Flying and biking

[born2fly]

My wife and I have discovered a new way to enjoy flying, even in our tiny RV6 - - we take along a take-down bicycle. In this case, it's a Bike Friday Tandem XL. Yup, fits in the baggage area. Here's a pic:


We can set it up to ride in about 20 minutes, and we never have to worry about renting or ground transportation.

We fly out of Reid-Hillview (San Jose, CA). This weekend we went to Mendocino (Little River, LLR) and had a fine time.

Anybody else flying bikes around? Got some good places to ride?

G.

[born2fly]

Hmmm, pic link didn't work. Here's the URL:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/illesg/3559414277/

[wil]

Fly your 6 up to Pine Mountain Lake ,E45, bring the bicycle, and I'll buy you a burger or two.

[kevinh]

Wow - that's really cool!

[frankh]

Marci and I flew from Corvallis to Port Townsend WA yesterday (1.5 hour RV flight) and the taxi ride into town cost more than the round trip fuel for the airplane!!!!


Just as we were walking around I said would it be possible to make a tandem out of two bicycle frames to avoid the issue..

And voila I see its alreday been done.

Ok where di you find that thing?

Frank

[born2fly]

The bike is from Bike Friday, aka Green Gear Cycling, located in Eugene OR.
www.bikefriday.com
(Pretty close to Corvallis, call them for a tour and test ride.)

They make all kinds, styles, and prices of folding bicycles, and they concentrate on quality, durability, handling. You can buy cheaper folders but you'll never beat the BF combination of performance and reliability. Their logo is "performance that packs" and it's true.

My Tandem XL model is somewhat higher-end in their line, and the cost was about $3000. My wife and I are avid cyclists, so we go for the best we can afford (or a bit more hehehehe). The basic Tandem sells for just a bit over $1000. You'll see from the web site that they offer LOTS of choices.

As far as I know, nobody else makes a folding or take-down tandem in the small-wheel (20") size. Many, many tandem-makers offer S&S couplings, where the frame actually comes apart. However, I do not know if these full-size bikes can be made compact enough to fit in an RV, because they all have 26" or 27" tires and wheels, which are very difficult to deal with.

And yes, the gearing is made to accommodate the smaller diameters, and no, you don't have to pedal any differently. The BF bikes are geometrically identical to full-size bikes and ride as well.

If you get over to Bike Friday, ask for Dave Siebert and tell him I sent you. He's a great consultant and has helped us repeatedly over the years.

G.

[frankh]

We have a couple of Shimano105/carbon fork roadsters as well..But I don't think we are thinking of THAT kind of money..I did note this website that offers a tandem for $249 that might have promise (26" wheels though) http://www.shopdirect24-7.com/tandem...1-speed-r.html

Or we have a couple of old steel frames in the shop (not actually in bad shape) and full tanks of oxy acetylene....For the creative of mind don't ya know..Especially as I now don't have a project.

Cheers

Frank

[dhall_polo]

How 'bout a pic of the bike folded up inside the baggage area?

Thanks

[frankh]

I have three "spare" 10 speed bikes in the shop..I lined the frames up and I think a collapsable tandem can be made for cheap.

The S&S couplings are the only unknown..Price wise, I bet weld-on pipe unions could also be made to work but that would be adding a fair bit of weight.

Looking at the frames It looks to me that the 26" rear wheel plus the seat post could all go over the seat bar and under the hoop without removing the rear wheel from the frame..If not then dropping off the rear wheel is not idea but that would also work.

The pedal and handle bars would then have to come off.

Overall loking at the frames with a wet thumb I think it would all fit without going to a smaller wheel.

I think I need to measure a real tandem to make sure the dimensions between the two sets of pedals is correct too.

This could be good..

Frank

[flyinlee]

Greg,
Looks like you have a slider and so have I. I installed a Meski tip up kit on mine and now I load my bike from the ground. One of the best things I did for my RV.

Lee Watermann
RV6A