Some basic tips that can change your trip and make it memorable

Biking across the country is a serious Endeavour that is not to be taken lightly. I decided to bike across the country at the age of 24, I met someone, Sam Ryan,  interested in joining me, and we started training in earnest. I started cycling 3-4 hrs per day everyday, I cross trained and tried to get as fit as possible. Then the trip started, I instantly understood there was no way to train for this! I was beaten up after one day, and I had to go again the next. It took me and Sam a few days to figure out we did everything wrong. We packed jeans, sweatpants, enough food for several days, extra shoes, dress clothes, tools, extra bike parts, the list goes on and on. Our bikes weighed about 80lbs loaded it was impossible to climb hills, no matter how fit we were. So we made some changes to make the trip manageable. 

We did the following:

1. We ate all our extra food and carried a minimal supply of food, since there were towns with stores everywhere, we just shopped when we were hungry. 

2. We sent our tools, bike parts, jeans, sweatpants, non cycling clothes and shoes home. We did not need any of this stuff and it was really tough to haul.

3. We picked paths that followed water flows such as the Hudson river and Erie Canal. There were big hills away from the water, however the elevation change on roads near the water was minimal. This really helped!

4. After a three weeks I finally got a sustainable concept for long distance cycling that would not beat me up. I sent my panniers home and kept one rackpack, one mosquito net, one sleeping mat, and one sleeping bag. How did I fit all this on one standard bike rack? I didn't, I bought a $5 Hibachi grill, threw away everything except the top grill. I placed the grill on my rack to create a super large mega rack. I placed all my stuff on this Hibachi style mega rack to keep it behind my back to minimize wind resistance.This did the trick, I biked from Minneapolis to Seattle with no problem it worked great.

5. Go west to east. In NY, Canada, Michigan, and Wisconsin we were hit by plenty of cross winds. No matter which way we went we would have to fight the wind resistance. However in the plains the wind was predominantly from the west and it was very strong from morning until night. I travelled East to West so I had to to fight the wind every day. I got all my serious mileage in after 7PM, when the wind dies down. Going west to east would be so much easier in the plains.

6. Skip national parks and other major tourist areas during peak season. I biked through Yellowstone park and it was beautiful, however it was very dangerous. The park is full of RV's that are in a rush to finish their vacation, I was almost run over many times.

7. Don't be ashamed to hitch hike. I had to hitch hike a few times. Once to get to bike shops ( bike problems ). Once to get out of near tornado force winds, once to get pasta  prison ( no cyclists near some prisons ), and once to get out of the rain ( after 4 days of rain in Washington state I had enough )

To summarize, I would recommend a first time tourist to take nothing with them, bring everything onto a mega-Hibachi-style rack. Keeping all the mass behind them to minimize wind resistance. Stay on paths that follow bodies of water. Go west to east, do not visit major tourist attractions during peak season. Use only two changes of clothes, if anything happens you can buy more clothes. Don't forget you will be in America, you can hitch hike if your bike or body breaks down.

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Ride One of the Full Size Folding Bikes

Full size folding bikes are designed to also fold into a compressed form as other folding bicycles. They facilitate excellent storage and transport.  When these bikes are folded, you can carry them easily into your apartment, house, and other buildings and on public transportation. You can also mix up your commute by traveling to the train station in your car and switching to your folding bike commute. Full size folding bikes can also be stored easily in boats, on a plane and in the trunk of your car.

Different Mechanisms

On all folding bicycles, mechanisms will vary, with each bike offering a distinctive blend of speed, ease, weight, ride, compression, cost and sturdiness. Many of the full size folding bikes are distinguished by their individual complexities in their folding method; some offering different structural necessities, more parts, and possibly more market appeal. Your model selection should be based on more than just cost. In other words, it may be a matter of practicalities such as fast folding, size and its compactness. It is difficult to tell whether full size folding bikes are the same as regular bikes. It has an elegant, but simple folding mechanism that is almost invisible. The locking system is like a tube within a tube, separating in seconds by releasing two bolts located on the seat tube and the down tube.

