David Byrne on Folding Bikes
09-07-10, 10:27 PM
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David Byrne on Folding Bikes
From Bicycle Diaries, p 196:
I have tried a few different folding bikes, but I haven't tried them all, so this is not a consumer report. I have a prejudice against the folding ones with little wheels, though I began my music touring with a small folding Peugeot with little heels and it held up for many years. I now mainly use full-sized folding bikes that feature some form of suspension---either in the front fork or the seat. I once go really sore wrists and I think it was from riding a lot on cobblestones in SoHo without suspension. For a guitar player this was worrying. Montague and Dahon both make folding bikes with full-sized wheels. Brompton, Birdy, Moulton, and Dahon all make folding bikes with small wheels.
The full-sized bikes fold into a large suitcase with wheels (that also has room for a helmet), which can be checked as a second piece of luggage. Once upon a time you were allowed two pieces of luggage with no extra charge---that's rare now. I've gotten stuck with $125 sports-equipment charges (I think this charge was meant for skis or golf bags), so I'd think twice about throwing in the bike for a short trip these days. If I'm going to be somewhere for the week it is not only practical and fun but also economical, even with the baggage charge.
An alternative to all this luggage and packing is to rent a bike when you get to where you're going. It's getting easier to do this locally. I recently rented a bike in berlin for a week and in Salvador, Brazil, for two days.
The full-sized bikes fold into a large suitcase with wheels (that also has room for a helmet), which can be checked as a second piece of luggage. Once upon a time you were allowed two pieces of luggage with no extra charge---that's rare now. I've gotten stuck with $125 sports-equipment charges (I think this charge was meant for skis or golf bags), so I'd think twice about throwing in the bike for a short trip these days. If I'm going to be somewhere for the week it is not only practical and fun but also economical, even with the baggage charge.
An alternative to all this luggage and packing is to rent a bike when you get to where you're going. It's getting easier to do this locally. I recently rented a bike in berlin for a week and in Salvador, Brazil, for two days.
09-08-10, 02:51 AM
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This is article is purely subjective and a matter of opinion. David likes larger wheeled bikes, each to their own I say!
As for airlines, they charge for luggage and it's up to the person as a passenger to decide if the charges are worth it. I agree airlines had to redefine their business models but not to the point of overcharging so that there's a much lower uptake. The only net impact is people spend less on services and on their overall trip if pricing for luggage is too exorbitant.
It's a shame as having your own favourite bike for your needs on a trip (large or small wheeled) beats some of the rental bikes on offer.
As for airlines, they charge for luggage and it's up to the person as a passenger to decide if the charges are worth it. I agree airlines had to redefine their business models but not to the point of overcharging so that there's a much lower uptake. The only net impact is people spend less on services and on their overall trip if pricing for luggage is too exorbitant.
It's a shame as having your own favourite bike for your needs on a trip (large or small wheeled) beats some of the rental bikes on offer.
09-08-10, 04:36 AM
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I'd like to see this suitcase that these large-wheeled folders fold into. With room for a helmet. Likely large enough for the Titanic to fold into. Second piece of luggage, indeed! A suitcase that large would attract dizzying extra charges.
09-08-10, 07:30 AM
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I have been able to pack a small wheeled bike (sorry, Byrne) in an airline approved suitcase as documented here:
https://utilitycyclist.blogspot.com/2...o-airline.html
No extra charges only the $25 checked in bag fee.
https://utilitycyclist.blogspot.com/2...o-airline.html
No extra charges only the $25 checked in bag fee.
09-08-10, 08:04 AM
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BTW, it's worth reminding everyone that Bicycle Diaries is Byrne's travelogue as he visited lots of countries over the years, largely biking around on his Montague. Recently sold it at auction for some charity. The man is die-hard about folders and biking around the world.
Still, I too wonder how he packed it: Montagues do not fold into standard suitcases so far as I am aware.
I understand his concern about small wheels and lack of suspension on roads, though I made it through Rome unscathed on the Tikit.
Still, I too wonder how he packed it: Montagues do not fold into standard suitcases so far as I am aware.
I understand his concern about small wheels and lack of suspension on roads, though I made it through Rome unscathed on the Tikit.
09-08-10, 12:03 PM
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09-08-10, 05:36 PM
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It's silly to check a helmet - you can always wear it through security and stuff it into overhead.
09-08-10, 06:19 PM
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These fold into a 62" total dimension suitcase ; you know this I'm sure ? The same size that's necessary for a small wheeled suitcase, just that it will be squared instead of rectangular.
It's silly to check a helmet - you can always wear it through security and stuff it into overhead.
It's silly to check a helmet - you can always wear it through security and stuff it into overhead.
