Folding Bikes - traveling (shipping or flying) with internal hub bikes

hey guys,

I am a touring musician about 8-9 months out of the year and I've been taking my '06 Dahon Speed P8 along with me. I typically assemble and disassemble it about once a week. I'm now considering buying a new '08 Mu P24 which has an internal hub; I understand that internally hubbed wheels cannot use a QR, so the removal of the rear wheel is a bit more work.
Does anyone have experience with flying with an internal hub bike a lot, and does disassembling and reassembling it many times have an effect on the bike?
Thanks so much!

Terry :)

I have done this before.

It is not that big a hassle but you do need a number 15 wrench and you need to know how to remove and put back the clickbox (quite easy). You also need to protect the pin inside the hub. I use the plastic doohicky that came with the bike.

With a pure IGH bike, that is all you need to do but for the P24, you also have to worry about the rear D. You can leave it be, but some people I know also remove the hanger and store the rear D separately.

If you have been dissembling the P8 all this while, the P24 should not pose a problem for you. Just an extra wrench and the pin protector.

If you plan to use a regular wrench, do loosen the nut with a stronger tool first, like a socket wrench (ratchet), then tighten with the regular wrench you will use on the road or you may find it hard to loosen later.

hey guys,

I am a touring musician about 8-9 months out of the year and I've been taking my '06 Dahon Speed P8 along with me. I typically assemble and disassemble it about once a week. I'm now considering buying a new '08 Mu P24 which has an internal hub; I understand that internally hubbed wheels cannot use a QR, so the removal of the rear wheel is a bit more work.
Does anyone have experience with flying with an internal hub bike a lot, and does disassembling and reassembling it many times have an effect on the bike?
Thanks so much!

Terry :)

If you were to buy a 16 inch wheeler Terry, you may well be able to pack it without dismantling it at all. The Brompton can be packed in a soft or hard bag or case easily and simply unfolded after the journey.

Gaerlan sells a hollow solid axle for converting hubs to quick release:
http://www.gaerlan.com/bikeparts/parts/hubs/hubs.html

Could it be used for internal hubs?

Gaerlan sells a hollow solid axle for converting hubs to quick release:
http://www.gaerlan.com/bikeparts/parts/hubs/hubs.html

Could it be used for internal hubs?

No.

tcs

If you were to buy a 16 inch wheeler Terry, you may well be able to pack it without dismantling it at all. The Brompton can be packed in a soft or hard bag or case easily and simply unfolded after the journey.


+1. Nothing beats the Brompton as being a very flexible bike in all respects.

Thanks for the replies!

mrbrown: lots of info :) but that doesn't sound too bad; I'd just have to get used to it the way I did with the P8

makeinu: yeah, I asked Thor about that and apparently internal hub wheels cannot use a QR :-/

EvilV and folder fanatic: After looking around a little last night, I am also considering the Bike Friday Travel tikit... also 24 speed (like the Mu P24), but I believe I'd be able to leave the rear wheel on :) )

Thanks again, everyone! I welcome anymore replies!

Terry

or the downtube mini.
*swoon* one day it will be mine.

If you were to buy a 16 inch wheeler Terry, you may well be able to pack it without dismantling it at all. The Brompton can be packed in a soft or hard bag or case easily and simply unfolded after the journey.

I did this. Very happy with how it folds into a suitcase. See my earlier post here:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=427996&highlight=airline