Tern Go-to Bag
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Tern Go-to Bag
I've been very pleased with the quality and convenience of the Tern Go-to Bag for the Tern Luggage Truss. Very well made. If you need to carry around a 14" laptop, this is the bag for you.
#2
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The drawback of this front mounting solution is the weight limit of 7kg (which is the total front weight, including the weight of the bag).
For the Brompton front block its 10kg what makes a difference of more than 50% in net transportable weight (such bags topically weight 1.5 to 2kg, so its 5 to 5.5kg load for the Tern solution vs. 8 to 8.5kg for the Brompton front block).
For the Brompton front block its 10kg what makes a difference of more than 50% in net transportable weight (such bags topically weight 1.5 to 2kg, so its 5 to 5.5kg load for the Tern solution vs. 8 to 8.5kg for the Brompton front block).
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The drawback of this front mounting solution is the weight limit of 7kg (which is the total front weight, including the weight of the bag).
For the Brompton front block its 10kg what makes a difference of more than 50% in net transportable weight (such bags topically weight 1.5 to 2kg, so its 5 to 5.5kg load for the Tern solution vs. 8 to 8.5kg for the Brompton front block).
For the Brompton front block its 10kg what makes a difference of more than 50% in net transportable weight (such bags topically weight 1.5 to 2kg, so its 5 to 5.5kg load for the Tern solution vs. 8 to 8.5kg for the Brompton front block).
We won't discuss the heavy markup of Brompton and Brompton front block items, and the fact that there is no bag of the same quality, function and price for the Brompton front block as the Tern Go-to Bag for the Tern Luggage Truss.
Last edited by Ron Damon; 08-04-22 at 09:23 PM.
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People constantly inject useless Brompton references in most posts. They can't seem to understand the fact that if you wanted a Brompton and it's kit, that you would have a Brompton. It's just how some individuals here are.
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The thread was about a product for the Dahon front block and Tern Luggage Truss (TLT). On a recent thread someone asked what I attached to the TLT so I thought this might be useful to him and others. But he apparently felt threatened by the Other that he needed to turn it into a Brompton vs. the Other comparison. Quite tone deaf.
In the six years that I've been using the Dahon front block and the luggage truss, even on extended tours abroad, I have never found myself needing higher weight capacity. I tour light, Credit-card touring. This is what I carried on the TLT when I toured the entire length of South Korea.
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On tour in Taiwan
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On tour in Bali
It's a common theme with these folks. They don't question in the first place whether, for example, the smallest fold or a higher capacity front block are actually needed. I myself use what I actually need, not what brings me prestige, a sense of belonging to an elite group, inducts me into a cult or provides me a lifestyle.
Last edited by Ron Damon; 08-04-22 at 09:19 PM.
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#6
My daughter has Tern BYB and I bought both front rack and luggage truss CMT which looks a little different, is closer to the frame but still uses klickfix. Also bought quick release screws so they are easily interchangeable. Very versatile.
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Last edited by Ron Damon; 08-06-22 at 03:55 AM.
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I am very impressed! I do not want to detract from the main topic, but could you briefly comment on adequacy of the gearing for the challenges you obviously faced and on any tools you carried along to cope with possible breakdowns. Thanks.
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I'll answer your questions when I get home. In the meantime here are two brief video clips. The first one is of
in central Korea. It is what how Korea looked like up until the 20th century.
The second is of
in Taiwan. It is the collision of these plates which gives Taiwan its high mountainous spine. I recorded the vids with a GoPro on my helmet so pardon the amateurish nature.
The second is of
Last edited by Ron Damon; 08-06-22 at 06:18 PM.
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South Korea's Five Rivers Cycling Path that traverses the country from end to end
Gearing
In Taiwan I had a SRAM Dual Drive with a 11-36t cogset and 47t chainring. Very wide gearing. In the ROK (Republic of Korea) I had just a 11-36t cogset with the same 47t chainring. I shifted into the 36t cog only sporadically but I was carrying less weight. BTW, I am still using that same Litepro crank set with the 47t chainring six years later. Taiwan is more mountainous and steep than the ROK so wider gearing is needed there..
