Why tour on a folding bike?

[@patrickcchong]

Yes, you're right. As we get older, speed is not a priority. Riding to enjoy the scenery and the pleasure are the upmost. I just bought my first folding bike and looking forward to get onto bicycle touring after retirement.

[@louisaugust1815]

Exactly the information I was looking for. I'm 74 and looking for something easier to ride, slower paced with all the enjoyment of still riding a bike.I have an opportunity to buy a used 12 spd folding bike.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Go for it!

[@OriginalPhil]

I won't lie, your intro made me tear up a little bit. It's wonderful to see two people continue to wholeheartedly share a passion after being together for decades. I didn't think that happened in real life. Thanks for the super helpful information, btw. Happy and safe traveling!

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

That’s so nice to hear! We were always both interested in bike touring, but sometimes it was rough in the beginning. Like many couples, one partner could handle a lot more tough days and uncomfortable nights than the other. So we compromised, which was made easier by the fact that we had career and family responsibilities which meant that we weren’t planning a years-long round-the-world trip all at once. We decided to plan on less suffering: no camping, no gruelling mountains, for example. This way, it’s not one partner pushing the other to burnout. We were also excited by the idea of folding bikes, and probably their limitations coincided with the touring lifestyle that worked for us. We are now agreed on what we want to accomplish in an ideal touring day/trip. Also, making videos, originally as souvenirs of our travels, has become a joint project that just reinforces the shared experience.

[@ainik20]

I must admit - I never thought getting a Brompton was something I need. I love long-distance riding, and my anxiety has always been what happens if something happens and I need to get home with my touring bike? It is such a great alternative to going the distance with peace of mind. So glad to see that you are able to travel everywhere with it!

[@allencruise6299]

I totally agree. I use a folding bike for commuting and speed is not a priority. Safety, portability and security are advantages of a folding bike.

[@carltongadgettmannprice352]

I have folding bikes, and one time when I was brokendown this man from Iraq offered to give me a ride back to my vehicle. The folding bike made it very convenient going into the trunk of his car, and he didn't even charge me anything for the ride back to my car. Folding bikes definitely have their advantages.

[@jorgeantonioruizvargas7573]

🚴 Good video. I liked. From Cucuta city in Colombia 🇨🇴 South America

[@effyleven]

What sensible and well crafted videos you make! So very helpful. Thank you for imparting your experience so clearly and succinctly.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

We appreciate your insightful opinion!

[@pootsekchuang]

I bought a folding bike because of your video. Super and nice video. Appreciate it.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Congratulations, your adventures are just beginning! We hope to keep inspiring you with our future videos.

[@itsjoeredula7]

Wonderful! What matters is you enjoy riding. No matter what bike you're using. This video explains it beautifully.

[@Adam-vx6to]

Air travel and train travel are the two best reasons to get a Brompton (or any high quality folding bike)

[@effyleven]

Your videos are inspirational, and it is a pleasure to revisit the older ones. Thank you, P&G, for what you do... and please accept my ardent wish that you remain able to do it.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

@effyleven, we do plan to carry on for a while, stay tuned.

[@choffee]

I recognise a lot of what you said in that, while I've not ventured outside the UK on my Brompton, I love grabbing my tent and heading out on a train to get to somewhere the cycling on from there with no hassle. It's been a real joy to tour on, I pick my routes and have walked up only the occasional hill. It's suits my touring which is relaxed and enjoying the journey. Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@why4256]

Fantastic! It's great that you're comparing the types of travel you've personally experienced. Really look forward to seeing more!

[@1-QuackUp-Now]

a few years ago, my parter and I flew to Europe with our Bromptons where we visited friends in Germany and then explored the Netherlands heavenly bike paths! I loved that we could board trains with our “Bromies” and not worry about storage or whether we were allowed on at commute times, etc. We pedaled all around and I loved it! The one thing that was problematic for me was the WEIGHT of the Brompton (~29lbs) when I had to carry it up and down stairs in our air b n bs in the Netherlands. (They were usually very steep) I know they have slightly lighter versions, but I want a REALLY lightweight 6 gear RL version ~21 - 23lbs; having a lighter weight bike to carry would’ve been a dream.

[@yourTuBaer]

You might like the kwiggle bike.You can get it with 6 speed gearing. Its even smaller than the brompton, due to a new concept of a bike

[@percyfaith11]

"Pump it up!" Get swole.

[@klyok]

@@yourTuBaer This thing (Kwiggle) is insane. It looks like it's an ultimate backpack-foldable urban commuter with some non-urban capabilities.

[@barriewylde5915]

I love my folding bikes I have B F Tikiit and tern e bike.Its the only way to go travelling.They make life much easier.Enjoy your videos.🚲🇨🇦

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

We’re curious about your ebike. Have you done/planned any touring?

