hill explosion only to finish with a great descent and flat ride back.