cyclists: What's your bike of choice when travelling?

amandaeve
amandaeve Posts: 723 Member
edited November 16 in Fitness and Exercise
Does anyone use a folding bike? I've been enamored with the Richey Breakaway as a full-size folding option, but recently a friend was trying to talk me into the typical small folding bike. Does anyone use one? Do you ride long distances with it?
I used to box my bike up, but stopped when luggage prices jumped for air travel. Now it's cheaper to rent a bike wherever I go, but then I end up just having a bike for one day. I'm curious what other riders do.

Replies

  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    Depends on what kind of traveling, but you mentioned boxing up your bike, so probably somewhere far enough to ship it.

    You can ride any bike for five minutes. But you need a well fitting bike to do any kind of distance.

    I'd look into rental options where you're going, and, if possible, call a shop and get an idea about their willingness to fit the bike to you, change out the stem and post and stuff if necessary.
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    there is also the service Spinlister - when folks can list bike they own for rent - and you can search by the location you are traveling to

    I'd also call local bike shops like @NorthCascades mentioned - I think it depends on why you are taking your bike (I.e. I travel for races, so I am taking my bike with me), but if I was just doing it for health - I'd probably rent
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    edited March 2017
    Unless I'm racing, I'll typically rent for the week. It's just easier, and not much more expensive than traveling with my bike. Personally, I wouldn't want a small folding bike. I want the ride/feel of a true road bike (#bikesnob).

    There are travel boxes/bags that get in under the oversized baggage parameters for most airlines. It's a big chuck of change up front, but if you travel often enough, it'll work out in the long run.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    I've used a Brompton for commuting, so fairly short distances; 10 miles or so each direction.

    Mine is the S6 model so quite an aggressive ride position and a reasonable range for hills.

    The biggest issue is that riding it without a load on the front leads the handling to be a bit skittish at speeds above 13 mph or so.

    I've used it for up to 30, hilly, miles and it's perfectly comfortable, if a bit slower than my road bike, but somewhat faster than my mountain bike on the road.

  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,699 Member
    My husband and I use our Bike Fridays when we travel some distance away, but whatever bicycle is appropriate for the situation if we travel short distances.
  • kerry0521
    kerry0521 Posts: 16 Member
    My husband recently bought a Bike Friday, but he did not like it vs a regular road bike. He sold it after one trip to Hawaii. Rental bikes (good ones) were available there for as many days as we would have needed so would have been way cheaper than shipping ours like we did. We have also been looking at the Ritchey Breakaways.....
  • ronocnikral
    ronocnikral Posts: 176 Member
    My randoneeuring rig has s&s couplers. If I were to design another s&s bike I would go with caliper brakes and threadless headset. They are pretty slick and if you do a lot of riding and traveling, well worth the money. My tandem also sports couplers.
  • amandaeve
    amandaeve Posts: 723 Member
    Tanks, everyone. @deannalfisher thanks for pointing out spinlister- I hadn't heard of that before. They don't have anything in the places I'm visiting on this trip, but I'll check them out whenever I go other places. I have a bike rental reservation, but my budget can't afford renting for more than a day- especially since I'm not going on a biking vacation, I'm just squeezing a spin out on my own when the family isn't looking ;)
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    where are you heading?
This discussion has been closed.

Categories