Bicycle Touring Pro » Trailers

181 Free Articles About Bicycle Touring, World Travel And Lifestyle Design

Darren Alff — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 09:22:03 +0000

2009 was one hell of a year!

At this time last year I was emerging from my apartment in downtown Luzern, Switzerland and celebrating the first of what would become 254 days of bike travel in 16 different European countries.

Since that time, I have covered thousands of miles on my bicycle (and on foot); written nearly two-hundred different articles on the topics of world travel, bicycle touring and lifestyle design; and I’ve been able to support myself while traveling about (despite the so-called “recession”).

By my standards, 2009 has been one fantastic year… and I plan on making 2010 even better!

Before we get too far into the New Year, I thought I would take some time to share with you the 181 articles that were published this year FOR FREE on BicycleTouringPro.com. I’ve bolded the articles I believe you should check out first… so scroll on down and see if there is anything that strikes your fancy.

I hope you enjoy what you find… and please stay tuned, as there’s a lot more in store for Bicycle Touring Pro in the New Year!

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Featured home page photo by: jurvetson

Bicycle Touring Trailers

Darren Alff — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:48:10 +0000

If you’re thinking about a trip by bike, you might consider the use of a trailer. While backpacks and panniers are great for some, many traveling by bike choose to carry their gear in a trailer pulled behind their bike.

There are bicycle trailers made to haul just about anything (from dogs to children, and yes, even boats), but what you’ll find here is a list of trailers that can be used for long-distance bike touring. While they have not all been specifically designed for bicycle travel, each trailer here could be used in that way if so desired.

So, without further adieu, here it is: The ultimate list of bicycle touring trailers.

Adventure Cargo Trailer

Avenir

BicycleR Evolution

Bob Ibex

Bob Yak

Burley Nomad

Burley Flatbed

Carry Freedom City

Carry Freedom Y-Frame

Croozer Cargo

Croozer Travel

Extrawheel

Maya Cycle

Nashbar Cargo Trailer

Optima Quik-Pak

Radical Design Cyclone II

Velorbis Jumbo/Junior Trailer

Weber Monoporter

If you know of a trailer that I’ve missed and should be listed here, please leave a comment below. Make sure you leave the name of the trailer, the company that makes it and (if possible) a link to the company website. Thanks!

By the way… Have you used any of these trailers yourself? If so, which one(s) have you used and what did you think?

Your Complete Bicycle Touring Gear Checklist

Jim Dirlam — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:32:17 +0000

In response to my recent post on the 10 Important Items You Should Have, But Might Not Think Of Bringing On Your Bike Tour, BicycleTouringPro.com reader, Jim Dirlam sent me a checklist that he created to help bicycle travelers pack for their upcoming bicycle touring adventures.

The list is incredibly detailed and I’ve decided to share it with you (with Jim’s permission of course), as I know it will help many of you who are currently in the process of planning and preparing for your upcoming trips by bike.

As Jim notes in his email to me, this is an updated list of everything one might need on a bike tour, but not necessarily everything one SHOULD bring.

You can download Jim’s complete checklist here as a PDF document, or you can peruse the list by simply scrolling down below.

Bicycle Accessories (mounted to bike)

Front +/– Rear Rack & Panniers —and/or — Trailer
Handlebar Bag (+ mounting bracket)
Rain Covers and/or Plastic Bags (for non-waterproof panniers)
Trunk (Rack) Bag or PVC Dry Bag* (for rainy tours)
Seat / Frame Bag (good for storing tire repair kit)
Comfortable Saddle (personal choice—not racing seat!)
Handlebar Extensions w/ Paddled Grip Tape
Stem Riser / Adjustable Stem (may need if touring w/ mt. bike)
Water Bottles+Cages and/or Hydration Pack (i.e. Camelbak )
LCD Cycle Computer (w/ new or extra battery)
LED Flashing Tail Light
LED Head Light (or use camping headlamp)
Mirror (mounted on handlebar / helmet)
Air Horn / Bell (i.e. Delta AirZound)
Multi-mount (i.e. Topeak BarXtender / Minora SpaceGrip)
Front + Rear Fenders
Bungie Cords / Webbing Straps (2-3)
Bike Lock (key/combo cable is sufficient; U-Locks=heavy/overkill)
Reflectors (or reflective safety vest or reflective clothes)
Dog / Bear Pepper Spray (attach to bike frame)
Bike Mojo (i.e. mascot/trinket on bike)—don’t ride without one!

Camping Gear (in various stuff sacks)

Tent (1/2 man)+(rainfly;poles;stakes;stuff sacks;ground sheet) or
Camping Hammock or Tarp + Tyvek / Poly Ground Sheet
Sleeping Bag (15-20F Down / Synthetic) + Compression Sack
Sleeping Bag Liner (for mild/cold camping or hostel use)
Air Mattress/Pad+Stuff Sack (i.e.Therm-a-Rest; Insul-Mat; Z-rest)
Air Pillow (or use extra clothes in stuff sack)
Nylon Stuff Sacks (various sizes; for clothes + gear)
Backpacking Stove (in stuff bag or cook pot)
Fuel Bottle (11–22oz: liquid gas/alcohol or 8oz butane canister)
Cook Pot (1-2 liter pot w/ lid; aluminum / titanium)
Utensils: Spork / Spoon+Fork+Knife set (lexan / titanium)
Insulated Travel Mug (hot coffee in camp/town or to take on bike)
Water Filter/UV Purifier/Aqua Mira (for backcountry or int’l travel)
Water Tank (i.e.Platypus/MSR: for collecting+pre-filtering+shower)
*PVC Dry Bag (handy for keeping large items dry on rack)
Portable Camp Chair (i.e. CrazyCreek or ThermaRest chair-kit)
Light Backpack / Daypack / Hydrationpack (if doing side hikes)
Bike Cover (coated nylon / poly tarp—cut to fit your bike & gear
Clothes Pins (6-8; for drying clothes / securing bike cover at night)
Mosquito Head Net (used in buggy areas like AK or MN)