Taiwan's Taroko Gorge is out of this world
Tools
I only carried a multi tool thing, zip ties and tape. Very little in the way of tools.
.
.
Breakdowns
None. No flats either. On tour I swear by Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 42-406 (discontinued but I've got three pairs in reserve). Though I got an annoying creaky saddle midway through the ROK. Both the Dahon Dash and FSIR Spin 5 acquitted themselves very well. If touring is the litmus test of durability and dependability, they passed with flying colors. The FSIR still rides today like it's new.
Last edited by Ron Damon; 08-06-22 at 05:49 AM.
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Gearing
In Taiwan I had a SRAM Dual Drive with a 11-36t cogset and 47t chainring. Very wide gearing. In the ROK (Republic of Korea) I had just a 11-36t cogset with the same 47t chainring. I shifted into the 36t cog only sporadically but I was carrying less weight. BTW, I am still using that same Litepro crank set with the 47t chainring six years later. Taiwan is more mountainous and steep than the ROK so wider gearing is needed there..
Tools
I only carried a multi tool thing, zip ties and tape. Very little in the way of tools.
Breakdowns
None. No flats either. On tour I swear by Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 42-406 (discontinued but I've got three pairs in reserve). Though I got an annoying creaky saddle midway through the ROK. Both the Dahon Dash and FSIR Spin 5 acquitted themselves very well. If touring is the litmus test of durability and dependability, they passed with flying colors. The FSIR still rides today like it's new.
In Taiwan I had a SRAM Dual Drive with a 11-36t cogset and 47t chainring. Very wide gearing. In the ROK (Republic of Korea) I had just a 11-36t cogset with the same 47t chainring. I shifted into the 36t cog only sporadically but I was carrying less weight. BTW, I am still using that same Litepro crank set with the 47t chainring six years later. Taiwan is more mountainous and steep than the ROK so wider gearing is needed there..
Tools
I only carried a multi tool thing, zip ties and tape. Very little in the way of tools.
Breakdowns
None. No flats either. On tour I swear by Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 42-406 (discontinued but I've got three pairs in reserve). Though I got an annoying creaky saddle midway through the ROK. Both the Dahon Dash and FSIR Spin 5 acquitted themselves very well. If touring is the litmus test of durability and dependability, they passed with flying colors. The FSIR still rides today like it's new.
No breakdowns is pretty amazing. You must maintain your bikes well, but very limited luggage, not straining the bikes, presumably helped somewhat too. We are leaving onto some short tour tomorrow morning and there is presumably a lesson there we should use.
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Puzzled by how little it took for the gears for S Korea, I checked the 4 Rivers trail and it indeed seems mostly flat, but there is one peak in the middle. My biking experience with S Korea was very brief, just around Busan, but, in spite of somewhat built up gears by then, I had to resort to walking at places to reach elevated neighborhoods.
No breakdowns is pretty amazing. You must maintain your bikes well, but very limited luggage, not straining the bikes, presumably helped somewhat too. We are leaving onto some short tour tomorrow morning and there is presumably a lesson there we should use.
No breakdowns is pretty amazing. You must maintain your bikes well, but very limited luggage, not straining the bikes, presumably helped somewhat too. We are leaving onto some short tour tomorrow morning and there is presumably a lesson there we should use.
47t x 11-36t ~ 26 gear-inches.
I was only carrying 4.6kg (plus a 2L of water and my 75kg frame at the time) around. No need for higher gearing on the three of the five Four River trails I did.