[@DesChew]

Definitely inspiring video. Thanks Pam for sharing.

[@thg1173]

I don't know why I alway come back to your channel. Just love it.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

You are welcome to drop by anytime

[@stelloyd4266]

What a great & inspiring video...you’ve earned yourself a new subscriber. While I’m currently saving up for a Brompton I will travel the world via your KZbin Chanel 👍

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Welcome aboard. World travels are somewhat more difficult these days, so we will likely cycle locally :-)

[@kimi_hakim]

Hi Pam and Gilbert! I've watched most of your videos! Very nice and well presented. I'm not a Brompton or Birdie user. But going to get foldie for my touring. Thanks for all the tips! Not many foldie touring video on the youtube as friendly as your video.

[@henleychoy5070]

Hi! I am in the midst of purchasing of my first folding bike, and now narrowing down my list between Birdy and Brompton. Coincidentally, i also read through your homage (Birdy Vs Brompton), and i guess i weigh more on ‘ride quality’ than the others. In a nutshell, i would lean to my purchase on Birdy, and hope to ride it to explore the world when the pandemic condition is under control. Stay healthy!!

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Enjoy your new folding bike and hope our paths will cross in the future.

[@hayabusa27]

This is awesome channel you two are living the dream

[@percyfaith11]

Good video and well explained reasons for selecting a folder. They are good if you are using a lot of public transportation and staying in accommodations each night. Full sized bikes are good for long distance, hauling a lot of gear.

[@jjdtierney]

Folding bikes are great for touring - I rode a 20" folder across Europe on a multi-modal solo tour. Unlike the Bromptons featured in this video, my Xootr Swift has slightly larger wheels (BMX size) and a more ungainly fold, so it's not an exact comparison. But I was able to take it on intercity trains in several countries without issues and it worked well on long bike rides. I rode across Ireland on it, typically putting in about 120km each day. Later on during the same trip I rode it from Czech Republic to a friend's near Leipzig Germany in a single day then later on weeks later from Bilbao in the Basque country to Burgos over a couple of days. My folder climbs very well in mountains (though I travel fairly light with everything in a backpack). I regularly ride it more than 100km and as I live in a mountainous region will put more than 1000 meters of up on it during a standard 70km ride. It's fast as anything else non-electric going uphill. On flat I can keep up with very fast road bikes if I'm drafting, though out in front I struggle to maintain speeds over 45km/h due to my smaller wheels not holding momentum as well as larger wheels on road bikes. It's also not very aero. However, in a city where a ride across town involves a series of sprints between traffic lights the smaller wheels are actually a speed advantage over the road bikes as they spin up and accelerate more quickly than larger wheels. The bike also weaves through traffic nicely as it's steering is responsive and the bike itself is smaller than normal. It's great fun to zip around on. Off road isn't the bike's forté, but still, I spent many months living 4km up a steep mountain track and it handled the rough terrain every day I lived there. Overall, I think folding bikes are very practical for travel. I also think that they're very good in an urban environment. My folder has the same wheelbase as my road bike, but is still about 40cm shorter due to the smaller circumference of the wheels. Great for taking up less space be it on a train or in a small apartment. Anyway, thanks for making this video. I enjoyed it lots. Good travels to you!

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

The Xootr Swift looks like a great touring companion. Too bad it was discontinued by Xootr in favor of their scooters. Any touring adventures coming up?

[@davidcash4221]

😊

[@rogberube6422]

Thanks for sharing, Pam and Gilbert. :)

[@hermanmarwan4617]

Wow.. interesting 👍🏻🎉 keep it up 💪🏻

[@Brandon-xp1ob]

👍😅 i do the same thing at target. I just fold up my bike and put it in the shopping cart.(i live in hollywood LA) Great video. I'm eager to do my first tour and have been thinking which bike could be most convenient to do it with. Happy riding!

[@jasonloke2219]

Yes,, I just did 35 days of cycling on my Brompton in Korea. Thanks for sharing. There are lots of trains and buses in Korea. No worries.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Cycling the 4Rivers trails and more?

[@jasonloke2219]

Yes, 4River trail, one big Round in Jeju and 2 other trails of 250 km. 40% time doing camping. Great!@@2Bikes4Adventure

[@edenbreckhouse]

Wow. You both look in better shape now than you did then. Excellent.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Hi (Coach) Mark, we will take this as a compliment😀

[@allendavedeguzman9778]

Learning how to manoeuvre a folding bike just like on how they manoeuvre an MTB can help a lot in dirt roads. Standing instead of sitting on the saddle can help maintain more balance. The upright posture of the bike is also a good thing if you are looking for a fun night ride. It's not good for racing due to its small tyres, it won't be able to take up so much inertia due to its size. I've tried to ride one with a few friends and I've managed to catch up to them and ride along them pretty smoothly, given that we weren't going to speed but if we were about to speed up the road, I could catch up the pace easily. It's just a bit tiring, considering how much revolutions the wheels turn after turning a full circumference on the pedals.