Cycling Clothes (usually wearing, unless you ride naked)

Helmet (proper size & fit) + optional Visor
Cycling Jersey or Synthetic T-Shirt (2-3)
Cycling Shorts (1-2 — maybe 3 for long tours)
Cycling / Synthetic Underwear [Boxer/Briefs + Sports Bras] (2-3)
Cycling Gloves (1 pr. / 2 pair if on long tour)
Cycling Socks (Synthetic / Wool; 2-3 pr. i.e. Coolmax )
Clipless Cycling Shoes (or trail/running shoes if using toe-clips)

Foul-Weather Cycling Clothes (in nylon stuff sack)

Long-Sleeve Jersey / Light-Mid Synthetic/Wool Zip Shirt (1)
Cycling Long-Tights / Insulated Windpants (1)
Rain Jacket + Pants (1 set — waterproof nylon / Gore-Tex )
Fall/Winter Gloves / Mittens+Liners (1 pr.)
Synthetic Helmet Liner / Sweat Bands / Bandana (1)
Helmet Liner / Skull Cap / Fleece or Wool Hat (1)
Balaclava / Neoprene Face Mask (1)
Arm + Leg Warmers (1+1 pr.)
Waterproof Socks (1pr. — i.e. Sealskinz / Gore-Tex )
Waterproof Rain Booties / Gaiters (1 pr.)
Helmet Cover (1)

Camp + Town Clothes (in nylon stuff sack)

Clean Synthetic / Cotton T-Shirt / Collared Travel Shirt (1)
Fleece Jacket/Vest or Mid/Heavy L/S Pullover (1)
Synthetic Hiking / Running / Swim Shorts (1/1)
Synthetic Pants / Convertable Pants/Shorts w/ elastic+belt (1)
Synthetic Underwear (1 + clean/dry briefs—off the bike)
Base Layer (synthetic long underwear top+bottom—1 set)
Synthetic / Wool (warm!) Socks (1 pr.)
Baseball Cap / Visor / Sun Hat (1)
Sandals / Rubber Clogs / Flip-Flops / Running Shoes (1 pr.)

Food Bag (in zip-lock bags inside nylon stuff sack)

50′ Nylon Cord (for hanging food; carabiner attached+small sack)
Meals + Snacks
Multi-Spice (i.e. Mrs. Dash ) or Individual Spices (in film canisters)
Sports / Energy Drink Mixes (i.e. Gatorade powder)

Documents (in wallet / travel pouch / handlebar bag)

Drivers License (or other official photo ID)
Passport (if traveling international)
ATM / Debit Card
Credit Card(s) (w/ bank’s hotline # to call if lost / stolen)
Cash (+ extra $20 in $1′s & change—for vending / laundry)
Personal / Traveler’s Checks
Travel Tickets (airline / train / bus)
Photocopies (passport / license; stored in separate place)
Emergency Contact Info (on biz card / journal / wrist band)
Health +/– Travel Insurance Card
Student ID Card / Youth Hostel Card
Phone Calling Card
Contacts List (family / friends) + Stamps (for postcards)
Biz Cards (w/ contact info: name/e-mail/website/address/phone)

Personal Items (usually wearing and/or in handlebar bag)

Watch (+ alarm; altimeter; barometer; compass—i.e. Suunto )
Sunglasses (+ case; extra lenses; neck strap; cleaning cloth)
Contact Lenses (+ lens case; lens solution)
Eyeglasses (+ case)
Sunscreen (SPF 30+; sweatproof; spray is more convenient)
Insect Repellent (25% DEET or alternative)
Lip Balm (i.e. Chapstick / Blistex)

Gadgets + Travel Items (in handlebar bag)

Cell Phone + Charger
LED Headlamp + Batteries
Digital Camera; Memory Cards; Charger; Case (+ accessories)
Extra Battery; Card Reader; Mini Tripod; Screen Shield; Lens
iPod / mp3 Player (Radio; Recorder + Earphones; Charger)
GPS (+ charger / batteries / bar mount — i.e. Garmin; Magellan )
USB Flash Drive (for photos; maps; waypts; bookmarks; contacts)
USB mini cable (for uploading photos, etc.)
PDA / Pocket-Mail Device (becoming obsolete)
Laptop Computer (+ carry case; charger; accessories, etc.)
NOAA Weather Radio (handy for long/remote tours)
2-Way Radio (i.e. Motorola; handy for group / SAG tours)
Maps (in case/zip-lock—i.e. AdventureCyc /Rand McNally /AAA )
Guidebook (in zip-lock; i.e. Lonely Planet ; Frommer’s )
Pen (2) + Sharpie (black marker) + Highlighter (for marking maps)
Journal (small notebook—or voice recording device)
Reading Book / Magazine
Small Padlock (for hostel lockers—if using)
Binoculars

Bike Tools + Spare Parts (in pouch or zip-lock)

