Originally Posted by
raybo
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If your plan is multi-modal travel (planes, high-speed trains) with a bike, I'm not sure a folding bike will fit your needs any better than a non-folding bike. My recommendation is to plan trips that minimize plane travel and use trains that take bikes. These trains often take longer but, for me, that is all part of the experience. In my travels, I've found that taking bike on ferries is usually without hassle.
I understand completely with what you are saying and in the past what you describe has been my strategy. Last year after renting a touring bike in Barcelona I went directly to the ferry terminal and took the ferry to Majorca, then ferry to Valencia and slow train back to Barcelona and slow train to Girona. But when I go back I want to be able to take the high speed trains and see more of the country. Another possibility is to just take panniers and try to rent a suitable bicycle in each location. A titanium Brompton might be the perfect solution. I am willing to go with an imperfect solution.