Surly to sell a "coupled" X-check
 

I saw this on Speedgoat's Interbike blog. I sure wish they'd have done this with an LHT first. I've been giving some serious thought to sending my LHT frame to Bilenky for an S&S retrofit. Maybe I'll wait a bit now. A coupled trucker can't be far behind.

http://www.speedgoat.com/blog.asp

A coupled Trucker would be a huge hit for them. I'm suspecting the CC packs down a little shorter with the shorter stays though.

Well I hope they do and do before I buy a new tourer :-)

Andrew

I am not sure if it might not be more trouble and expense to deal with having to ship the empty case back home or ahead to the tour's destination than to deal with a regular cardboard bike box which can be disposed of or acquired in most locations. So for touring I am less sure of the advantages of the take-apart frame..

Maybe the logistics of the tour are different for others, but I usually travel to one (remote from home) starting point and ride to some other remote place. The whole thing would seem to be logistically messy.

Am I missing something here?

OTOH: it would be great to be able to take along a full sized bike when just traveling (as compared to touring).

Here in the USA, it's easy to use Amtrak or Greyhound to transport a bike and rider. Here in the Northwest I know lots of easy out and back routes using the train or bus.

Flying with a bike is PITA, however. I can't think of a better bike to take to Europe than a break down Crosscheck. Heck, I can't think of a better do-it-all bike period! Take that Crosscheck with couplers, add trekking cranks, frount and rear racks, 4 small panniers and handle bar bag, 2 wheelsets (touring and lighter racing), hard travel case for bike...add a high end, ultra lightweight camping kit and you have one super sweet bike!

Yeah, I know a LHT would make a better loaded touring bike, and a road bike would be better for club rides and centuries, and a Soma ES would make a better light touring bike..... but that's 3 bikes! With the right set up, a single Crosscheck could do it all.

I'd set the total cost at around $3000-- for bike bike, case, 2 wheelsets, racks and bags, camping gear...and it would all fit a your closet.

Actually a really easy bike to transport is a Bacchetta recumbent. The wheels/seat/bars pack in a box that is allowed by the airline, and the frame fits in a sports tube/ski bag which is also allowed as normal check on baggage. I flew to TX with my Corsa for the HHH with some friends on Southwest with no extra "bike" charge this way. I'm still in the pondering stage if I should sell the LHT and build a dual 26" wheeled/disc braked Giro with a Euromesh seat. No matter how broke in a brooks is, it will never match the comfort of a recumbent.