Originally Posted by
manapua_man
Honestly, if it wasn't for the fact that I have to bag and take my bikes on trains a lot, I'd run something similar.
I'd probably have a small radio running for weather broadcasts, my mobile hotspot, phablet, a couple lights, and other random junk up front.
Originally Posted by
manapua_man
Honestly, if it wasn't for the fact that I have to bag and take my bikes on trains a lot, I'd run something similar.
I'd probably have a small radio running for weather broadcasts, my mobile hotspot, phablet, a couple lights, and other random junk up front.
Actually I do you just can't see it in these pictures.
I have an 18 watt led light attached to the front rack under the rack bag. A 6 watt flashing tail light. For the radio I have a Yaesu VX-8DR, Ham Radio. Which does not only weather / FM receive but also acts as two way communication when you either don't need cell phone or have no cell phone reception, but you have to have the license to use it.
You're right commercial travel with my bike would take some reworking and would never be "FUN". It's not something that I'd want to have to do on a daily basis that's for sure!
If I were to ever consider this I'd definitely have a custom set of handlebars made combining the road/comfort into a single piece while losing the lower part of the drops. Who knows I might end up doing that anyways but this route was cheaper for testing purposes.
I'd also rework the brakes just a little. I envision I would have two brake cable splitters, like you see on SS coupler equipped bikes, with all of the brake doublers right at the handlebars for the front like I already do for the rear. The front is doubled once at the handlebars, road/TT, and than again at the caliper for the mountain. The rear is doubled twice right at the handlebars. I'd also lose the lower "fangs" out front. I could probably get total height down to something like 8-10 inches for just the bars.
So prep for travel would be. Split the brake cables, pull one Di2 cable and remove the stem, bars and all as one unit. I imagine the bars would end up being something like 24X10X20.
Rest of bike prep wouldn't be much different. Remove pedals,pull rear derailleur. I'm undecided about the rotors I could remove them pretty quickly but they are 6 bolt. If I were to do this as a travel bike I'd have done centerlock instead. So while it could be done, it wouldn't be simple or stress free unless I just wanted to "Crate" the bike and ship via commercial freight carrier. Which now that I think about it would probably be the better choice all around.
On the other hand she travels great on her own two wheels which is my preferred method of travel.
She'll even travels reasonable well via car racks just not as much fun.
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