26" wheels won't fit even if it's square, i think? 26"+26"=52, leaving 10" for depth... but the wheels have to have the axles next to each other or nothing else will fit.
09-08-10, 07:15 PM
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26" wheels won't fit even if it's square, i think? 26"+26"=52, leaving 10" for depth... but the wheels have to have the axles next to each other or nothing else will fit.
We appear to have two diverging lines of discussion. I agree Jur, that it is highly unlikely that a large wheel, folding bike would fit in a “legal” suitcase. However, the comment about the wheels is off point. My S&S coupled (not folding) 29er fits in a 26” x 26” x 10’ hard case. It is necessary to deflate the tires, but removal from the rims is not necessary. They nest side by side with the two frame parts intermingled. And there is room for a helmet.
We appear to have two diverging lines of discussion. I agree Jur, that it is highly unlikely that a large wheel, folding bike would fit in a “legal” suitcase. However, the comment about the wheels is off point. My S&S coupled (not folding) 29er fits in a 26” x 26” x 10’ hard case. It is necessary to deflate the tires, but removal from the rims is not necessary. They nest side by side with the two frame parts intermingled. And there is room for a helmet.
09-08-10, 09:18 PM
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26" wheels won't fit even if it's square, i think? 26"+26"=52, leaving 10" for depth... but the wheels have to have the axles next to each other or nothing else will fit.
We appear to have two diverging lines of discussion. I agree Jur, that it is highly unlikely that a large wheel, folding bike would fit in a “legal” suitcase. However, the comment about the wheels is off point. My S&S coupled (not folding) 29er fits in a 26” x 26” x 10’ hard case. It is necessary to deflate the tires, but removal from the rims is not necessary. They nest side by side with the two frame parts intermingled. And there is room for a helmet.
We appear to have two diverging lines of discussion. I agree Jur, that it is highly unlikely that a large wheel, folding bike would fit in a “legal” suitcase. However, the comment about the wheels is off point. My S&S coupled (not folding) 29er fits in a 26” x 26” x 10’ hard case. It is necessary to deflate the tires, but removal from the rims is not necessary. They nest side by side with the two frame parts intermingled. And there is room for a helmet.
09-08-10, 09:21 PM
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BTW, for those of you interested in what David Byrne looks like now...
Along with Bowie, Byrne is the definitive example of music springing from Andy Warhol. Now if we can only get him to post to the forum. Though I suspect David might be invisiblehand.
Oh yes. Though it's been posted before, the bike in question:
Last edited by feijai; 09-08-10 at 09:52 PM.
09-09-10, 07:43 PM
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Towards the end of the book he buys Walmart bikes for the weekend he's in town and leaves them where they'll get used. Cheaper than the 125 dollar sports bag fee.
09-10-10, 07:33 AM
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Damn, Byrne!
09-10-10, 03:26 PM
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Just a bit older than 26 years (it predates the movie)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088178/
How is it I don't have any Talking Heads on my iPod?
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088178/
How is it I don't have any Talking Heads on my iPod?
09-11-10, 05:32 AM
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
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09-13-10, 10:25 AM
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"I have tried a few different folding bikes, but I haven't tried them all, so this is not a consumer report. I have a prejudice against the folding ones with little wheels, though I began my music touring with a small folding Peugeot with little heels and it held up for many years. I now mainly use full-sized folding bikes that feature some form of suspension"
...just can't seem to face up to the facts
...just can't seem to face up to the facts
09-14-10, 07:09 PM
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SandS has been doing this for 20 years,
https://www.sandsmachine.com/regs.htm
Going with 26" wheels makes this even easier as axles are off center a bit and makes a lot more room in the case.
There are several models of factory bikes built with S&S (thorn, rodriguez, ritchey, etc.), and several "folding brand" bikes that can also fit this way if removing some of their parts.
https://www.sandsmachine.com/regs.htm
Going with 26" wheels makes this even easier as axles are off center a bit and makes a lot more room in the case.
There are several models of factory bikes built with S&S (thorn, rodriguez, ritchey, etc.), and several "folding brand" bikes that can also fit this way if removing some of their parts.
10-16-10, 07:09 PM
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Wow. That suit is now 35 years old. Witness:
BTW, for those of you interested in what David Byrne looks like now...
Along with Bowie, Byrne is the definitive example of music springing from Andy Warhol. Now if we can only get him to post to the forum. Though I suspect David might be invisiblehand.
Oh yes. Though it's been posted before, the bike in question:
BTW, for those of you interested in what David Byrne looks like now...
Along with Bowie, Byrne is the definitive example of music springing from Andy Warhol. Now if we can only get him to post to the forum. Though I suspect David might be invisiblehand.
Oh yes. Though it's been posted before, the bike in question:
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