Folding Bikes - Around the Bay in a Day - 210km on a Dahon

Hi all,

Don't know what possessed me but thought it would be a laugh to try this annual event in Melbourne, Australia. Made it round in 11.5 hours, 9 in the saddle. Was a bit hot reaching 33 degrees centigrade, but the winds light which I think helped.

Did the ride with my wife and about 10 000 roadies who didn't know what to make of my little espresso special.

Was hoping to see a couple more small wheelers but only saw one other folder :-( (a black birdy and not sure if it was doing the 210 or 100 km ride)

If any you are planning to do anything like this, here are a couple of long distance trip suggestion for your folder:

120 psi stelvios or equivalent
Comfy, well worn in seat
Clipless pedals (I used SPDs)
Suitable gear spacing (I ran an 11 - 28 8 speed cluster with a 52 tooth main but wished I had a tighter spaced road cluster)

And probably most importantly are those magic power bars, had not tried them before the ride but they are amazing, definitely wouldn't have got round without them. Taste horrible but keep you energy up, just keep nibbling as you ride.

Here is a picture of the bike, its a version of the Jet Stream released for the Chinese market. Upgraded to 8 speed, sealed bearing rear hub, bigger chain ring and clipless pedals.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=33420&d=1167800965

Nothing you can't do on a folder :-)

Cheers
Derek

I had one exactly like it for a week; bought it from a Sydney-based business who ebayed it as a jetsream with a pic culled from the Dahon site. I was very taken with the Jetstream at the time (still am, really) and particularly interested in the front suspension fork. Imagine my acute disappointment when that bike and not a 'real' jetstream arrived. I kept it for a week, never took the packing off the frame tubes, took it for a brief ride and decided it's not what I wanted and sent it back.

Regarding doing bigger rides on folders - I have done quite a number of them, and always get comments of sorts. People in general have the idea that somehow folders are not suitable bicycles except for the briefest of clown rides. There is the idea that the ride is harsher (I disagree), efficiency is less (no evidence of that) and uncomfortable (I disagree - that depends on whether the bike fits you). Folders may or may not be more flexy than a conventional bike but even that depends.

Well done. A fine sense of achievement no doubt.

awesome
very nice accomplishment

Thanks for sharing
thor