Hello
I'm an Australian coming to Europe and am considering buying a folding bike to do some touring in Europe (Hungary, Scotland, Slovenia). I'd like to hear from people who toured on folding bikes and what their recommendations, tips and experiences are. Would you recommend them? Are normal panniers suitable?
By way of background, my main reason for considering the folding bike is we've flown with bikes before and found it quite a hassle. In the past I've toured Vietnam on an MTB and Australia and NZ on a flat barred road bike. (Happy to provide info on those destinations to anyone interested!). Cheers, Jo
Folding Bike Touring
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Jon
Re:Folding Bike Touring
Jo,
There are folding bikes, and there are folding bikes. There are those, like the Brompton, that are designed for mixed-mode commuting and have the most compact fold but are not really up to heavy-duty touring (although someone is bound to post saying they've done 100 miles a day on a Brompton through mountains). Then there are those folders that are designed more for touring use. They do not fold as small, mainly because they usually have larger wheels, but are better suited to touring. You may like to take a look at the "A to B" magazine web-page. They have a buyers guide and price guide for folding bikes:
http://www.atob.org.uk/
There are folding bikes, and there are folding bikes. There are those, like the Brompton, that are designed for mixed-mode commuting and have the most compact fold but are not really up to heavy-duty touring (although someone is bound to post saying they've done 100 miles a day on a Brompton through mountains). Then there are those folders that are designed more for touring use. They do not fold as small, mainly because they usually have larger wheels, but are better suited to touring. You may like to take a look at the "A to B" magazine web-page. They have a buyers guide and price guide for folding bikes:
http://www.atob.org.uk/
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Brian
Re:Folding Bike Touring
Hi Gojo,
I brought a Airnimal Chameleon last year and done a fully loaded tour from Bordeaux to Santiago.I flew home from Santiago the frame of the Chameleon plus all bits fold down and fit into a backpack
type bag that you can take on as hand luggage the wheels plus the bags into the hold.Visit there web site at www.airnimal.com.
Brian
I brought a Airnimal Chameleon last year and done a fully loaded tour from Bordeaux to Santiago.I flew home from Santiago the frame of the Chameleon plus all bits fold down and fit into a backpack
type bag that you can take on as hand luggage the wheels plus the bags into the hold.Visit there web site at www.airnimal.com.
Brian
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Nurgles
Re:Folding Bike Touring
Hi Brian
I also have a Chameleon which I ride as a normal bike or take it away in a hard case.I am interested in your backpack fold.What do you use?
Phil
pjh@netvigator.com
I also have a Chameleon which I ride as a normal bike or take it away in a hard case.I am interested in your backpack fold.What do you use?
Phil
pjh@netvigator.com
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Brian
Re:Folding Bike Touring
Hi Phil,
The bag I was talking about is a soft carry-on bag 56cmx36cmx21cm the cost in 04 was £40 the wheel bag was £20,it also converts into a back pack and has pockets
inside to carry tools ect.
Have you used your bike to tour?Im of
to france and Germany in July.
Happy Days, Brian.
The bag I was talking about is a soft carry-on bag 56cmx36cmx21cm the cost in 04 was £40 the wheel bag was £20,it also converts into a back pack and has pockets
inside to carry tools ect.
Have you used your bike to tour?Im of
to france and Germany in July.
Happy Days, Brian.
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Editor
Re:Folding Bike Touring
If you can enjoy the upright stance of the Brompton, it will tour superbly but has only 6 gears; the lower gearing option must be requested. I use the front pannier and a dry bag which stands tall on the rack to the saddle. Gearing of 34" to 74" adequate for most touring. Folds superbly for public transport. Touring through highlands of Scotland up to 100km per day. Longest ride 102 miles in under 10 hours, laden. These bikes are very sturdy and will take a camping load.
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Jon
Re:Folding Bike Touring
You see, I knew somone would post to say they do long distances on a loaded Brompton. I wish I knew how they managed it - my experience of longer rides on a Brompton is that they tend to break spokes on the rear wheel. In fact anything much over 10 miles will do it for mine, especially if the road is at all uneven. They are great for what they are designed for, which is mixed-mode commuting, but I just cannot recommed them for touring.