Going Mainstream

Many people are becoming more interested in finding ways to save on transportation cost. This includes finding how to stop paying those high gas prices, increased parking fees and saving the planet. For this reason, full size folding bikes have graduated from being novelty items, but more mainstream. In fact, at the airport, you can now check in these bikes as personal luggage when going on your business trip. If you commute on a bus or train, you will find them very handy too. They offer high performance than other bikes that cannot be folded. 

False Impressions

There are so many false impressions about full size folding bikes. Many people might be concerned that the smaller wheel size will someway render a slower ride. Some worry that these bikes won’t be able to adequately climb over a hill while others think that they won’t be as durable as conventional bikes. These things are not true. Folding bikes are specifically designed to conquer these challenges.

Downtube

Downtube is a bicycle company that has a full line of expertly designed full size folding bikes. They are trendy, stylish and feature contemporary elements, folding small enough to be placed in the back of a closet or trunk of a vehicle. The entire frame of these folding bike revolve around the seat tube, successfully permitting you to pretty much, ‘break down the bike in half.’ You would first take off the front wheel. You would then break down the frame. To do this, you would release the ‘skewer’ on the upper tube, then swing the front part of the bike around. When it is folded completely, it can fit into any sedan trunk. You can even pick it up and easily carry it around. That is brilliant, isn’t it? 

Broken Down

Most of the time a bike can seem clumsy to move because of its jagged size and shape. However, when broken down like the Downtube full size folding bikes can, it becomes more manageable, elevator friendly and ideal for storage. The 8 speed model is designed so that you have little maintenance while owning it. It has an internal hub with all the gears operated from the grip of the handlebar. With a full front suspension, it cushions you against bumps in the road or rough bike paths. 

Regular Bike

When you buy one of these full size folding bikes, you will get the feel of a regular size bike with the convenience of riding a folding bicycle. What that means is that you will have a comfortable, yet faster and transportable ride because of its portability.  The Downtube folding bike is the ideal for a rider who loves the idea of having a folding bike that operates just like a regular bike. Pretty cool, you would think, right? You definitely cannot go wrong with full size folding bikes, especially if you are searching for a cool way to avoid the heavy traffic and still get to work on time.



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The Story of Two Lightweight Folding Bikes

Jessie is a young professional who came from suburb America and now works in the big city. Since 1995, Jessie has lived in the New York City and works in the metropolitan area of the city. He has recently revisited his passion and enthusiasm for cycling, which he had as a little boy. In addition to his commute in the city, Jessie enjoys cycling along the Hudson River to relax after a long day at work. Jessie confesses that he has known about lightweight folding bikes for a while now, but refused to give up his full size bicycle until he decided to bike to work.

Jessie tried a couple different folding bicycles before settling for the lightweight. The first one he tried was the Downtube Shimano-8 speed and the second one was the Mini Shimano – 8 speed. Now Jessie wants you to hear the tale of these two folding bikes.

Downtube 8H Shimano Nexus – 8 speed (Gates Carbon Belt Drive)

The cycling distance from where Jessie lived to where he worked in the big city of New York was roughly 30 miles. He had access to multiple routes when driving by car. He also had the option to take the bus on 41st Street or take the bus and then the train or ferryboat. It would usually take about two hours for Jessie to get to work using these modes of transportation. With this Downtube folding bike, Jessie could cut the time by riding from Midtown to the Battery. In so doing Jessie had to take ride the bike and then fold it and take it onto the bus. After reaching the train, Jessie took one of these lightweight folding bikes onto the train to midtown Manhattan. He then rode to the office. This is the only bike allowed on Jessie’s train during rush hour – a folding bike. You can fold this bike in seconds once you get the hang of it. It only weighs 26.5 roughly and just a little more, if he carried lunch and the rack bag.