The highest mountain in the ROK is only 1,900masl. Taiwan peaks at nearly 4,000 and has over 250 peaks over 3,000m, making it not only high but densely high. It's by far the most mountainous place in East Asia and climbing can be quite daunting there. I was born in a country roughly the size of the ROK and which has 37 volcanos, one topping out at 4,200masl. On a clear day I can see a 3,100m peak here from my home in Bali. The landscapes of places like these, born in plate boundary locations and of plate collisions or volcanism are qualitatively different. That's Taiwan, that's Bali, that's my country of birth. The ROK's terrain is not of that exaggerated, daunting type. At least not along the Four Rivers paths.
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Touring light has positive effects beyond weight:
- easier & quicker daily packing and unpacking
- Less strain on the bike & mechanical complication
- Better aerodynamics
- More agility and nimbleness when you ride into town.
I am puzzled by your surprise that I suffered no breakdowns. Road and surface conditions are far from bad, quite good actually, in the ROK, and my gear and equipment were solid.
Last edited by Ron Damon; 08-06-22 at 11:09 PM.
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I was only carrying 4.6kg (plus a 2L of water and my 75kg frame at the time) around. No need for higher gearing on the three of the five Four River trails I did.
Touring light has positive effects beyond weight:
Touring light has positive effects beyond weight:
- easier & quicker daily packing and unpacking
- Less strain on the bike & mechanical complication
- Better aerodynamics
- More agility and nimbleness when you ride into town.
Let's take the current trip to the Czech Republic. One out of the 3 folders got its rear rack shoved when traveling as checked luggage by air, which locked the rear wheel. There was some provisional straightening applied to get the bike going. The rest will be finished after returning to the base. First tour day involved some riding along agricultural roads, designated as bike trails too and one stretch had some pavement remnants intermixed with gravel parts. A member of our party hit hard an edge of the pavement stretch resulting in a flat. Later, when the bikes were parked, another member of the party knocked his bike that fell onto another bending its kickstand. That much and it has been just one tour day.
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No, no such mishaps. But then I am careful and methodical, and travel alone with no one else to spoil the party. The probability of an accident happening to a group is higher than the probability of an accident happening to a group member alone. That's why I travel in a group of one.😉
Last edited by Ron Damon; 08-07-22 at 03:03 PM.
#16
The photos of this bike above the luggage options you're using on it were a great help for me in preparing for a ride I did along the Shimanami Kaido back in October 2018, and the Shimanami Kaido + Tobishima Kaido in November 2020. So a very belated thank you for that! FWIW the load capacity of the Tern Luggage Truss works just fine for me, and I suspect the 7kg figure is quite conservative anyway. Any more than 7kg total and you're carrying to much stuff!
Dahon Speed D8 (modded to 10 speed with Zee RD - again thanks for the tip) on (near) Okumura Island, Seto Inland Sea, October 2018
Tern X11 on Kamikamagari Island, Seto Inland Sea, November 2020.
Dahon Speed D8 (modded to 10 speed with Zee RD - again thanks for the tip) on (near) Okumura Island, Seto Inland Sea, October 2018
Tern X11 on Kamikamagari Island, Seto Inland Sea, November 2020.
Last edited by Kabuto; 08-21-22 at 07:36 AM.
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The photos of this bike above the luggage options you're using on it were a great help for me in preparing for a ride I did along the Shimanami Kaido back in October 2018, and the Shimanami Kaido + Tobishima Kaido in November 2020. So a very belated thank you for that! FWIW the load capacity of the Tern Luggage Truss works just fine for me, and I suspect the 7kg figure is quite conservative anyway. And anyway, any more than 7kg total, you're carrying to much stuff anyway.
Dahon Speed D8 (modded to 10 speed with Zee RD - again thanks for the tip) on (near) Okumura Island, Seto Inland Sea, October 2018
Tern X11 on Kamikamagari Island, Seto Inland Sea, November 2020.
Dahon Speed D8 (modded to 10 speed with Zee RD - again thanks for the tip) on (near) Okumura Island, Seto Inland Sea, October 2018
Tern X11 on Kamikamagari Island, Seto Inland Sea, November 2020.
One day I hope to tour in Japan too.