[@wendelpascua3327]

Good explanation ,im convinced😊 planning to get a foldy soon

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

You should!

[@rollingwithtay]

Great video, I a thinking about taking my first bicycle touring trio on my folding bike rather that my full size bike. Thanks for sharing your reasons why you both use your folding bike.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Let the adventure begin!

[@MaximSupernov]

Great Analysis!

[@kamal77ly]

i love , this video just motivate me to restore folding bike

[@marknlim1]

I wonder how many Bromptons were purchased because of your awesome videos :)

[@temiongcecilio]

Brompton's are nice bikes in terms of folding design. Love to try and own one someday. A T-Line (not sure if that is the lightest) perhaps.

[@FrancisAnsingPhotography2009]

Thanks for this video. I've been looking for a full size touring bike not realizing my wife's folding bike can do the job. Now I am taking my wife's folding bike to a shop for upgrades and tune ups. Thanks. My dream is to cycle around Japan.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

If you can carry a small bag on your (wife’s) folding bike, you are set to go for you next adventure. Once in Japan, may we suggest the Shimanami Kaido bike path? We cycled it on our route between Hiroshima and Tokyo a few years back. Very nice. We had no problem bringing our Bromptons in public transport/express trains (as long as they are in a bag). An IKEA Dimpa will do. Hope your dream come true soon.

[@RampartPh]

nice video. been folding bike since 2016 but i haven't really travelled w/ it. thanks for giving me an idea

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Glad we inspired you. Unfold and start your adventure.

[@nanungzula]

fantastic idea

[@jamiewilden389]

Loved video and your Voice is so calming nice to listen to.

[@A-Wa]

very valid reasons! Im looking for a brompton because of the foldability. In my city I always use a cheap and ugly bike with heavy locks so no one would steal it (although they stole everything which wasnt locked. even simple stuff like bells). Its no fun to ride but I imagine a brompton to be more fun without having to fear that it gets stolen

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

We rarely bring a lock with us anymore, preferring to keep our Brompton (like a friend) close to us.

[@chungchichiu9779]

good information. Thanks

[@seahyongsen5670]

Very informative video on folder and travel.👍👍👍

[@tomlee2065]

What a fascinating video clearly explains why folding bikes are preferred! I also traveled with my 6kg 16-inch bike!

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

6kg, that’s ultralight!

[@tomlee2065]

@@2Bikes4Adventure Thank you :) It is a custom dahon k3, but it does not have any suspension so it may be tough to get through bumpy roads :(

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Those small Dahons can do amazing things. Once touring in Upstate New York, we met a cyclist on a Dahon (3 speeds) Piccolo doing stealth camping in the Adirondacks. He had taken his folded bike on Amtrak to reach the trailhead. All his gear was on his homemade rear rack.

[@tomlee2065]

@@2Bikes4Adventure I never do camping nor having a rear rack on my bike. My bag weights less than 2.5kg, including my laptop and some simple tool kits 、(￣▽￣)╭ Until now all of my travels are very short (less than 5 days) (´ ∀ ` *)

[@Ustp27]

Great video, I have my Brompton for 8 years, it's still a great bike to ride

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Those things last forever. The Bromptons on this video are our 2001 Mk3 T3 with very minor modifications (new seat and Ergon handle grip).

[@Ustp27]

@@2Bikes4Adventure No way! They looked absolutly brand new, I'm inspired by your videos to go on some adventurers :)

[@jasonclarke7422]

@@2Bikes4Adventure that is amazing your bikes look in showroom condition,do you do all the bike maintenance on the Brompton yourself ,or do you have a bike shop take care of this for you, as it’s a folding bike with more complex moving parts ,are they expensive to maintain,I have always wanted to own a Brompton, but I have always held back in purchasing one due to being unsure about this,you’re advice and experience on this would be greatly appreciated.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Our (old) Bromptons are no longer in “showroom condition”, but are still capable of bringing us to faraway places. We do basic maintenance ourselves (including replacing tires, chain, brakes and cables) but leave more serious mechanical challenges to our local bike shop (ex.: internal hub maintenance, replacing bottom bracket) Brompton are fairly simple machines, not much has changed in the last 20 years (for better and for worse). They are robust, easy to maintain and last forever.