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Downtube Mini Simano Nexus – 8 Speed

Jessie purchased one of the Downtube Mini Simano Nexus – 8 Speed lightweight folding bikes recently. This one was fast and efficient and folds in only 15 seconds. There was no issue with improper shifting. It is extremely light and maintenance-free. The brakes are of the highest quality, coordinated with machined sidewalls rims. Lightweight aluminum frames and gates carbon belt and cogs contribute to its ease in carrying around.

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Conclusion

Both of these folding bikes are fun to ride for Jessie. Each of them has its own advantages. It all depends on your personal taste, biking needs and budget. Jessie reports that he feels safe driving both folding bikes, but prefers the lightweight one. He is so happy to be able to commute without the hassle of heavy traffic and obnoxious motorists. Like Jessie, other motorists have switched to lightweight folding bikes gladly because of its ultimate convenience.

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Commute in Style with a Quality Folding Bike for Sale

 

 

If you plan to take another look at a folding bike for sale, then you have made the right choice. These are one of the newest additions on the market today. Depending on what you are looking for in a bike, there may be one or more choices that you could consider. Some people view this kind of bike as ideal for commuting in a big city. When the bike is folded up, it is easier to use it on public transportation.  You can even take it inside any building, whether at work or a restaurant. Then, you don’t have to be looking outside every second to make sure that there are no bike thieves around.

Big City Commute

Let’s pretend that you are a New Yorker. Like other New Yorkers and residents living in big cities, it is not easy to get around the city in a vehicle, unless you want to deal with the heavy and monotonous traffic, let alone lack of parking. Your small apartment has refused to budge one more inch and the roadways have seen too many bike thefts. If you try to take a full-sized bike into a building or elevator, the concierge might look at you as if you are crazy. If you have to take the bus, the other commuters have to wait until you get your full-sized bike with its giant wheels maneuvered into the right place. On top of that, there are rush hour limitations or bans on bikes on certain public transit – so much for you to deal with!

The Solution

A folding bike for sale offers a viable option to fix this problem. Downtown folding bikes may be the solution that you are searching for. There are several models to choose from in order to fit your particular needs. However, all models can be carried on an elevator, in an apartment or even in your office at work. Here is a short description of some of the models and their features.

Downtube Mini Shimano Nexus – 8 speed

This small folding bike for sale has wheels that measure 16 inches and is compact enough for travel. Featuring 8 speed of Shimano Nexus interior hub, it carries no external shifter and no cogs or gears. Therefore, you don’t have to be concerned about any inappropriate shifting; neither do you have to clean the drive train nor worry much about additional maintenance. It is very lightweight, small and able to fit in a boat, RV or airplane during travel.

Downtube Shimano Nexus with Gates Carbon Belt Drive- 8 Speed
With no apparent external shifter, gears or chain, this baby is maintenance-free with no worries about in appropriate shifting or drive train cleaning. This folding bike for sale has wheels that measure 20 inches. If you have a boat or RV, you will really love this model. Additional features are included in this purchase such as:
•    Lightweight fenders
•    Kickstand
•    Durable rack
•    Sidewall rims
You will receive an upgraded frame quick release, integrated headset, folding pedal and stem. With the new high-rise handle bars, riders can make alterations to fit their preference without hindrance to the fold.

Downtube Folding Bike – 9-Speed Full Suspension

This folding bike for sale is one of the newest on the market. It is comfortable, preloaded with adjustable full suspension, both in the front and at the rear. Because the frames and wheels of most folding bikes are stiffer than full-sized bikes, more suspension is required. This bike has 9-speed full suspension, precisely what most riders require for more comfort. For upgrade and top performance, a premium drive train was put in as well as other high-end parts. If you want a bike that rocks, this one is the ideal pick.

Conclusion

With all of these options for picking a folding bike or sale, you stand the chance of having something unique that cannot be stolen and will provide the comfort you need as it relates to reliable transportation. No longer do you have to dread riding your bike to work and no longer do you have to park it on the dreaded streets of New York or other big cities. Get rid of the supposition and assumption that folding bicycles are not easy to fold, perform terribly, and need lots of pedaling. This is the furthest thing from the truth. Choose a Downtown folding bike for sale and you can’t go wrong!

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