Air Pump (mini / mid size; pack in bag instead of on bike frame)
Patch Kit + Tire Levers
Spare Tubes 1-2 (+ 1 spare tube for trailer if using)
Presta / Schrader Valve Adapter (1-2)
Tire Pressure Gauge
Degreaser (Gunk or biodegradable kind)
Chain Lube (Pedros , White Lightning , etc.)
Spokes (3-6; 3 sizes—specific to your wheel)
QR Axle
Trailer QR Axle + Retaining Pins (if using trailer)
Brake Pads (specific to your bike)
Spare Tire (folding bead—for bike or trailer)
Brake/Shift Cable
Nuts + Bolts + Bailing Wire (specifically for racks, brakes, etc.)
Hose Clamps + Carriage Bolts (for repairing blown shocks, etc.)
Replacement Cleats + Hardware (SPD=2 bolt / Look=3 bolt)
Shop Rag (Bandana/Handy Wipes—for cleaning greasy hands)
Bicycle Multi-Tool (i.e. Topeak Alien II )—or indiv tools below:
Screwdrivers; Wrenches: 2-10mm Allen; Spoke; Pedal; Cresent)
Chain Tool + Spare Link(s)
Cassette / Freewheel Removal Tool
Basic Knowledge of Bike Repair (or manual / downloaded info)

Additional Repair Items (in pouch or zip-lock)

Multi-Tool / Pocket Knife (i.e. Leatherman /Swiss Army /Gerber )
Duct Tape & Electrical Tape (small roll; 1+ yd.)
Plastic Zip Ties (various sizes)
Glue / Liquid Thread Lock (Crazy / Gorilla / Loctite —small tube)
Batteries (AAA: for headlamps; bike LEDs; AA: camera; etc.)
Plastic Bags: (zip-lock / compactor / garbage—different sizes)
Bite/Flow Valve (for hydration bladder—if using)
Air Mattress Patch Kit (or use bike patch kit)
Sewing Kit (needle; thread; buttons; small safety pins, etc.)
Folding Sewing Scissors (or use multi-tool / knife)
Safety Pins (4-5; large)
Shoe Laces (or cut pieces from nylon cord)
Zipper Pulls (can substitute w/ small zip ties)
Rubber Bands (4-5; heavy-duty)
Seam Sealer (small tube)

Toiletries (in travel pouch or zip-lock)

Travel Towel (i.e. MSR Pack/Towl or chamois)
Washcloth (i.e. bandana or www.ultralighttowels.com)
Soap / Shampoo; (i.e. Mtn/Camp Suds / Dr. Bonner’s )
Deodorant (travel size)
Toothbrush + Toothpaste + Floss or Floss-Sticks
Toilet Paper (small roll in zip-lock) or Handy/Baby Wipes
Hand Sanitizer (i.e. Purell )
Skin Cream (i.e. Noxema or Aloe Vera)—good for wind/sunburn
Nail Clippers + Nail File
Tweezers
Hair Brush / Comb
Hair Ties ‘Scrunchies’ (for long hair)
Disposible Razor (+ shaving cream)—or substitute
Compact Mirror (for contact lens wearers)—or use bike mirror
Woman’s Hygiene Products
Ear Plugs (for sound sleeping in woods, hostels, etc.)
Prophylactic (i.e. condoms)—maybe you’ll get lucky!
Prescription Medication
Multi-Vitamins

First-Aid / Other Toiltries (in pouch or zip-lock)

Band-Aids (assorted sizes & shapes)
First-Aid Ointment (i.e. Neosporin )
Adhesive First-Aid Tape
Moleskin / Blister Bandages
Alcohol Wipes
Cotton Swabs
Compress / Gause Pads (med / large size)
Ibroprophen (i.e. Advil ) / Aspirin (i.e. Bayer )
Anti-Chafing Balm (i.e. Vaseline —for saddle sores)
Anti-Itch Cream (i.e. Hydrocortisone)
Muscle Relief Cream (i.e. Icy-Hot, Sports Cream )
Foot Powder (i.e. Gold Bond )
Anti-Diahearreal Tabs (i.e. Imodium AD )
Antihistimine Tablets (i.e. Benadryl )
Zinc Tablets (i.e. Airborne )—cold prevention
Sports Injury Cloth Bandage
Neoprene Knee / Ankle Wrap

Survival Items (in pouch or zip-lock)

Lighter (butane / disposible) + Storm Matches
Compass (on handlebar / watch / hand)
Whistle
Emergency Space (mylar) Blanket
Personal Locator Beacon (i.e. SPOT; ACR Terrafix/Microfix)

Click here to download Jim Dirlam’s complete bike touring gear checklist (PDF / 5 pages / 89 KB)

The Ultimate Bike Friday New World Tourist Review

Darren Alff — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:00:19 +0000

The Bike Friday New World Tourist is thought by some to be the ultimate travel bike for long distance tourists. It’s small wheel base, low-step over feature, fully-loaded capabilities and its ability to fold up and fit inside an airline standard suitcase (thus saving you huge amounts of money when flying with your bicycle) are certainly appealing features for any world traveler.

But does the bike really live up to its reputation? That’s what I set out to see!

Here’s my story: I purchased a Bike Friday New World Tourist in the summer of 2008 and used it on a short 8-day trip to the island of Aruba in the Caribbean Sea. I had purchased the bike, planning to use it on similar short trips and never planned on using the small-wheeled folding bike as my ultimate travel vehicle for a 9-month tour through central and eastern Europe. But that’s exactly what happened.

Since purchasing my New World Tourist in mid-2008, I’ve been riding the bike almost every single day since then. In that time, I’ve spent more than 250 days on the bike, traveled with it on 4 airplane trips, 35 train rides, 2 boats and a handful of cars and trucks. I’ve ridden on paved roads, volcanic rock, ice, snow, mud and stone. I’ve used the bike loaded and unloaded, with the optional suitcase/trailer and without. And after all of this, I feel like I finally have enough information to properly review the bike and give you my full assessment.