[@jasonclarke7422]

@@2Bikes4Adventure thank you very much for your reply, I am going to take the leap and buy one as you have given me the confidence I needed as long term Brompton user's.

[@Mswooliling]

Awesome! Both my sister and myself had done a few trips with Brompton too. Am interested in your saddle, do u mind share more on it.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

From Pam: In fact, we could have added that as another question we frequently get! That is indeed a special seat on my Brompton. After several years of pain while cycling (back in our “big bike” days), I discovered noseless or hornless saddles. These are generally recommended to prevent or ease prostate issues in men, but they also relieve discomfort in delicate female parts. The difference in comfort is huge. The seat I have is a Spongy Wonder; in fact I have one on each of my Bromptons (black 3-speed and navy 6-speed). There are several videos on KZbin about the Spongy Wonder, and the company has a very informative website. There may be a period of adaptation while first using a hornless seat: we normally use our thighs while steering (even if we don’t realize it), and without that ability we must quickly adjust. The first time I made a turn on my new seat many years ago, I fell over, but that only happened once. Sometimes in our videos, you may notice that I am carrying the orange bike with a normal seat. That is because it is much easier to carry a folded Brompton by the nose that I don’t have on my seat, so Gilbert kindly trades bikes when we have to carry them so I have the easier load.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

You are right. We do own an “Off Yer Bike” and a (cheaper) “Rockbros” carry handle (both also have a shoulder strap), they do work well. We don’t often bring them on trips however (trying to cut extra weight).

[@chacmool2581]

Well said and comprehensive. Flying to South Korea in a few hours with my 16" (305) folder (not a Brompton!) to credit-card tour the country. 😉

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

We envy you (we did the 4 Rivers Trail a few years back). Enjoy your trip.

[@chacmool2581]

@@2Bikes4Adventure This is my second tour of Korea. Did the Four Rivers and a couple more in 2018. This time it will be the other paths and the islands (not Jeju).

[@GGg-ic9ku]

Love your videos! What type of reflective vest is Gilbert wearing? It’s exactly what I’m looking for. Love your videos am learning so much! Next year saving for 12 speed electric Brompton to travel with, perhaps on a relocation cruise I learned of from you 🙏🙏🙏

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

It was made by Cactus Creek in Canada and sold at MEC store. www.mec.ca/en/product/5002-380/cycling-safety-vest?h=10+20143&f=10+20143+50020 It is no longer sold however.

[@DasEmily]

Your video was so helpful! I ordered my first Brompton in March and will have it hopefully in the next couple of weeks. I've done an extensive amount of travel but I'm now in a place where I wish I had a bike. My friend and I are planning to do the El Camino Portuguese Route on Bromptons next summer and your video made me feel that this was a good decision! On a typical trip, what bike maintenance equipment do you bring? I'm not sure about spare tubes and even where to stow it when riding.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

I’m sure your new Brompton will be a travelling companion for years to come. The (Coastal) Portuguese Way is indeed a great choice. Less hilly than the one followed by pilgrims in the mountains, it nonetheless goes through very nice scenery, town and villages. Daily stamps (Pilgrim Passport) are required for at least the last 200km if you plan to have an official “Compostela” at the end of your journey (we “stamped” ours daily starting at Lisbon Cathedral). We are presently working on a video about our travel repair/tool kit. It should be online by the end of the week. Good luck in your future adventures.

[@stelloyd4266]

Have you received your Brompton yet Emily??? If so what do you think of it??? Currently saving up for one myself.

[@DasEmily]

@@stelloyd4266 I DID! It took 15 weeks to get but it was worth the wait. I was worried I hyped it up too much during the wait time but the Brompton still exceeded my expectations! I went with a black M6L and have been outfitting it for travel.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Good thinks come to those who wait, congratulations! Hope to see you on the trail one day.

[@OrientalSpize]

Appreciate your sharing a lot. Love your voice too... BTW, are those 16" wheels?

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Yes, they are 16” wheels.

[@arec169]

Everything about this video was perfect..your explanation, images and the music as well. Thank you for sharing this video!

[@stephenschuit4718]

The Chubby Trailers, from Amsterdam, seem to provide yet another sensible travel option for Bromptons. Worth checking them out.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Would be particularly useful if camping equipment is carried (and/or you want to lighted the load of your travelling compagnon)

[@jrushen4235]

What a lovely video. Thank you very much.

