Folding Bikes - How Far?

What is the single longest distance you have ridden your folder?
Which folder do you own?
Tell us about the ride?
What did you learn about your bike from the ride?

What is the single longest distance you have ridden your folder? 78miles

Which folder do you own? A Brompton, but that mileage was done on a Giant Halfway RS

Tell us about the ride? A frustrated atempt to do a Brevet

What did you learn from the ride? Folders are not road bikes. To compensate you need more hours of training, proper nutrition and good rest regularly.

What is the single longest distance you have ridden your folder? 200km in a day, 1200km in 3 weeks
Which folder do you own? Swift, Raleigh Twenty
Tell us about the ride? Audax rides, Tasmanian holiday (latter, see sig)
What did you learn from the ride? (Weird questions. Sounds like you lifted them from a psychiatrist's list or a bike shop's market study or something.) I don't see my folders as anything but a bike which happens to fold. I don't think they are inferior in any way - my R20 is a valueable workhorse while my Swift is a go-fast capable of giving roadies a hiding.
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What's with the weird questions?

100+ hilly miles on a mostly stock Xootr Swift.

I learned that an all-aluminum bike with 20" wheels and flat bars kind of sucks for Centuries. ;)

100-150 miles.

Bike Friday NWT, Downtube Mini

They were a few centuries and recreational rides.

I assume that the last question is about the bikes ... long story short, folding bikes are comparable to regular bikes. Get a crappy folding bike, expect it to ride like a crappy full sized bike. Get a good folding bike, expect it to ride like a good full sized bike. Small-wheel and large wheel bikes each have their advantages; but in the end, it tends to be a wash.

Just a couple of 50 milers.

I have a Dahon Speed 7.

It was a very comfortable ride from Huntington Beach to East Anaheim and back on the Santa Ana River trail. No problems.

I thought the 50 miler would be hard on my butt, but it wasn't. I did change saddles to one I thought would be more comfortable, but it made the 25 I did before the 50 almost miserable. I changed back to the original seat and never looked back.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention: 300+ miles on tour with my Swift in Ireland. ;)



I assume that the last question is about the bikes ... long story short, folding bikes are comparable to regular bikes. Get a crappy folding bike, expect it to ride like a crappy full sized bike. Get a good folding bike, expect it to ride like a good full sized bike. Small-wheel and large wheel bikes each have their advantages; but in the end, it tends to be a wash.
I guess, but there are two caveats to this when dealing with rides over 50-70 miles:

1) 20" wheels have a harsher ride than 26" / 650 / 700 wheels
2) carbon forks are common on new road bikes (and easy to put on non-folders), and almost non-existent on folding bikes
3) carbon frames, seat-stays etc are non-existent for folders afaik
4) drop bars are rare on folding bikes

I think the steel frames on the Bike Friday are about as good as you're going to get for long non-touring distances, without losing efficiency via things like suspension or wide tires. If I had to do things over, and only wanted one bike for touring and LD rides, I'd probably have gotten a Bike Friday. C'est la vie....

What is the single longest distance you have ridden your folder?
Which folder do you own?
Tell us about the ride?
What did you learn about your bike from the ride?

Back to back centuries: TOSRV East

Bike Friday NWT

Here are the ride photos (http://www.crw.org/gallery/TOSRV2007/Index.htm).

Well, nothing new. I knew it would be a good bike for that ride.

Speedo

3450 miles on a Bike Friday NWT (obviously not in 1 day!). I just got back from my tour, having difficulty adjusting to 'real life'.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/2391

What is the single longest distance you have ridden your folder?

110km (i.e. 68 miles)


Which folder do you own?

Dahon Helios P8 - 2006


Tell us about the ride?

Canada:
Toronto, ON to Jordan, ON
side-roads, paved trail, service roads, bike lanes etc.


What did you learn about your bike from the ride?

The rider is the weakest link. :)

Harsh ride on ripped up pavement makes me consider a Pantour suspension hub...
Want to continue upgrading folder into a proper road bike (STI/Ergo shifters, etc)
Marathon Plus tires are awesome, ride over glass with impunity
Marathon Plus tires are heavy, but just consider it extra training!
Generally... I love my bike.

• What is the single longest distance you have ridden your folder?
About 50 miles in one 'sitting'

• Which folder do you own?
Raleigh Twenty; Was running Sram Spectro7 hub gears at the time.

• Tell us about the ride?
Sponsored ride from Chelsea, along the Thames river in London across Richmond park and back. Actual sponsored ride was 26m but I had to ride 12 miles to the start and then 12 home again.

• What did you learn about your bike from the ride?
That I liked having my camelback waterbag on a hot day, that I really should check out those Brooks saddles, and that Stelvio's really do give you grey hairs when you take a wrong turn and end up having to ride 5 miles on a gravelly tow-path.

8-10 miles maybe, along the shore at Gulfport--Long beach--Pass Christian. Giant Halfway which I bought for toodling when on vacation.