So, here it is. My complete review of the Bike Friday New World Tourist:

Ordering Your Bike

Picking Your Parts And Selecting Your Ride

Ordering a Bike Friday is a unique process. The bikes, made by Green Gear Cycling in Eurgene, Oregon, are, for the most part, custom made. You can get one made to fit just about any body type and with practically any kind of gear arrangement you can think of. You pick the gearing, the handlebar style, and the size of the bike itself.

This custom set up, however, does take time. If you’re ordering a Bike Friday and getting a custom built ride, it’s wise to order with plenty of time between the date you make your order and the day you plan to use the bicycle on your tour.

Bike Friday says the usual build time on any of their bikes is 5-9 weeks and that when you place your order they will give you a “promise date”, which is a date on which they guarantee your ride will get to you.

My recommendation here is that you leave plenty of time between the date your bike arrives and the date you depart on your tour. For some people, riding the small-wheeled bike may take a little getting used to. Bike Friday suggests you spend “a few days getting acquainted with your new Bike Friday” before taking it out on a long trip. But I think that some people may require more than just a few days, especially when you combine the feel of a folding bike with the weight of a full-loaded bicycle.

When I ordered my bike, I was in a rush and decided to get a used stock bike instead of a custom built bike. This saved me a little money, but didn’t get me the exact bike I wanted.

The photo at the top of this article shows my New World Tourist. As you can see, I have flat handlebars with cheap plastic shift grips. I can understand why these kind of shifters are put on a folding bike like the New World Tourist (to save space when packed), but they are (in my opinion at least) far from ideal for long distance riding.

Additionally, I would have preferred a different color bike (black or gun metal gray perhaps?) and opted for a third chain ring in the front to help get me and my loaded bike up over the long steep hills any world tourist is sure to encounter.

But again, this is why ordering your bike far in advance is so important. If I had planned out my trip to Aruba further in advance and ordered my bicycle at an earlier date, I would have the bike I “really” wanted.

Customer Service

A big part of what makes a company like Bike Friday (really Green Gear Cycling) so unique is that these bikes are, for the most part, custom built. And because of this, the service one receives from the company needs to be phenomenal.

Companies that create stock bikes and sell to bike stores around the world don’t have as much of an opportunity to excel in the customer service department as a company like Bike Friday does.

According to numerous people I’ve talked to online, their impressions of the customer service at Bike Friday were, for the most part, stellar. I on the other hand (and this is hard for me to admit, because I am close with a number of people who work at the company) feel the customer service could use improvement.

When I go to buy a bike from a small business like Bike Friday, I want to feel like they really care about me, my adventures, and my overall satisfaction with the bike I order. But at the time I ordered my bike, I never really got that feeling.

Maybe because they knew I was an experienced bicycle traveler and because I run the website here at BicycleTouringPro.com, they didn’t feel the need to treat me the same way they would treat one of their traditional customers. But in reality, they should have treated me even better. Because now, here I am, writing a review where I have to say I think their customer service is not as high as it could be.

While the people at Bike Friday have done nothing in particular to wrong me or make me feel as though their company is flawed in some way, I simply feel that a company that builds custom bikes should have a customer service team that is so far above and beyond any other bike company that it makes me feel like my decision to do business with them was the best decision I ever made. I feel like they have an opportunity to be that kind of a business, but they aren’t yet living up to it. If they could make that change, then I think their sales numbers would skyrocket and everyone who ever does business with them in the future would be extremely happy.

First Impressions

Do you have to pedal more?

One of the first thing most people ask me when they see me on my Bike Friday is, “Don’t you have to pedal more in order to ride that thing?”

And the answer I always give them is easy: “No!”

No, you don’t have to pedal more. It rides very much like a normal 26 inch or 700c wheeled bike. According to Bike Friday, “it’s all in the gearing.” The gears on a Bike Friday are set to match that of a full size bicycle, so one revolution on a folding bike matches (or nearly matches) that of a full size bicycle.

So, no! You don’t have to pedal more on a Bike Friday.

Is It Twitchy?

The second big question I am constantly asked about the bike is, “Does it feel twitchy because of the smaller wheels?”

The answer here is, “Kinda…. To a certain degree.”

When I stepped onto the bike for the very first time, the bike did feel a bit twitchy. It wasn’t as though I felt like I was going to fall over or anything, but it did make me feel as though I might be a bear riding a unicycle.

That said, the initial twitches go away after just a few minutes of riding. And after about 5 days, the twitch goes away almost completely. So much so, that you don’t really notice it on flat level roads.

Now that I’ve been traveling with my Bike Friday for over 250+ days, I don’t feel the the slightest bit twitchy on the bike.

The only time the small wheel size concerns me is when I’m riding over big, rocky cracks, which the smaller wheels are more likely to get caught in and be unable to roll over.

How does it feel?

Those that have never ridden a folding bike before usually want to know, “What does it feel like?” And I typically answer that question by explaining that the Bike Friday New World Tourist (the way I have it configured with flat handlebars) feels very much like riding a mountain bike.

After you get used to the handling of the bike and the stares that one gets when riding around on a small-wheeled bicycle (more on this in a minute), you actually forget that you are riding a folding bike at all. I personally no longer see my bike as a “folder.” It’s just my bike! And it feels just like my normal mountain bike back home. I don’t know how else to explain it.

It Looks A Little Funny

The last thing you should know about riding a folding bike is that in some parts of the world, the bike attracts strange looks from people you pass on the road.