[@mat_iskuy]

Inspiring video... God bless you

[@kayjay309]

Great content❤

[@murugnimai]

Fantastic explanation

[@CaffeineJogger]

excellent review

[@martinkiefer6733]

Well done overview, since 5 years with 28,24 and 20 inch old foldings maybe its now time for a quality made 16 type.until last year i didn't know that in the netherlands busses its forbidden to take a bike; exeption a folding type ;-)

[@karanbantawa6236]

Hi! Must say you have a soothing voice. And how long have you owned your bikes? Can you share from your first ride and when you decided to upgrade your bikes? Thanks in advance! :)

[@REMAX_CCA]

Super interesting, thank you!

[@jbaccanalia]

Excellent.

[@woomichen1378]

Great video as always. How often do you get puncture abroad for your Brompton? Do you prefer the more heavier Schwalbe Marathon when you travel? Curious if you bring tubes or tires as back up on your trips.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

We have been using Schwalbe Marathons for quite a while now and have experienced very few punctures (3 in 6 years). They can be tricky to install/remove however. We do carry 2 spare tubes and 1 spare tyre on long touring trips. We plan to experiment with Continental Contact Urban this year.

[@papamartino]

Interesting take. I just didn't understand the part how your folding bikes allow you to keep your careers and home life (in the conclusion). Because of the freedom of travel, cost effectiveness...?

[@hobocyclist]

Cool channel :) I subscribed!

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Good to see you back and we wish you a new laptop for XMas 😀🎄

[@davidharris4062]

Never been speed that interested me, it’s distance, I’m a plodder, but I can plod for hours, cycling and walking

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Our average touring speed is slightly below 15km/h (as discussed here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGTQZqGEltaobdU )

[@zensascha8690]

Love that bike!

[@manindermann8164]

great kindly give the dimension to your bike and the dimensions of the air package. and all accessories that are very useful

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Hi Maninder, Folded dimension (and air travels info) can be find here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5nPqaGhnbZ4a7M Equipments wise, we replaced the seat on one bike ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaWYfayfntuHkKM ) and added some front bags ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIPbY2Vsp82inLM ) for travel. Other videos shows clothing lists and travel tool kits.

[@roslanhamidi2830]

Inspired! I have a Dahon D8 Mariner!

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

The Dahon Mariner D8 can be a great touring companion.

[@lmcr2449]

Excellent video. I use my Brompton around London and its pros to commute and shop around are great. I guess you just added even more great reasons to have one of these great bikes. By the way, I am not connected to Brompton in any way, shape or form.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Needless to say, we are not connected to Brompton either. We cycled in London a few years back (from Paris). It seems every third bike in the CIty was a Brompton, so we fit right in (we did find the traffic quite daunting however).

[@prashantdongre2791]

Amazing ,,,!!! Last year myself & wife toured from Yorktown, VA towards west coast and in Rawlings, WY my wife met with an accident and have to call off our tour and now due to Covid-19 we cannot complete our remaining tour this year. So, being multimodal and use any transport in case of any eventuality is my main reason for considering folding bike for touring. But Brompton has only 6 gears and find that as a stopper because during our TransAmerica route we have climbed serious gradients. I am also considering a high end trailer so that my wife can ride free of any weight. I am from India and I have plans to ride on folding bike to highest motor-able mountain pass in Himalayas (Khardung La @18380 feet MSL), although I have climbed on a normal bike in 2014. Any insight regarding gearing of Brompton and your experience on gradients is welcome TIA

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

The practicality of a compact/folding bike (like a Brompton) comes at the expense of its performance, especially when it comes to hill climbing capabilities. A 6-speeds (and -12% front gear) Brompton will provide you with a 29 to 88 gear inch ratio. The keep it in perspective, “cyclingabout.com” site suggests the following gearing for bicycle touring: No panniers: 33 to 110″ Panniers with 5kg: 29 to 110″ Panniers with 10kg: 25 to 110″ Panniers with 20kg or more: 20 to 100″ Off-Road Touring: 18 to 100″ So, if you add a trailer to your load, you may be struggling going up hill (and won’t be particularly fast on flat terrain neither) Through the years, we cycled on various folding bikes that had better gear ratio than the Brompton (ex.: Montague Paratrooper, Dahon TR, Birdy), but by keeping our baggage light (around 5-6kg each) and selecting relatively flat routes, we felt the “compactness” provided by a (folded) Brompton was worth the performance/route compromise while cycling. A possible solution that would provide you sufficiently low gear ratio (22 or so) would be a BikeFriday New World Tourist. It’s not foldable, but does collapse in a suitcase for easy air-travel (and the suitcase change into a trailer). PS I did the Leh-Manali road a while back (in a mini-bus, not a bike). I wouldn’t see myself doing something like this on my Brompton! Good luck in your travel.

