Comments on: Hunt for a folding bike – addendum http://nat.pedscapades.com/blog/2008/11/06/hunt-for-a-folding-bike-addendum/ Tales - Musings about cycling, photography and life in general Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:23:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Al http://nat.pedscapades.com/blog/2008/11/06/hunt-for-a-folding-bike-addendum/comment-page-1/#comment-2393 Al Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:00:59 +0000 http://nat.pedscapades.com/blog/?p=159#comment-2393 That is what I aspire to do, one day :) The French grandpa told me with a big smile on his face, "Arh Alvine, my life is very good. Very happy..." Agree with you - many people are so obsessed with their bikes and their parts that they forget the simple joy of just cycling, preferably to exotic lands. That is what I aspire to do, one day :) The French grandpa told me with a big smile on his face, “Arh Alvine, my life is very good. Very happy…”

Agree with you – many people are so obsessed with their bikes and their parts that they forget the simple joy of just cycling, preferably to exotic lands.

]]> By: nat http://nat.pedscapades.com/blog/2008/11/06/hunt-for-a-folding-bike-addendum/comment-page-1/#comment-2391 nat Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:47:56 +0000 http://nat.pedscapades.com/blog/?p=159#comment-2391 So cool. Amazing, at his age too. Whenever I see people riding nifty variants of the 'standard' bike, it reminds me that it usually is not the machine but the person and the willingness to haul arse out in the wide world. Once I met an Aussie guy (mid sixties too). After retirement, he decided to roam the world. Had a nice long chat by the east coast park and that was one of the times it struck me that that is what I would like to do in the long run. Lets see how life deals with me... So cool. Amazing, at his age too. Whenever I see people riding nifty variants of the ‘standard’ bike, it reminds me that it usually is not the machine but the person and the willingness to haul arse out in the wide world.

Once I met an Aussie guy (mid sixties too). After retirement, he decided to roam the world. Had a nice long chat by the east coast park and that was one of the times it struck me that that is what I would like to do in the long run. Lets see how life deals with me…

]]> By: Al http://nat.pedscapades.com/blog/2008/11/06/hunt-for-a-folding-bike-addendum/comment-page-1/#comment-2390 Al Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:41:59 +0000 http://nat.pedscapades.com/blog/?p=159#comment-2390 Hi Nat, On a different note, I met a French 62yo world tourer on a trike in Vientiane. We had breakfast and I was absolutely fascinated by his machine. It had a trailer as well and he had been touring for 7years. Have you ever ridden one of these? Guess with Spore's narrow roads, it may not be too practical. His blog (in French but translation option available) for your reading enjoyment. http://tour-du-monde-en-tricycle.blogs-de-voyage.fr Al Hi Nat,

On a different note, I met a French 62yo world tourer on a trike in Vientiane. We had breakfast and I was absolutely fascinated by his machine. It had a trailer as well and he had been touring for 7years.

Have you ever ridden one of these? Guess with Spore’s narrow roads, it may not be too practical. His blog (in French but translation option available) for your reading enjoyment.

http://tour-du-monde-en-tricycle.blogs-de-voyage.fr

Al

]]> By: nat http://nat.pedscapades.com/blog/2008/11/06/hunt-for-a-folding-bike-addendum/comment-page-1/#comment-2372 nat Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:52:53 +0000 http://nat.pedscapades.com/blog/?p=159#comment-2372 Pricing wise, I think it is reasonable too... S&S quotes similar figures on their site. Another option I forgot was the <a href="http://www.surlybikes.com/travelerscheck.html" rel="nofollow">Traveler's check</a>. But then the price works out to building a cross check or LHT with S&S as an after market upgrade. My other bike is a cross setup (Trek XO) and it is a vey good ride too. It feels less stable than the LHT but very nimble. I have done 100+Km rides on both and feel equally comfortable by the end. Given you have an LHT that you have built the way you want, I would go by the upgrade route. I got my LHT from <a href="http://www.trbikes.com" rel="nofollow">TR (lynten)</a>. Pricing wise, I think it is reasonable too… S&S quotes similar figures on their site. Another option I forgot was the Traveler’s check. But then the price works out to building a cross check or LHT with S&S as an after market upgrade.