In Switzerland and Austria, few people turned their heads when I rode past on my Bike Friday. Folding bikes are fairly common in these countries. But in Montenegro, for example, adults and children alike stopped and stared as I rode past, wondering how I was moving so quickly on such a strange looking bike.

When you purchase a folding bike like a Bike Friday, you have to realize that some people are going to gawk and stare (and occasionally make comments about your bicycle). If you’re okay with that, then great! But if you want a bike that doesn’t draw as much attention, then a folding bike may not be the best choice for you.

Experiences From The Road

Folding Speed

The advantages of having a folding bike are obvious – especially for the world traveler.

Having a bike that folds allows you to travel by train, plane, boat and automobile and, in many cases, avoid paying the excess baggage fees that are most commonly charged to passengers traveling with a full size bicycle.

The Bike Friday New World Tourist excels in this department because it is a fully-equipped touring bicycle that folds up and fits inside an airline standard suitcase.

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve now flown with the bike four separate times and have yet to have any problems with the bike at the airport. I haven’t been charged extra for flying with the bike, nor have airport security or baggage handlers given me any problems.

That said, many airlines are now charging extra for checked baggage (or at least charging extra for a second checked bag), so being able to fly a folding bike for free may not last forever. However, I assume the costs associated with flying a compact folding bike that fits inside a normal sized suitcase will be dramatically less than the cost of flying a full-size bicycle.

One of the biggest reasons I wanted a folding bike in the first place was because I’ve flown with my bicycle a lot over the years… and I plan to fly with my bike a lot more in the future. I wanted to have a bike that I could bring with me on my travels and that did not require me paying hundreds of extra dollars each time I flew. In this regards, the Bike Friday New World Tourist is superb.

That said, the time it takes to get the bike folded down and into it’s travel suitcase is not nearly as great.

When I first purchased the bike, I was expecting to get a vehicle that folded down in 12 seconds or less, much like Bike Friday’s Tikit folding bike. However, the New World Tourist is no fast folder.

Taking the New World Tourist apart requires Allen wrenches, about 15 minutes, and a little practice. You not only have to fold the bike in half, but you have to remove the front wheel, take off both the front and rear racks, remove the fenders and unscrew the water bottle cages from the frame.

When I first purchased the bike, I set up my video camera and recorded the process of me putting the bike back into it’s travel case for the very first time. The result was an hour-and-a-half long video of me struggling to wrestle the bike into place, finally getting it inside its case only after removing both water bottle cages from the frame.

The next time I tried to get the bike in its case, it took no more than 30 minutes. And each time after that has taken me no more than 15.

Now that I’ve taken the bike on 35+ trains and numerous plane rides, I can pack and unpack the bike in just a matter of minutes. And surprisingly enough, the bike does a pretty good job of staying in gear and not getting too whacked out of place, which would require me to make adjustments to the derailleur(s) each and every time I unpacked the bike.

The fold isn’t the quickest in the world. But for a folding bike like the New World Tourist (which many people will use with both racks and fenders) maybe it doesn’t need to be?

The Fold Joint

Other reviews of the Bike Friday New World Tourist talk about the fold joint (or hinge) being the weakest part of the bike. But I disagree. From my experiences, the hinge itself is quite strong.

The weakest part of the New World Tourist’s design, in my opinion at least, is not actually the hinge where the fold occurs, but the place where the back half of bike locks into place with the front half of the bike via the quick release (See photo above).

It’s a weak point on the bike because it’s difficult to tell when the quick release is set correctly. Sometimes it feels as though you have it set too tight… and other times it feels too loose.

With a little practice you discover how to quickly and easily set the quick release and properly lock the rear half of the bike in place. But for new owners of a New World Tourist, I could see how this might be a bit worrisome.

Carrying Gear

You would think that carrying a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, clothes, food, computer and all your other travel gear on a tiny little folding bike would be almost impossible. But this again is an area where the New World Tourist excels.

Just like my normal, full-size touring bike, the New World Tourist is capable of carrying panniers on both the front and back of the bike. In addition, an optional handlebar bag and/or trailer can be used as well.

There are two water bottle cages built in, just like most touring bikes on the market. And if you opt for the foldable rear rack (like I did), then you’ll save even more space when packing the bike inside its suitcase on trips made via plane, train or automobile.

If you want a folding bike that can handle the demands of a fully-loaded bike tour (whether that be with the use of panniers or a trailer), then the New World Tourist is for you!

The Suitcase/Trailer

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to buy the optional suitcase/trailer when I first purchased the bike. I did end up getting one (a used one) however… mainly because I wanted to review it here on the site – as I believed it was a crucial part of telling the bike’s story.

I purchased the suitcase and trailer, which are sold separately and cost a good bit more than one would expect for a plastic suitcase and a homemade aluminum trailer.

I used the suitcase/trailer on my trip to Aruba and here is what I have to say about it:

As a suitcase, the Samsonite case that Bike Friday sells is great. The bike fits right inside and airport officials have never questioned me about it or it’s contents.

That said, the suitcase as a trailer, is a different story.

My experiences pulling the trailer in Aruba left me in a state of fear. On narrow windy roads with tons of traffic and no shoulders, the wide “travelcase” (as Bike Friday calls it) was not only a hindrance to my riding, but it caused cars to slow behind me before swerving into oncoming traffic in an attempt to get around me and my bike.

By the time I arrived at my hotel (only 6 miles from the airport) I was thinking to myself, “There is no way I could ever imagine myself pulling this trailer behind my bike for days on end!”

There were two reasons the Bike Friday trailer left me in such a negative state.

