Folding Bikes - Longer-distance rides and small wheelers

Do any of you use your folder or compact bicycle on longer rides, i.e., 100 km or more, on a regular or semi-regular basis?

Obviously, some folders are meant primarily for folding and commuting and wouldn't be fun or appropriate for a longer-distance ride, but others are at least marketed as distance machines.

If you do longer rides, what brand and model bike do you use? How'd that work out - what are the pros and cons?

Thanks.

Did a 100 K in April and planning to do a 100 miler in September. Ride a Dahon Speed P-8 modified with a Brooks B-17 saddle and a Thudbuster suspension seatpost. Bike is very comfortable and can be ridden for long periods of time but the upright riding position that makes it comfortable makes it slow into headwinds compared to a road bike. I'm perfectly happy using the folder for long rides because being a geezer I am not into speed but I can endure.

I did 73 miles on my folder and did not feel any difference from a regular 26" bike (never rode 700cc bikes on a regular basis)

It all depents on the config. of the bike.

Rafael

I recently did a metric on a Vitesse D5.
It wasn't particularly fast, but it was fun, and that's what makes it worth doing, isn't it?

Most 20" wheeled bikes will do OK on longer rides, I even pounded my $300 Dahon into the ground with regular 40-60 mile rides until I wised up. ;) I think you will be happier in the long run with a higher-quality folder.

I suggest you check out the Xootr Swift. (http://www.xootr.com/xootr/swift/bikes.shtml) I've put about 400 miles on mine and it's light, it's solid, it's fast, it's reasonably priced, it's got tons of standard parts and is a snap to upgrade. In short, the Swift kicks ass. If you need a better fold or want something custom, go with a Bike Friday.

The biggest problem for folders and long rides IMO is that they almost all have flat bars. One hand position + one riding posture + standard grips + 30 or more miles = ouch. Adding bar ends and/or some kind of ergonomic grip is a big help. Bike Friday offers several types of bars: flat, drops, their own "H" bars and touring bars, etc. (http://www.bikefriday.com/lexicon.cfm?ID=8) so if you want drops and don't want to do the conversion yourself, consider a BF.

On a recent 1000k brevet in Italy, one of the riders (he was either from the UK or from Ireland, I don't remember which) was on a Airnimal Chamaleon with drop bars. It looked very comfortable, and it was quite fast.

I ride my Bike Friday Pocket Pilot on rides of 50-75 miles regularly and do not notice any negatives to riding it. It is geared a little better for hilly terrain than my regular roadie so I actually take it when the area dictates.
Kenal0

I rode my updated 1965 Moulton Stowaway on a 600 km brevet a fortnight ago and did the last PBP on it. Tyres and rims wear faster.