[@percyfaith11]

@@2Bikes4Adventure For added info my Surly Disc Trucker came with 30 gears (3 front and 10 rear) with a gear inch ratios of 18.3" and 110.6" and I toured hilly, mountainous Japan with 4 panniers. The times I had to take trains or plains I wished for a folder. We camped a lot with tents so we made use of the heavy big bikes but we paid for it in effort, inconvenience and extra cost at the airport and getting on trains and going through train stations in Japan. I actually dreaded and avoided trains there. It was all good because our goal was to transit across the whole country under our own power.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

@@percyfaith11 Hi Percy. We really enjoyed cycling in Japan as well. The hilly terrain can quickly overwhelm the Brompton gearing however. This is when those Surly’s low gears become handy. We took the Shinkansen instead (minimum hassle when folded).

[@saraloke949]

You have to get used to it but it does get easy to unfold and fold. kzbin.infoUgkxwC0IIeIomGQVeBWg-kKJaToZkLEFIA2W Great little cruiser bike that has plenty of room to hang a basket on the front for my small dog and a basket in the back for supplies. I’m also short (5’2) so I was happy I could adjust the height of the seat so easily. This bike is great for driving around my neighborhood and the. Storing in a closet. Also not too heavy. I was able to fit it easily in my back seat of my Honda, haven’t tried the trunk yet. My only problem was that the first bike sent to me had a defective tire and the second bike sent to me had a defective pedal. Luckily, I still had the first bike so it was easy enough to switch out the pedals. With Amazon it was pretty easy to get the new bike shipped to me fast and send back the old one. So definitely inspect and test out your bike when you first get it but if all the parts are working it’s a good investment.

[@barriewylde5915]

iam older now just do small bike trips mix road and ferries.I guess we could call it credit card touring When the COVID 19 is cleared up we are going to Vancouver Island🇨🇦🚴‍♂️

[@akhilgirijan6504]

love you guys

[@ffjj118]

Yes, please share what is that cool looking saddle you use, thanks

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

From Pam: In fact, we could have added that as another question we frequently get! That is indeed a special seat on my Brompton. After several years of pain while cycling (back in our “big bike” days), I discovered noseless or hornless saddles. These are generally recommended to prevent or ease prostate issues in men, but they also relieve discomfort in delicate female parts. The difference in comfort is huge. The seat I have is a Spongy Wonder; in fact I have one on each of my Bromptons (black 3-speed and navy 6-speed). There are several videos on KZbin about the Spongy Wonder, and the company has a very informative website. There may be a period of adaptation while first using a hornless seat: we normally use our thighs while steering (even if we don’t realize it), and without that ability we must quickly adjust. The first time I made a turn on my new seat many years ago, I fell over, but that only happened once. Sometimes in our videos, you may notice that I am carrying the orange bike with a normal seat. That is because it is much easier to carry a folded Brompton by the nose that I don’t have on my seat, so Gilbert kindly trades bikes when we have to carry them so I have the easier load.

[@moochincrawdad]

I got smoked by a guy on a Brompton - they are fast and pretty easy to ride if you have the right gearing and riding position!

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Totally agree. Smaller wheels have better acceleration (due to lower inertia). They also have better (or equal) efficiency than larger wheels up to 30 mph.

[@letsif]

I'm just wondering if you kept the boxes by breaking them down, carrying on the rack, then re using?

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Steve, you will find more details about our air travel packing strategy (including cardboard boxes) in those two videos: 3 Ways to Fly with your Brompton Bike kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5nPqaGhnbZ4a7M 2 More Ways to Fly [ Vincita Sightseer & Cabin Carry-On ] kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJOvmYCnZryEa9E

[@BikeTripBro]

It's more on practicality vs performance. But how was it in climbing mountains?

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Our lowest gear is 2.33m (29 gear-inch). So assuming we do 20km/h on a flat road, the same level of effort (70 Watts) using the 1s gear would give:
 10km/h on a 3% grade (60rpm) 7.5 km/h on a 4% grade (50 rpm, slower than this, you may as well walk the bike) For short climb, we can easily double the power (150W), we get 7.5 km/h on a 9% grade So, assuming a 50Km (31miles) ride and regular pace (70W/60rpm), we could climb a 1500m (5000ft) elevation in 5 hours for the same effort as riding 100km on the flat road. To sum up, we try to keep the average day elevation gain to less than 3% and adjust the travelled distance accordingly (from 50 to 100km/day)

[@satajet100]

love it thank you

[@purpleswirl9732]

Very inspiring

[@MrAlexandreminot]

Thanks for this great video. Could you share more of your experience on what you use to pack the bike when you intend to keep the packing with you on the bike for the next motor transport leg? Also, how do you store the packing on the bike? Best, Alex

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Hi Alexandre. In such case, we use IKEA DIMPA and folded corrugated plastic sheets (from old political signs). Find out more in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5nPqaGhnbZ4a7M

[@MrAlexandreminot]

@@2Bikes4Adventure Amazing, thanks!