The first reason I don’t like the suitcase as a trailer is because it is just too wide. It sticks out into traffic. On narrow roads with no shoulders, the trailer requires you to ride almost completely in the lane, forcing cars to come to a near stop before scooting around you. This is just plain dangerous… and something you don’t experience when riding with panniers or with a more narrow trailer, like a BOB.

The other reason I don’t like the trailer as a whole is that it is just too flimsy. It’s not really made to be a bike trailer. It is, in fact, just a suitcase, which has been bolted to a homemade aluminum frame with two wheels on it.

It’s a great idea and works wonderfully for short trips on bike paths or roads with wide shoulders. But if you are considering the use of the suitcase/trailer as the ultimate round-the-world luggage transport system, I’d encourage you to think again.

Trains, Planes, Boats and Automobiles

I’ve touched on this a little already, but let me reiterate. The Bike Friday New World Tourist is made for world travel. If you travel a lot by plane, train or boat, the New World Tourist might just be the perfect bike for you.

In regards to saving money when traveling by plane, train or boat, the Bike Friday has exceeded my expectations. I’ve yet to pay extra for the bike on an airplane. and I’ve only had to pay for the bike on three different trains in Europe (a total of less than $50 for all of those three tickets).

That said, some of the trains and boats I’ve run into here in Europe did not allow bicycles of any kind – whether they were folders or not. And even though that was the case, I was able to wiggle my way onto these various modes of transport, simply because I had a folding bike and not a full sized rig.

Other than those two incidents, traveling with the Bike Friday has been a breeze.

Summary

The big question now is this: “Would I recommend the Bike Friday New World Tourist to you?“

Before I answer that, let me tell you what I would change if I were to purchase my Bike Friday all over again.

What would I change?

If I were to change anything about the new World Tourist that I have now, I would:

Add a third chain ring to the front of the bike, allowing me to more easily climb my way up the steep inclines any world traveler is sure to encounter. I didn’t order a bike with this option, but you can! Bike Friday does sell New World Tourists with three front chain rings.
Swap out the flat handlebars and twist shifters for something like the STI Touring Bars and Shimano STI lever shifters that Bike Friday advertises on their site.

So, would I recommend it?

“Yes! I would recommend the Bike Friday New World Tourist”

The bike does take some getting used to and because it is a folding bike, it’s not going to appeal to everyone.

But if you are someone who travels a lot and wants to take a bicycle with you on your travels, then this is a great bike for doing that. If you want a bike that you can use on long distance tours and treat just like any other loaded touring bike, then the New World Tourist is an excellent pick. And if you want a bike that can handle all kinds of conditions, from smooth paved roads to rocky, ice covered slicks, then the New World Tourist is an fantastic choice.

I’ve received a number of emails asking me, “If you could buy just one bicycle, would the New World Tourist be the one?”

My answer: “Maybe?”

For the past year-and-a-half, the Bike Friday New World Tourist has been my one and only bicycle. I’ve ridden it through all kinds of weather, on all sorts of roads, and traveled with it on numerous kinds of public transport. But faced with the decision of never riding another bike ever again, I don’t think I’d go quite that far.

The New World Tourist is indeed a great bicycle, but full-size bicycles certainly have their place in the world. For some, the New World Tourist might just be the ultimate travel bike. For others, like me, it will be just one of the many bicycles in a long line of bikes that make up my arsenal of non-motorized transport.

Photos From The Road

Finally, I’ve decided to share some of my Bike Friday New World Tourist photos with you. These are just a few of the thousands of photos I have taken over the past year while traveling with my bike. Enjoy!

Here I am in the snow with my Bike Friday New World Tourist outside Luzern, Switzerland.

Cycling through the woods in the Swiss countryside.

The red paint of my bike nearly matches the paint on the bench.

The silhouette of me and my bike while on a day ride around Lake Luzern – Switzerland.

Traveling in the winter required me to wear a face mask and ski gloves almost all the time.

Stealth camping in the forests of Switzerland.

Traveling over ice and snow with my Bike Friday New World Tourist.

My fully-loaded bicycle and I taking a break in the woods.

Crossing a Swiss river in the middle of winter.

Exploring Austria on my New World Tourist.

Traveling by train with my fully-loaded bike.

The Bike Friday New World Tourist folded and stored on an Austrian Train.

Cycling through Austria in the dark.

On a day ride outside Schonberg Palace in Vienna, Austria.

I cycled to the Danube River in Vienna, Austria and spent the day working on my computer.

Because the bike looks so small, my hotel in Salzburg had no problem with me bringing it up into my room.

Crossing a bridge in Innsbruck, Austria.

The New World Tourist folded up and waiting to board a train bound for Slovenia.

My fully-loaded New World Tourist in Split, Croaita.
About to boat a boat bound for the island of Korcula.

Waiting to get on the ferry boat that would take me and my bike from Korcula to Orebic, Croatia.

I spent many of my days in Croatia cycling to beach, sitting in the sand, and reading.

Using my bike as a laundry rack to dry my clothes in the Croatian sun.

Sitting on the strairs outside a Croatian church with my New World Tourist.

Cycling down the Croatian coastline north of Orebic.

At the peak of a mountain pass in Croatia.

My New World Tourist loaded with panniers and gear cycling down the Croatia coastline.

The Bike Friday New World Tourist in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

My Bike Friday in Aruba – 2008

If you have any questions about Bike Friday, the New World Tourist, or anything I’ve mentioned in this review, just leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I possibly can!

BOB Ibex Bicycle Trailer: An In Depth Review

Darren Alff — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:33:50 +0000

“Do you prefer panniers or a trailer when traveling by bike?”

