Old 03-15-05, 09:43 AM
  #7  
MichaelW
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It is std practice to take bikes by air. You dont need to compromise the bike with a folding design. Folding bikes are heavier, less stiff and have more bits to break. The only "takedown" bike that is regularly used for expedition touring is the UK-made Moulton. S&S couplings have a good reputation and are a solution to breaking down a bike, esp a tandem, but this is not a problem for flights.
The archetypal expedition bike is the Thorn XPD (sjscycles.com) or the Bruce Gordon BLT-X. These are touring bikes with drop bars and racks but 26" MTb wheels and MTB gearing and are setup to handle heavy loads. Any bike you ride should resemble the main features of this bike, even if details (like the handlebar design) are different.
You need a solid rack system such as the BG or Tubus
Touring tyres such as Continental Top Touring or Schwalbe Marathon are good for mixed road/trail riding.
For panniers, large ones at the back, and if you are camping, small ones at the front, will distrinute your load. Arkel, Ortleib, Carradice, Vaude are some respected manufacturers.
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