[@RobBastien]

Hi - Did you try other brands of folding bikes than Brompton? Not sure other brands allow a fold to a standard luggage size!!!

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

We travelled overseas with Montague (26"), Dahon (20"), Birdy (18") and Brompton (16") folding bikes. Only our Birdy and Brompton would fit in a standard luggage size. Bike Friday would also fit (we do not own one however).

[@adityadacosta777]

Very good video. Very informative. I would like to know your thoughts on the Brompton electric bikes. I've seen many travel videos of usual Brompton but none on the electric variety. Since being electric are there any extra travel charges? I have also tried to search for comparisons with the brompton electric and the other brompton electric conversion kits but all I found were individual explanations for each type and no comparison. Would like to know your view.

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

The main problem with flying with an electric Brompton (or any other electric bicycle for that matter) is the airline restriction associated with Lithium batteries. The rules vary between airlines, but the maximum is usually 2 x 160Wh batteries (in cabin luggage ONLY) per passenger. So, the Brompton ebike, with its 300Wh battery would likely cause some problem. Therefore, assuming a regular Brompton with an e-conversion kit, you should be able to avoid any surcharge as long as you do not exceed the maximum weight (around 22kg, batteries not included). Ref our video on flying with Brompton for packing ideas. As for suggested e-conversion kit, something like Nano (www.nanoelectricbikes.co.uk ) or Velospeeder (www.velogical-engineering.com ) with their small capacity batteries, would be well suited for air travel.

[@adityadacosta777]

@@2Bikes4Adventure Thank you so much.

[@pali_aha2781]

0:53 Hi. Your TIRE PRESSURE is low. I've been touring JAPAN on a gravel bike for 9 mo during the coronavirus and I will buy a folding bike soon. The road/gravel bike is too much bike for Japan's clean roads. Getting on _a plane & train is a pain_ w/a full size bike. Q: I've read that Brompton has proprietary parts, making Brompton bikes a risk when traveling in developing countries. Q: Bromptons have 16" wheels. Any thoughts on 16" vs 14" vs 20"? *Keeping the bicycle box is a good idea. I never thought of that. I've always thrown away the box, then had to worry about getting another for my next flight. Thank you!

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

They do look kind of soft, indeed :-( Carrying a full size bike in plane/bus/metro is quite a nuisance. That’s where a folding bike shines. The Brompton is indeed full of proprietary parts. A major failure could be difficult to repair in a developing country (although the steel frame could be an advantage over aluminum (ex Birdy or most Dahon)). Bringing some spare parts (including tire) may reduce the risk. Brompton bikes are also quite robust for their size. Except for buying a locally built bicycle, there will always be a possibility that a mechanical failure will significantly alter you travel plan. If this was to happen, it would at least make a good story to tell later on. We travelled with 26” (Montague), 20” (Dahon TR and Dahon D7), 18” (Birdy) and 16” (Brompton T3 and M6R) folding bikes. While all had better gearing (and comfort?) than the Brompton, its small size when folded makes it the ideal travelling companion. Not sure I would go smaller however. Enjoy your trip in Japan and keep us posted on your YT Channel.

[@pali_aha2781]

​@@2Bikes4Adventure , thanks for your time, info & encouragement!

[@kanikasingh889]

What dahon will they allow them on trains ? The mariner D8

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Public transport policy concerning folding bikes may vary from country to country. Most accept 20” folding bikes (once folded), so the Mariner should be welcomed.

[@OPM6906]

I'm actually considering getting a folding bicycle and converting it with an electric mid drive motor. I'm currently riding a mountain bike (no shocks) in a city with fairly ok roads, but find it tough on my wrists and arms. Would you recommend a shift to folding bike or dutch bikes (+electric) in this instance? Thanks

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Integrating a mid-drive on Brompton could be quite a challenge (no wonder Brompton opted for a hub drive instead). Mid-drive would be easier to integrate on mid-fold frame (such as most Dahon). Further more, they often offer telescopic stem that would provide a “dutch bike” ride configuration when fully extended. Unless you specifically need a folding e-bike, it would probably be cheaper to convert a dutch bike.

[@OPM6906]

@@2Bikes4Adventure thanks for the response. That's a good point. I didn't realize the thing about mid fold frames. I plan on traveling a bit as well, so the folding bike would be ideal to carry on trains. Actually bought a dutch bicycle now and doing some repairs before installing the mod drive. Will plan on getting a mid-fold bike in the future. Am I correct in assuming the range will be less on avg on a folding bike when compared to a 26" wheel?

