Folding Bikes - First trip overseas with BF - Turkey

Looks like I will be in Istanbul Turkey in a few weeks - probably be there 2-3 weeks. I will bring the BF pocket Crusoe. Any advice, suggestions, thoughts would be appreciated. This will be my first trip (not including a flight from Portland to Spokane) with the BF.

I got no advice other than bring a camera and post some pics.

--sam

hmm lets see, couple extra innertubes, bring your own pump cuz you never know, and make sure you ride on the left side of the street!
what do you know about Turkish drivers?
Inshallah friend!

It was a long time ago, but I remember totally mad drivers, huge amounts of honking, narrow roads, fast traffic, a lot of pollution and no bicycles at all.

It will be an adventure.

Oh, and Turkey drives on the right, just like America and (most of) Europe. I sort of recommend you do the same.

hmm, for some reason I remembered Istanbul as a left hand driving city, but its been a while so you are prolly right.
In any case, the driving is a bit more chaotic than what most European or US Americans would be comfortable with. Nothing as crazy as say Egypt or Indonesia, but similar to what you may find in countries such as Nicaragua or Brazil...
But I excpect the OP has been to Turkey before?

But I excpect the OP has been to Turkey before?

No - but I have been to Egypt, China, Taiwan, Greece, .... and I would have ridden in all those places. How much?? Not sure - we'll see.

Here are some good links for cycling Turkey:
http://travellingtwo.com/resources/turkey
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/special/bicycling/

Here are some good links for cycling Turkey:
http://travellingtwo.com/resources/turkey
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/special/bicycling/

Looks like he is in for an adventure. I don't fancy the dogs that much. I like dogs, and own one, but I've already had enough of having them grab my calf as I ride by. Last year, I had a labrador drag me to a halt that way. Grrrrrr. I've come across huge, half wild, farm dogs in France when I was hiking there. They lie about in the sun all day waiting for a passing stranger and then spring out full of fury when they come near.

I'd put it on a par with Cairo as far as mad drivers are concerned. Except that there are more of them and the cars are bigger.

It will certainly be an adventure.

So I made it to Turkey on the 17th of June. I have not ridden until today - mainly because I have been real busy with work - and a bit freaked out riding in a place I don't know the language, has bad traffic, lots of dogs, no bikes, and no one to ride with.
Today was the day to do it - this is a view from my hotel room. My goal was to get across the high way, make it out to the coast and ride out to the hazy point in the pic.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/SkdTGk_NVHI/AAAAAAAAAP0/2QpisEPWtew/s640/IMG_1346.JPG
Getting across the highway was easier said than done. I had to go about a mile in the opposite direction, take an overpass go a couple more miles, take another overpass, go though a production area, and I was there. The area was nice, narrow streets, low traffic and very scenic. The roads got worse the closer I got to the water. They went from pavement to cobble stones to dirt - then stopped being a road all together. Then all of the sudden I came across this:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/SkdTQvz-pfI/AAAAAAAAAQE/dytmvDeEGjw/s640/IMG_1350.JPG
And I was pretty much the only person there.....

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/SkdTJCCaVMI/AAAAAAAAAP4/aS9fXx-eVQc/s640/IMG_1349.JPG
All in all the ride was great - did about 30 miles in 2 hours. I planned on going much longer but I had no sunblock on (didn't bring any with me) and I don't do the sunburn thing anymore. Tons of stray dogs. Most of them not healthy enough to chase and the ones that could were easily out ran.

Here is a pic from one of the overpasses - that is my hotel and the landmark behind it I used to find my way back - can see that thing from pretty much anywhere.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/SkdTOUepsMI/AAAAAAAAAQA/pn_TJ9Htmo0/s640/IMG_1358.JPG

I will ride a few more times this week - plus I will bring my bike with me on my trips from now on - it wasn't that hard to pack - got here pretty much undamaged. Here is a pic of it in the case - I used a ton of packing materials when I actually packed it for the trip. Plus, I removed the chain and wrapped the chain ring in an old mountain bike tire.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/SkdbKF1blGI/AAAAAAAAAQg/Shr-8Nc1xuM/s720/DSC_0001.JPG

I will ride a few more times this week - plus I will bring my bike with me on my trips from now on - it wasn't that hard to pack - got here pretty much undamaged. Here is a pic of it in the case - I used a ton of packing materials when I actually packed it for the trip. Plus, I removed the chain and wrapped the chain ring in an old mountain bike tire.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/SkdbKF1blGI/AAAAAAAAAQg/Shr-8Nc1xuM/s720/DSC_0001.JPG

curious...what suitcase is that?

What the hell? All that and I get a question about my luggage? Heys (http://shop.heys.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Revolution%5FElite), but I got it at Costco - paid much less than what they are advertising.

Great pictures and description of where you were and where you rode to and back.

Your Crusoe sure doesn't look anything like my wife's! Your seats way UP, and you're flat bars are way DOWN. Looks like it packs pretty easily though.

Great pictures and description of where you were and where you rode to and back.

Your Crusoe sure doesn't look anything like my wife's! Your seats way UP, and you're flat bars are way DOWN. Looks like it packs pretty easily though.

Thanks

I raced for years - and still do. Typically I run my bar 4 inch's or so below my seat. I did a couple of mods to it - and have a few more in the works.

That's great! Awesome pics. I think it's nuts that you had that paved MUP all to yourself.

When you first posted you were looking for something that approximated a full sized bike. Now that you've had a chance to really ride the bike. How does it feel?

Thanks for posting the pics!
--sam

That's great! Awesome pics. I think it's nuts that you had that paved MUP all to yourself.

When you first posted you were looking for something that approximated a full sized bike. Now that you've had a chance to really ride the bike. How does it feel?

Thanks for posting the pics!
--sam

The bike is great - rides really close to my Specialized Tricross. I took it on a group ride a few weeks ago with some fast guys. Climbing it was as good as my road bike, dropped the group - hammering along at 25 mph not so much, had to work a bit harder than normal. All things considered, it is a great bike - handles dirt well, rides good on the road - no complaints. Doing all that while I travel, a perfect bike.

What the hell? All that and I get a question about my luggage? Heys (http://shop.heys.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Revolution%5FElite), but I got it at Costco - paid much less than what they are advertising.

Sorry. I forgot to mention you have some awesome photos of your ride.

But you got to admit, that's a sweet suitcase :D

That suitcase looks great. :)

Wow! How cool. Is that a custom lining!









Turkey pix cool, too.