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The hillier, more climb-intensive of the several official cycling paths in the ROK is the East Coast path rather than the Four Rivers path. In the former one travels essentially from bay/cove to bay/cove, and must climb out of one to reach the other. The other factor impacting choice of gearing along the East Coast is head winds.
No breakdowns either on this second, longer tour. The only times I took out and used the multi-tool thing that I carried was to adjust the rear brakes so they would not rub against the rim after unfolding the bike. Other than that zero mechanical problems and breakdowns, or tire punctures.
Last edited by Ron Damon; 06-19-23 at 06:09 PM.
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The photos of this bike above the luggage options you're using on it were a great help for me in preparing for a ride I did along the Shimanami Kaido back in October 2018, and the Shimanami Kaido + Tobishima Kaido in November 2020. So a very belated thank you for that! FWIW the load capacity of the Tern Luggage Truss works just fine for me, and I suspect the 7kg figure is quite conservative anyway. Any more than 7kg total and you're carrying to much stuff!
Dahon Speed D8 (modded to 10 speed with Zee RD - again thanks for the tip) on (near) Okumura Island, Seto Inland Sea, October 2018
Tern X11 on Kamikamagari Island, Seto Inland Sea, November 2020.
Dahon Speed D8 (modded to 10 speed with Zee RD - again thanks for the tip) on (near) Okumura Island, Seto Inland Sea, October 2018
Tern X11 on Kamikamagari Island, Seto Inland Sea, November 2020.
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Wow, I would love to go on a bike trip (without camping). I should plan on it.
I see you use the Kanga rack, which has been out of stock for almost 2 years.
So I bought the Tern HQ bag. I really like it.
Here it is bulging because I put in some papers, headphones and a compact waterproof jacket. Usually it's just my 13" laptop, a USB cable and a phone.
Tern HQ bag on the Verge X11
Lots of very useful pockets
I ended up buying the Tern Go-To bag when I needed to carry more stuff, but I don't use it much or when the weather is threatening.
I see you use the Kanga rack, which has been out of stock for almost 2 years.
So I bought the Tern HQ bag. I really like it.
Here it is bulging because I put in some papers, headphones and a compact waterproof jacket. Usually it's just my 13" laptop, a USB cable and a phone.
Tern HQ bag on the Verge X11
Lots of very useful pockets
I ended up buying the Tern Go-To bag when I needed to carry more stuff, but I don't use it much or when the weather is threatening.
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Wow, I would love to go on a bike trip (without camping). I should plan on it.
I see you use the Kanga rack, which has been out of stock for almost 2 years.
So I bought the Tern HQ bag. I really like it.
Here it is bulging because I put in some papers, headphones and a compact waterproof jacket. Usually it's just my 13" laptop, a USB cable and a phone.
Tern HQ bag on the Verge X11
Lots of very useful pockets
I ended up buying the Tern Go-To bag when I needed to carry more stuff, but I don't use it much or when the weather is threatening.
I see you use the Kanga rack, which has been out of stock for almost 2 years.
So I bought the Tern HQ bag. I really like it.
Here it is bulging because I put in some papers, headphones and a compact waterproof jacket. Usually it's just my 13" laptop, a USB cable and a phone.
Tern HQ bag on the Verge X11
Lots of very useful pockets
I ended up buying the Tern Go-To bag when I needed to carry more stuff, but I don't use it much or when the weather is threatening.
The Kanga Rack has also been sold out for years in Indonesia, but I came across it in a bike store in Japan just last week. I thought of buying one as spare or to resell back home...
I am still in search of an Brompton-type front block to Dahon-type front block KlickFix caddy so i can use these three items on my bikes that have Brompton-type front blocks.
Last edited by Ron Damon; 06-19-23 at 04:11 PM.
#23
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I’ve found better availability of the Rixen and Kaul Vario Rack when searching the internet, which appears to be exactly the same as a Tern Kanga Rack.
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