It serves well the purpose intended. Never gave it much more thought than that.

140 miles to Montauk and my butt hurt like hell afterwards.

I learned that a nicer seat would have been easier on the butt, but it might hurt a great deal anyway.

Added: On a Dahon Speed P8

some of you guys are amazing. Even driving over a hundred miles is already way uncomfortable don't even say ride!

What is the single longest distance you have ridden your folder?
Which folder do you own?
Tell us about the ride?
What did you learn about your bike from the ride?

about 65 miles / 105 km

Dahon Vitesse D5

It was about 90-95 degrees, I'd had the bike for 2 days. almost all of my rides over 20 miles were on a recumbent. Put a bottle cage on it, some snacks and another bottle of water in a rack trunk. I started around 8:30 AM, finished 100km at 2:30, took a shower, ate some food, then rode a quick 40 on the 'bent, then around dark took the folder to the grocery for some stuff - put it in the shopping cart.

It was a really amazing ride. I never allowed myself to get in a hurry. I stopped at the county fairgrounds as they opened for the last day of the fair (refilled water and bought a lemon shake-up), stopped at a car show because my butt hurt. Walked around for a while, looked at the old Chevies and Studebakers ... For the first time in a long long time, I did not allow myself to be rushed. I stopped often, chatted with people, and never once got out of breath. Well maybe once. It was a really memorable ride.

My hands eventually quit tingling too.

It was the first metric I'd ever done on flat bars or without toe clips.

some of you guys are amazing. Even driving over a hundred miles is already way uncomfortable don't even say ride!I agree it does sound incredible. But as you gain fitness and fanaticism, this becomes a normal thing. It still wears you out, but at least you can do it. I would have laughed (and did) at the notion of me cycling in 28km to work every and same distance home again. But now I do it without thinking anything strange about it. I just have to get up a little earlier.

hi all ... nubie here in this forum ... nice meetin u all

a few weeks ago we do a touring with foldingbike ... got dahon curveD3, speedP8 and matrix ... we did a 150km roundtrip ... as a matter of fact it was fun doing a long trip like that with foldingbike ... we change the seatpost using canecreek just to eliminate the bumpy feel along the way since the actual road that we went through was not that smooth at all ...

looking forward for another day of touring ...
pic can be seen at http://idfoldbike.multiply.com/photos/album/7/Touring_to_Bogor
this is our foldingbike community in indonesia

What is the single longest distance you have ridden your folder? 200km

Which folder do you own? Used my 06 Dahon Speed 8



Tell us about the ride? http://www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/22956

What did you learn about your bike from the ride?

Over a distance of 200km fm Thailand to Vientiane, Lao and back, the Dahon Speed 8 did not lose out in any way compared to my friend's Trek full size Hybrid. It cruised easy at 25-28km/h with full panniers and at one stage, I pulled away from the Trek (unknowingly as I got into the "rhythm").

Of course, the folder's advantages were:

1. I saved on additional flight charges.
2. I could store my bike in my hotel room while the Trek had to park outside in the hotel lobby.
3. The Dahon travelled on taxis and Tuk Tuk easily as it was in a suitcase.



The Trek had to travel like this:

That was a great post.

On my PBW folder, 135 miles in a day, and a couple of 400+ mile tours. The one day ride is from the Boston MA area to western Maine, hillier near the end. The tours were between Boston and Maine and Lake George NY, some very hilly sections in the White mountains, Vermont and western Mass. The PBW is a very comfortable bike for long distances, has full suspension, a Rohloff hub gear and a Brooks B17.



On my Mobiky, 16 miles is the most so far, but maybe more to come. The Mobiky rides well for its 12" wheels, and carries weight hung on the handlebars with surprisingly very little effect on handling.

I think I probably did about 20 miles on a cheap Kent folder a few years ago. Cruising around Chicago, doing touristy things. Seemed like a long way, I was quite tired when it was done. However, I'm not in the kind of shape I think most of you are. I have probably 10 lbs. of extra insulation due to my fondness of beer and lack of exercise.

The other day, I did 12 miles on the Dahon Curve D3. That ride was through the rich north suburbs of Chicago. Highland Park, Deerfield, Northbrook. I got lots of stares, mostly people trying to figure out what is wrong with this picture. First of all, I'm the only one on a bike. The teenie boppers were driving Mercedes' & Porsches, and me on a folding bike, going into the hospital. The guards at the hospital entrance were quite entertained as I bagged the bike & brought it in. They were about to tell me I couldn't bring it in until I folded it up & bagged it. The receptionist let me store it in the office area, next to a printer, so I didn't have to lug it all around the glitzy hospital.

What did I learn?

1) I don't like rear suspension.
2) I need a new seat for the D3
3) The D3 could do with a lower low gear for climbing hills. (or I need a stronger engine, hehehe)
4) Folders give freedom

I think I probably did about 20 miles on a cheap Kent folder a few years ago. Cruising around Chicago, doing touristy things. Seemed like a long way, I was quite tired when it was done. However, I'm not in the kind of shape I think most of you are. I have probably 10 lbs. of extra insulation due to my fondness of beer and lack of exercise.