My other bike is a cross setup (Trek XO) and it is a vey good ride too. It feels less stable than the LHT but very nimble. I have done 100+Km rides on both and feel equally comfortable by the end.

Given you have an LHT that you have built the way you want, I would go by the upgrade route.

I got my LHT from TR (lynten).

]]> By: Al http://nat.pedscapades.com/blog/2008/11/06/hunt-for-a-folding-bike-addendum/comment-page-1/#comment-2371 Al Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:23:17 +0000 http://nat.pedscapades.com/blog/?p=159#comment-2371 Thanks Nat. I checked with Sul and its abt S$800, possibly more when you need the special tools, cabling etc. But it sure is cheaper than forking some more dough for yet another bike... Did you get your LHT from RC as well? Thanks Nat. I checked with Sul and its abt S$800, possibly more when you need the special tools, cabling etc. But it sure is cheaper than forking some more dough for yet another bike…

Did you get your LHT from RC as well?

]]> By: nat http://nat.pedscapades.com/blog/2008/11/06/hunt-for-a-folding-bike-addendum/comment-page-1/#comment-2370 nat Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:48:50 +0000 http://nat.pedscapades.com/blog/?p=159#comment-2370 Hi Al: I have been lurking and reading about your Loas adventure. Good to have you back commenting :) I tried the <a href="http://www.bikefriday.com/" rel="nofollow">NWT</a> when I was in Eugene this year. It has a good ride and can fold quickly too. The trouble as I saw was that the bike needs a near disassembly to make it compact. On top, it does not roll. Not that this is a problem if you are out touring but not the best solution for riding within the city (to work etc...) I would think another option to consider for touring (and compact packing) would be the LHT with <a href="http://www.sandsmachine.com/" rel="nofollow">S&S Couplers</a>. I am sure you have heard of them. You need someone experienced to modify the frame for the couplers (Sulaiman, from Rebound Center comes to mind). I know one person who has this setup and during a chat I had with him, he was very happy with the conversion and mentioned that the disassembled state is extremely convenient for air-travel. The flip sides are possibly a more convoluted disassembly process and of course cost (I think the conversion could set you back by 700-800 SGD). Not too bad in the long run, me thinks. Worth considering, given that LHT is such an amazing ride. Hi Al:

I have been lurking and reading about your Loas adventure. Good to have you back commenting :)

I tried the NWT when I was in Eugene this year. It has a good ride and can fold quickly too. The trouble as I saw was that the bike needs a near disassembly to make it compact. On top, it does not roll. Not that this is a problem if you are out touring but not the best solution for riding within the city (to work etc…)

I would think another option to consider for touring (and compact packing) would be the LHT with S&S Couplers. I am sure you have heard of them. You need someone experienced to modify the frame for the couplers (Sulaiman, from Rebound Center comes to mind).

I know one person who has this setup and during a chat I had with him, he was very happy with the conversion and mentioned that the disassembled state is extremely convenient for air-travel.

The flip sides are possibly a more convoluted disassembly process and of course cost (I think the conversion could set you back by 700-800 SGD). Not too bad in the long run, me thinks.

Worth considering, given that LHT is such an amazing ride.

]]> By: Al http://nat.pedscapades.com/blog/2008/11/06/hunt-for-a-folding-bike-addendum/comment-page-1/#comment-2368 Al Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:45:34 +0000 http://nat.pedscapades.com/blog/?p=159#comment-2368 Hi Nat, I enjoyed watching that review and having owned the Strida and the Brompton, I will say that the comments are pretty spot on. Having just returned from the mountains of Lao after 600km of hard riding, I have a deeper appreciation of foldies that can climb well. Our Surly LHT of course handled the steep mountain climbs and flew down those passes with bad roads without any issue. Umm, looks like the search for the ultimate touring foldie begins. BF NWT or Dahon's TR? Any other suggestions? Al :) Hi Nat,

I enjoyed watching that review and having owned the Strida and the Brompton, I will say that the comments are pretty spot on.

Having just returned from the mountains of Lao after 600km of hard riding, I have a deeper appreciation of foldies that can climb well. Our Surly LHT of course handled the steep mountain climbs and flew down those passes with bad roads without any issue.

Umm, looks like the search for the ultimate touring foldie begins. BF NWT or Dahon’s TR? Any other suggestions?

Al :)

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