That’s a question I’ve been asked time and time again over the past few years. Unfortunately, because my previous experiences with long distance bicycle touring have all involved the use of panniers, I’ve been more than a bit bias when answering this question in the past.

But then, not too long ago, I got my hands on a BOB Ibex bicycle trailer and put it to the test. For the past month-and-a-half I’ve been cycling every single day, pulling this incredible piece of equipment behind me on my bike. I’ve ridden with trailers for a single day or two in the past, but this has been my first experience pulling a trailer for such an extended period of time.

The following are my thoughts and impressions of the BOB Ibex bicycle trailer:

The trailer featured in this article is the BOB Ibex Plus
(The “Plus” indicates that the trailer comes with the dry SAK)

Assembly:

When my BOB Ibex bicycle trailer first arrived via FedEx, I picked it up and carried it into my living room. “Wow, this thing is heavy,” I thought to myself. I proceeded to cut open the box and remove the trailer from its packaging. “Hmm, it’s really well made,” I continued.

At first glance I was impressed by the power and strength of the trailer. The BOB Ibex weighs about 20 pounds (9 kg) and features a single rear suspension wheel designed to take on the roughest road/trail conditions. Inside the trailer sits a bright yellow, waterproof dry SAK, used to store your goods and gear while the trailer is in motion. “Impressive” I thought to myself.

As I worked to assemble the trailer, two small tasks had to be accomplished. The first of which was to attach the trailer fork to the pivot tube using the 6mm pivot bolt and lock nut. “Hmm, this bolt doesn’t look very strong,” I remember thinking. “I hope the nut doesn’t come loose while I’m riding.” (It never did.)

Then I encountered my first little bug. In order to install the pivot bolt, you need two 10mm wrenches. Now, luckily I was at home and happened to have access to two wrenches of that size, but when I’m out on the road and traveling by bike, I don’t want to be carrying two of anything. If that bolt were to come loose and needed tightening, I would have to be carrying two 10mm wrenches with me… and when weight is a concern (as it always is when traveling by bike), two of anything is less than ideal.

Once the fork had been attached, I went to work on connecting the rear wheel and shock axle to the main body of the trailer. You do so by inserting the pivot axle’s left brushing through the left side of the shock tower opening and then aligning the right brushing with the right shock tower opening (It sounds complicated, but it was really quite easy). Once that’s in place, you insert the pivot bolt and tighten it down with a washer and nut. Here again you need two 10mm wrenches.

Once the bottom portion of the axle is attached to the shock tower, you need to attach the upper portion of the suspension system to the tower. This is done with a short axle bolt and Allen screw combination. Here, you are required to use two 4mm Allen wrenches to tighten the bolt into place. Once again, the need to have two Allen wrenches of the same size is of some concern to me as a traveling cyclist. That extra Allen wrench is just one more thing I would have to pack and carry around with me.

After that’s done, the trailer is pretty much assembled. Add the wheel reflectors, stick in the flag, drop the dry SAK into place… and you’re all set to go! Total set up time: About 15 minutes. Now all you have to do is attach the trailer to your bike.

In order to attach the trailer to your bicycle, you need to replace the rear quick release on your bike with the special BOB quick release provided with the purchase of your trailer.

This special quick release is wider than the standard quick release on your bicycle because it contains bobbins on which the trailer hooks will ultimately attach and lock into place.

Once the BOB quick release is in position simply lift the fork of the trailer and align the slots of the bobbins with the slots in the fork hooks. Then (and this is important), insert the locking pins into the hole on the front edge of the hook, rotate the pin upward, and lock the pin into place using the button head post located on the back side of the hook. The pin should lock into place, thereby ensuring that the trailer is indeed attached to your bicycle. Without these pins in place, your trailer could detach from your bicycle and cause a severe accident! The BOB manual insists that you “inspect pins for proper installation every time you ride.”

Once that’s complete, you’re ready to hit the street!

On The Road:

I was impressed as how easy the BOB Ibex was to set up and attach to my bike. I was even more impressed by the quality of the trailer and happy to see that attaching and detaching the trailer from the bicycle was a fairly easy task. Now I had to hit the streets and see how the trailer handled.

My first mile with the Ibex in tow was quite surprising. I expected there to be some odd sensations as my body and my bicycle adjusted to the use of the lagging trailer. But to my surprise, the handling of my bike was not much different than the handling of the bike when the trailer was not attached. I barely noticed it was there!

Reading other online reviews of the BOB trailers, I had been warned that because the trailer only had one wheel, there might be some rocking back and forth as the weight of the trailer shifted from side to side. But it became quickly apparent to me that the people writing these reviews didn’t know that they were talking about! I doubt they had ever even used the trailer for themselves. I’m guessing their reviews were based more on hypotheses than on actual experience. There was no shifting of weight from side to side. There were no times when the trailer caused me to lose my balance. Instead, the trailer followed in a straight line behind my bike, perfectly balanced the whole time through.

As I became more comfortable with the trailer I stepped it up a notch. To test the trailer’s rear suspension, I hopped a six-inch curb. No problem. The trailer followed the bike and leapt up onto the concrete sidewalk without a glitch.

Then I hit the trails. There’s a narrow, rocky, single-track trail not far from my home and it was my next testing ground for the Ibex. As I pedaled off-road and traversed a mile or two on this winding rocky path, I was instantly impressed by the trailer’s suspension. On steep uphills I could tell I was pulling something behind me, but the resistance wasn’t nearly as strong as I imagined it would be. Instead of bouncing over rocks like a bull in the rodeo, the trailer flowed more like a skier through thick powder, bouncing and gliding over the obstacles it came into contact with. The trailer’s rear suspension did an exceptional job at absorbing the blows of steep drops and big rocks. On flat twisting trails, the bike performed as though the trailer weren’t even there. On sharp curves, I was able to navigate quite normally on most occasions, but did have to put my feet down on a couple especially sharp hooks in the trail.