The other day, I did 12 miles on the Dahon Curve D3. That ride was through the rich north suburbs of Chicago. Highland Park, Deerfield, Northbrook. I got lots of stares, mostly people trying to figure out what is wrong with this picture. First of all, I'm the only one on a bike. The teenie boppers were driving Mercedes' & Porsches, and me on a folding bike, going into the hospital. The guards at the hospital entrance were quite entertained as I bagged the bike & brought it in. They were about to tell me I couldn't bring it in until I folded it up & bagged it. The receptionist let me store it in the office area, next to a printer, so I didn't have to lug it all around the glitzy hospital.

What did I learn?

1) I don't like rear suspension.
2) I need a new seat for the D3
3) The D3 could do with a lower low gear for climbing hills. (or I need a stronger engine, hehehe)
4) Folders give freedom

Which bike has the rear suspension?

Would you buy the SL version if given a second chance?

What is the single longest distance you have ridden your folder?
Which folder do you own?
Tell us about the ride?
What did you learn about your bike from the ride?

My wife recently covered 29 miles on a group bike ride going up hill & down dale on her Strida 3.

I also went along on a folder, but not my Strida, & I had hub gear & chain problems, so she left me in the dust, much to the amusement of 1 or 2 others ;-)

I'd agree with 14R's last point :-)

* What is the single longest distance you have ridden your folder?
143 Km in Cambodia

* Which folder do you own?
The best one of the world "Bike Friday" New World Tourist" with Rohloff gear

* Tell us about the ride?
http://www.infobiker.com.ar/cicloturismoautosuficiente.htm (you will have to translate if u don t speak Spanish)
http://www.der-radladen-mannheim.de/Cambodia/ (pictures)


* What did you learn about your bike from the ride?
Learn about my bike just that is the best bike

--I believe 50miles my first time at FIVE BORO tour, including trip to and back to hotel; Ottawa 80K, just looping around the entire capital city.



--Had the DT FS IX (07 version)



--Five Boro was fantastic (crowded, but worth it to see the city), Ottawa was just absolutely beautiful in the summer, just keep following the canal (though you don't want to go there in the winter BRrrrrrrrr).



--That my FS was pimpin!!! More than adequate for long distances, and that people really like the colour bright orange... also, there are certain characters that just do not like getting passed by a folder...:D

BTW: My hats of to OLDIES... I hope someday I can do a trip just like yours...

I agree it does sound incredible. But as you gain fitness and fanaticism, this becomes a normal thing. It still wears you out, but at least you can do it. I would have laughed (and did) at the notion of me cycling in 28km to work every and same distance home again. But now I do it without thinking anything strange about it. I just have to get up a little earlier.

I hope you have shower facilities where you work... If not, I hope you work on your own. :)

Seriously though - that is a great fitness regime. You'll burn about a thousand calories a day on your journey.

--I believe 50miles my first time at FIVE BORO tour, including trip to and back to hotel; Ottawa 80K, just looping around the entire capital city.



--Had the DT FS IX (07 version)



--Five Boro was fantastic (crowded, but worth it to see the city), Ottawa was just absolutely beautiful in the summer, just keep following the canal (though you don't want to go there in the winter BRrrrrrrrr).



--That my FS was pimpin!!! More than adequate for long distances, and that people really like the colour bright orange... also, there are certain characters that just do not like getting passed by a folder...:D

Now it's time for the New York Century! There is bound to be a lot of folders out there: http://www.nyccentury.org/

There is also the Tour del Bronx, which is a fast group ride over 40 miles of Bronx greenways. (Still at a leisurely 15MPH, and, best yet, free!)

What is the single longest distance you have ridden your folder? [66 miles avg. 14.5MPH]

Which folder do you own? ['06 Dahon Speed 7]

Tell us about the ride? [Great bike to ride always, have put in over 1200 miles in over 2 months since I bought it]

What did you learn about your bike from the ride? [It's fun to ride the folder, it's quick, agile and great for excercise in building endurance and stamina. Lately, I have been riding my full size bike and have kept the folder in trunk of car for occasional ride on parks and unexplored bike paths. ]

I'll be marshalling the 75 mile ride on the NYC Century with my Dahon Speed P8.

The TdBx isn't really that fast...

BTW: My hats of to OLDIES... I hope someday I can do a trip just like yours...

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Hi Psykoocycle (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?u=77844)

With a bit of planning and determination, I'm sure it can be a reality for you! Trips like these are priceless esp with your love ones. Think of all the great stories you can tell your grandkids one day :)



OnF

Distance: 46 miles

Folder: Xootr Swift

About the ride: I took the bike out for a short ride and just kept going. I rode a combination of city streets and multi use paths. I was limited by avaialble time. I think I could have put in more miles.

What did I learn: I need a different seat. I need to work on my hill climbing.