Folding bikes for world touring

[@peterbedford2610]

Glad to see someone showing that using a low-priced, used bike is completely acceptable for touring. Thank you.

[@hobocyclist]

If it works don’t fix it!

[@irishfields]

Legend,showing folks how accessible adventures can be.Inexpensive,fun,easy on our planet & great guidance & advice.Well done & keep it up👍👍

[@bruin4937]

I like the idea of you using inexpensive beater bikes that some (most?) people would consider discarding; seems like a terrible waste in light of how much good use you get out of them. But, just because they're beater bikes, that's no excuse for not performing routine, necessary maintenance on them, like oiling the chain and other moving parts to decrease the likelihood of these parts failing on you during a ride or tour. I lucked out and purchased a 1995 Specialized Stumpjumper FS hardtail mountain bike in pristine condition for $80 USD and I will likely bikepack with this bike, so I performing routine maintenance on it. Liked and subscribed to your channel, and I look forward to watching more of your videos!

[@drivestorage1779]

I gotta hand it to you! You have me beat on price! And kudos to you guys for bringing affordable folding bikes touring! I love your idea of getting a cheap, second hand bike and just swap parts out. I am gonna have to borrow that idea. great deal!

[@hobocyclist]

it's the kiwi way, "#8 wire mentality" basically every problem can be solved on the fly for cheap

[@Misterdave998]

Can you make a video about using a backpack to carry a folding bike? I’m going to try to take the wheels off and hold them in my hand, while doing motorcycle-taxi. There are special backpacks that can hold folding bikes, I ordered it here in Indonesia.

[@hobocyclist]

If you make a video I will watch it!

[@h4rsono]

I also have a less than 100usd folding bike which very comfortable to bike around. Never try long distance trips. Hopefully will do that in the future. Thank you for sharing.

[@hobocyclist]

Sound like you have some fun adventures ahead!

[@timothyvanpelt_cyclist]

Thanks for sharing this info. Going through your channel ;-) I just got a Dahon Helios (aluminum) 20 inch folding bike. Looking forward to my first trips with it. I'm in doubt whether I can pack it down small enough for checked luggage. Some airlines like KLM demand less than 158 cm in total dimensions. I saw your video on packing the bike but I don't see how I can make it 30 cm smaller by removing the wheels, because: where do you put the wheels when you take them out of the bike? On the sides they add to the width again. I also don't know how strict airlines are with checking for these dimensions.

[@hobocyclist]

Tim looks like you'll be able to do it, I have never been asked what is in the package, and never measured it the first time I put it on a plane. Soon I will make another in depth vid of packing the bike for aircraft travel with measurements etc. tbh the package being underweight is probably the major consideration of the airline

[@pauls9440]

We flew to NZ and full size bikes wheels off in bags went as ‘sports equipment’ - no charge.

[@enitsirkilegnazedlav]

How many cogs do you have in your bike? also do you have front gearing? what is your recommended crankset for uphill roads

[@rolandberendonck3900]

And why did you discard the mud guards???

[@hobocyclist]

Mostly because it makes them easier to pack for air travel!

[@rolandulyuju]

That's Cambodia t shirt 🥰

[@rogueblader]

I want to get into world touring what do you think of the camping foldable MTB

[@hobocyclist]

is it this model for sale in the uk? homeaesthetics75.myshopify.com/products/camping-survivals-26-inch-21-speed-folding-mountain-bike-black GBP249 is a lot of money, also it weighs 22kg so very heavy. why do you need folding bike ? if its the 26" wheel bike it wont fit as luggage on an aircraft. go with a full size non folding mtb if you dont have to take it on a plane, youll be able to carry more gear and have a smoother faster ride

[@Slow_tim]

steel or aluminium both of your folding bike ?

[@greenmanbotanicals1828]

Buy a rear wheel from a tandem you'll find there built twice as strong

[@hobocyclist]

Good tip!

[@rolandberendonck3900]

Be sure to install a rear wheel with 36 pieces of 13G spokes. You need such a strong wheel with the all weight you are carying around. 13G spokes are 2.3 mm and your spokes are thinner, because you are using 20" wheels from kids bikes. And I even doubt if you have 36 spokes in your rear wheels. No offence by the way because I also collected a lot of free 20" kids bikes for my folding bikes 😂

[@hobocyclist]

Good tip! I must say these kids bike wheels are very tough, even after 2000 miles still going strong. you don’t have to spend a fortune and get high spec, but it’s nice to customise these bikes to fit purpose. I think I carry up to 10kg on rear carrier and even after riding uneven gravel, grass, concrete, cobbles the rear wheel is still true. 👍🚲⛺️🌴

[@rolandberendonck3900]

@@hobocyclist It is not about the wheel being true. It is about the tension on the spokes. Most of our weight is on the rear wheel, which also carries the luggage. And only a few spokes carry the total weight at each moment. In time, because of being overloaded, and wearing out, one of the spokes will break and the wheel is not usable. This is because the spokes in your wheel do move just a tiny bit, each time the wheel is turned. And at the hub in the neck of the spoke they break, because of wearing out. If you replace this spoke the next spoke will break because of fatigue. I experienced this myself about three times so now I have thicker spokes and never had any trouble since. Also if you have less than 36 spokes in that rear wheel, this risc will be higher, because each spoke will be more stressed. And by the way, you can use the rims and the hubs from these kids wheels if you want to build your own wheel. But be sure to take one with 36 holes, so you never have to worry that your wheels will break down if you installed thicker spokes like at least 13G (2.3 mm), or even better 12G (2.6 mm only! on the drive side). On your driveside where your cassette is installed, the tension of the spokes is higher. That is the place where a spoke will break first. If you want to build such a wheel be sure to take a steel hub, because it will be stronger than aluminium.

[@hobocyclist]

@@rolandberendonck3900 Yes 100%. You can see in this video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h16xfmqsbsiEf9U i had the exact issue in a previous tour, I was in Leipzig and one of the bikes was overloaded on back carrier, blew out 1 spoke then like a chain reaction 7 spokes blew out and the wheel fell aprt! I rebuilt the wheel on the roadside with a hanful of spokes (heavy gauge!) at the cost of a few euro! this was a big challenge at the time and could have been avoided but it was interesting for the film!!

[@max03tube]

You've seriously tour on those bikes? How does it compares with normal bike?

[@hobocyclist]

Kevin Backalive yes of course :) slower but more versatile, we can go on planes and trains more easily, also finding a place to store them at hotels etc is much more easy..

[@max03tube]

@@hobocyclist I bet you can climb hills faster with them

[@conracewhatever5224]

Don't underestimate

[@tdgdbs1]

I toured Europe, SE Asia, South America with a Brompton, slow moving afford me the chance to absorb the scenery and local culture. Saved a lot of money on taxi.

[@hobocyclist]

Buy a 20" folding bike on amazon amzn.to/3sfHKnV