Back out on the paved streets, I went for speed. The BOB owner’s manual warns that you shouldn’t exceed 25 miles per hour (40 kph), so I wanted to push the trailer to its limit and see what happened. On a steep downhill on the other side of town, I exceeded 30 miles an hour and the trailer followed obediently. There was no wobble or loss of control, but after a few seconds I slowed down and resumed a normal rate of speed. I thought to myself, “It’s good to know that you can travel more than 25 mph with the trailer in tow, but honestly, I wouldn’t want to do it for an extended length of time. And frankly, I don’t think I would exceed that speed very many times on a bike tour anyway.”

Returning home a few minutes later, I added more weight to the trailer. The owner’s manual warns that the trailer is designed to carry no more than 70 pounds (32 kilograms), so I weighed out the trailer to exactly that… and hit the road again!

It took a bit more muscle to get rolling this time, but once I was in the saddle and out on the street, I almost forgot how much weight I was carrying. Again, over rough terrain and rocks, the trailer performed quite well. Smooth and quiet. But then I hit a long uphill road. Instantly I felt the trailer pulling me backwards. I was able to reach the top of the hill, but the weight of the trailer had been working against me the entire time. As I reached the top of the hill I tried to think back to what it felt like to climb step hills with a full set of panniers. “A hill of this size would be a struggle no matter what,” I thought. ”When you are carrying that much weight, whether it’s in a set of panniers or in a trailer, it’s going to be a struggle. But for steep hills such as this, I think panniers are the clear winner.”

Overall, the handling of the BOB Ibex while on the bike is the best I have ever seen in a bicycle trailer. Having ridden with numerous two wheel trailers in the past, I now see the benefits of BOB’s single wheel design. It’s smooth, less resistant than two wheel trailers, and is the only type of trailer that is going to be able to withstand heavy use on narrow single-track trails.

Off The Bike:

On the way back home I stopped by the local bike shop to get their impressions of the trailer I had in tow. As I pulled up in front of the shop, I hopped the curb and looked for a place to park my rig.

Now usually, when visiting the local bike shop, I simply lean my bike up against a small blank wall outside the shop doors. But with a trailer adding an additional 4.5 feet (140 cm) to the length of my bike, there was nowhere to park!

The BOB owner’s manual suggests a parking position, in which you angle the trailer and handlebars at 90 degrees to the bike, but when I did this, the bike and trailer took up the entire sidewalk and those passing by on foot were annoyed when they had to step out into the street in order to get past.

I finally found a wall about 60 feet away that was long enough to lean the entire bike and trailer up against. There was nothing to lock the bike or trailer to, so I ran inside the bike shop as quickly as possible and then returned to the rig a few seconds later.

“Hmm…” I thought to myself. “Parking this thing could really be a problem.”

When traveling with panniers, the length of your bike is never really an issue. In fact, that’s one of the major benefits of traveling with panniers. It’s easy to park just about anywhere! But here I was, trying to park this one-wheeled trailer for the first time and I was really having some problems.

“What do you do if there is no wall, fence, or picnic table nearby onto which you can lean your bike?”

If space is a major consideration (as it was in this case where my bike in the recommended parking position took up the entire sidewalk), you can always detach the trailer from the bicycle – thus solving the parking/space issue, but it’s one more thing to do and one more task to take you away from the enjoyment of your ride.

After 45 days of using the Ibex, parking and packing the trailer has become a bit easier. I’ve learned what kind of angle the bike needs to rest at and what type of conditions there need to be in order for me to detach the trailer from the bike if necessary. In the end, the parking of the BOB bicycle trailer is just one of those things you have to practice and get better at as time progresses.

If I Were To Change Anything About The BOB Ibex:

- I would get rid of the need for two 10mm wrenches and two 4mm Allen wrenches when assembling the trailer. As a traveling cyclist, I’d prefer to use only a single Allen wrench for any repair I might need to make to my equipment.

- I would also make it easier to park the bike when there is no wall, fence, or picnic table in the area. This is where the one wheel design hurts the overall performance of the trailer. Two wheel trailers stand up on their own, but without something to lean the trailer against (or an open space large enough to support the bike and trailer in its “parking position,” there are some small problems.) I’m not exactly sure how to correct this situation, but when traveling by bicycle, packing and unpacking your bike is a constant part of your day. If getting in and out of your gear is a nuisance, your whole day becomes aggravating and the likelihood of you completing your tour drastically decreases.

- Finally, I would like to see the dry SAK available in other colors. I understand that the bright yellow color is designed for the safety of the rider when riding in traffic, but for someone like myself who would use the trailer off-road more than on it, I’d prefer to see a dry sack available in black, green, or gray (a color more suited for stealth camping and life outside the neon yellow stereotype associated with most hardcore bicyclists).

Final Thoughts:

Over the past 45 days I’ve been using my BOB Ibex bicycle trailer while riding to work, running errands, picking up groceries, traversing the local single tracks and everything in between. Overall, I’m terribly impressed by the quality and design of the trailer. It’s built tough, has an excellent design for on road and off-road riding, and is by far the best bicycle trailer I have ever used. With its single wheel design, rigid construction, and suspension system designed for the roughest of road conditions, the BOB Ibex is the ideal touring trailer.

Click here to get a BOB trailer for your next bicycle adventure >>>