Longest day ride on your folder
#1
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
Longest day ride on your folder
Hi origamiists! I have a couple of Raleigh Twenty folders, both alloy customized to around 25 pounds. One with 406 mm wheels and a Sturmey-Archer S5 the other with 451 mm wheels and a fixed gear. The 5 speed is my travel bike, and I have climbed Pikes Peak on it. All this is slightly relevant bragging prior to my main question. I am retiring, moving to New York City to be close to both my kids and my grandkid, requiring downsizing to a 2-bedroom apartment. I have 3 other full size bikes, but life in a small apartment would be more comfortable with only the folders. Life in retirement would also be much more enjoyable with regular long bike rides exploring NYC and the surrounding country. So (finally) my question is: with the small wheels and fit compromises of a folder, what is the the longest continuous ride people have I done on a folder? I am especially iterested in non-suspension folder experiences, as I love the ride of the Twenties. I just have never ridden them for more than 5 hours straight.
#2
Senior Member


Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 444
From: Henrico, VA
Bikes: Origami Gazelle, Origami Crane 8, Origami Cricket 7
I have done 53 miles in 5 hours while pulling a child trailer on my Origami Crane 8. Trailer + kid + food and clothing was about 65 pounds.
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Paul Pinigis
Owner of Origami Bicycle Company
Paul Pinigis
Owner of Origami Bicycle Company
#3
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 84
Likes: 14
From: South Shore, MA
Bikes: Origami Crane 8, 1985 Schwinn Voyageur
The most I've done in a day on a folder is 63 miles on my Origami Crane a few years ago. I added bar ends to give more hand positions. I've done several other rides of 50+ miles.
#4
Full Member


Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 264
Likes: 53
From: Russell Township, Ohio, USA
Bikes: 1975 Paris Sport 700, 2007 Dahon Mu P8 (folding bicycle), 1984 Miyata 210, 2024 Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bike
103 miles
In June of 2008 or 2009 I rode my Dahon Mu P8 103 miles in the Sunday in June tour through the northeast Ohio Amish countryside. Beautiful weather and it would have been starting out around 7:30 or 8:00 with breaks around every 25 miles and full lunch at mid-day.
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If something doesn't ache, I could be trying harder.
If something doesn't ache, I could be trying harder.
#5
Senior Member


Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,304
Likes: 1,046
From: Chicago area
Bikes: Airborne "Carpe Diem", Motobecane "Mirage", Trek 6000, Strida 2, Dahon "Helios XL", Dahon "Mu XL", Tern "Verge S11i"
I rode to work on my Dahon Mu XL about 10 years ago. Normally, it's a 7-mile bike ride with the rest on a train, but I did it all the way on the folder so I could say I did it. It was a "bike-to-work Century". Actually, it was surprisingly easy. About 7 years ago, I did a Century on my then-new Tern Verge S11i. So... a hundred miles is the most I've done.
#6
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,651
Likes: 2,382
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Specialized Rockhopper, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
britbikes I've done 4 hours on my Bull-horned Dahon Boardwalk. Six hours (57 miles) is the longest I've been on any bike.
You mentioned Pikes Peak. I've lived in Colorado Springs for 30 years and have hiked up a few times, but riding up, even on the paved road seems like it would take forever, if I could even do
How long did it take you to ride up? And how was the ride down?
You mentioned Pikes Peak. I've lived in Colorado Springs for 30 years and have hiked up a few times, but riding up, even on the paved road seems like it would take forever, if I could even do
How long did it take you to ride up? And how was the ride down?
#7
Tourer


Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 68
Likes: 5
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Birdy folder, Bike Friday, Burley tandem, Nishiki fixie conversion, Dahon "Coca-Cola" Speed P8
102 Hilly Miles
I did my toughest single day ride on my Bike Friday New World Tourist. It was 102 miles up and down the hills in and around Brown County State Park in Indiana.
#8
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
britbikes I've done 4 hours on my Bull-horned Dahon Boardwalk. Six hours (57 miles) is the longest I've been on any bike.
You mentioned Pikes Peak. I've lived in Colorado Springs for 30 years and have hiked up a few times, but riding up, even on the paved road seems like it would take forever, if I could even do
How long did it take you to ride up? And how was the ride down?
You mentioned Pikes Peak. I've lived in Colorado Springs for 30 years and have hiked up a few times, but riding up, even on the paved road seems like it would take forever, if I could even do
How long did it take you to ride up? And how was the ride down?
#11
This is coming home from about a 150 mile ride, pulling its trailer. Bike Friday Pocket Rocket.

The bike will fit into the trailer, although those rims did not.
I don't remember if there were other "Century" rides on it, but I've been out 40 or 50 miles several times.
The bike will fit into the trailer, although those rims did not.
I don't remember if there were other "Century" rides on it, but I've been out 40 or 50 miles several times.
#12
Full Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 219
Likes: 190
From: La Alpujarras Granadina
Bikes: Swift Folder, Haro Vector, Sundeal V1 mini-velo,1991 Peugeot 531 Reynolds road bike with Campy wheels and Ultegra 6600 groupset
How many teeth are you running up front? Looks like a large dinner plate.
I like it!
#13
That is the Bikingreen 70T chainring. They're not too expensive on E-Bay.
Unfortunately the front derailleurs don't like them.
That has a Sachs Dual Drive hub behind it which pretty much negates the benefit of the 70T. I can still climb pretty well in the 70T.
Keep in mind that a 20" wheel has about 2/3 the gearing of a 27" wheel.