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

The short chainstay found on folding bikes usually limits the number of gears available. Single chainring is the norm. Our video on Brompton gearing discuss the difference in range compared with regular full size bikes: Explaining Brompton Gearing - [Including P & T Line] kzbin.info/www/bejne/baa5qICubrSNb5Y

[@shijirboldsandagdorj826]

I have a Dahon vector x27h 20inch folding bike. Is this suitable for long distance touring? Folding size is bigger than brompton. Can i travel by plane with my bike for luggage?

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

The Vector x27H’s light weight and large gear range would be an asset for multimodal transport and long rides. Baggage(s) attach points could be an issue. As for air travel, its handlebar would be problematic. You would most likely have to remove them if you want to have a chance to fit the bike in an airport approved luggage. Keeping within the 62in/158cm would be a challenge.

[@louis8848]

Can't agree more!

[@4403323]

What do you do with the shipping boxes after you land in the airport?

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

We either store the boxes at an arrival/departure hotel (usually free of charge) or we discard them at the arrival airport before starting our tour (especially if the plan is to cycle all the way back home). Ref this video for more details: 3 Ways to Fly with your Brompton Bike kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5nPqaGhnbZ4a7M

[@GUTOMOFFICIAL]

Yay folding bikes for travel!

[@manyazid_travel]

how do you keep up with elevation or steep climbing? i love bikepacking but my wife always find it difficult wthen comes to elevation...

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Hi Azman. We have the same issue. Our Brompton’s 1st gear being 29 gear-inches ratio, long/continuous uphill are best to be avoided. When planning a route, we try to stay away from significant elevation gain and, if possible, select the overall “descending” (and downwind) direction. If major uphills are unavoidable, we research the possibility of taking a bus/train/taxi to bypass obstacles (or even better, bring us to the highest point and cycle down). This is where the flexibility of ultralight touring with a folding bike become an advantage.

[@jasonhale7126]

Worth it

[@Champagnepipa]

What size are rims of your brompton? Im buying a 20" foldie due to covid, unsafe public transpo

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Brompton has 16” wheels. Was it easy to find the bike you wanted or stores were all sold out?

[@Champagnepipa]

2Bikes4Adventure im buying from a guy that supplies used Surplus Japan foldies, kinda bummed about the price its 150$ for a used bike. Price blazed up due to covid 🙃

[@DrDennis]

Can’t contact Brompton and they are all sold out of foldable bikes??

[@Gogogordy1]

Great video...very inspiring. We also have Bromptons which we have’nt flown with but have taken to destinations by car. I’m curious why you don’t speak of placing these in the overheads on some flights, vs trusting them to some luggage handler on the ramp, as I understand thats allowed on many flights. I see you also use a Dimpa bag from IKEA....best $4.- spent ever! My Brompton’s getting a well-needed new rear tire tomorrow...how exciting is that?

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

While some have been successful in storing Bromptons in overhead bins, our recent flight experiences (pre-covid that is) usually involved full planes where carry-on storage was at a premium. More than once, we ended up having to shove our bags under the seat in front of us as no more space was available in the overhead bin. Experience with gate check-in wasn’t too enjoyable either, as we ended up having to pick up our baggage on the same conveyor belt as the checked-in luggage at the end of the flight (thus it had been tossed around as casually by baggage handlers as any other items). Successfully travelling with a “carry-on” Brompton is certainly worthy of a Instagram post and offers some bragging rights to the lucky passenger, but I wouldn’t rely on such a strategy to begin a long-awaited enjoyable vacation.

[@gurunmen77]

Brompton oklah...TRS not sure can carry to airport

[@handsonbrompton7875]

🙏🏻👍

[@garonlove]

Are pedals are foldable?

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

On a Brompton, only the left pedal folds. On most other folding bikes, both pedals fold.

[@azmanmdsalleh2009]

Can it support 90lb weight..

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

The Brompton maximum carry load (rider+luggage) is 110kg (242 lbs). The front carrier block and the rear rack are rated 10kg (22lbs) each. So, assuming no backpack attached to the rider, the maximum cargo weight would be 20kg (44lbs). Note we usually tour with less than 7kg of luggage (located in a front bag).

[@tonyp333777]

and this is why i bought the brompton electric folding e bike as my first adult investment purchase at 4k

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

That’s exciting. Did you have to wait long after ordering it or was it available right away? Any first impression?

[@Blackgaming-fj9ph]

@@2Bikes4Adventure hi what's your folding bike?

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

Presently touring on Brompton T3 and M6R. Previously, we used Birdy, Dahon and Montague.

[@wolf8900]

Yes healthy

[@bstr-ey6wl]

previous millennium dear !

[@2Bikes4Adventure]

You are also correct!