britbikes

Hi origamiists! I have a couple of Raleigh Twenty folders, both alloy customized to around 25 pounds. One with 406 mm wheels and a Sturmey-Archer S5 the other with 451 mm wheels and a fixed gear. The 5 speed is my travel bike, and I have climbed Pikes Peak on it. All this is slightly relevant bragging prior to my main question. I am retiring, moving to New York City to be close to both my kids and my grandkid, requiring downsizing to a 2-bedroom apartment. I have 3 other full size bikes, but life in a small apartment would be more comfortable with only the folders. Life in retirement would also be much more enjoyable with regular long bike rides exploring NYC and the surrounding country. So (finally) my question is: with the small wheels and fit compromises of a folder, what is the the longest continuous ride people have I done on a folder? I am especially iterested in non-suspension folder experiences, as I love the ride of the Twenties. I just have never ridden them for more than 5 hours straight.

Pinigis 

I have done 53 miles in 5 hours while pulling a child trailer on my Origami Crane 8. Trailer + kid + food and clothing was about 65 pounds.

unionmanbirch

The most I've done in a day on a folder is 63 miles on my Origami Crane a few years ago. I added bar ends to give more hand positions. I've done several other rides of 50+ miles.

striegel 

In June of 2008 or 2009 I rode my Dahon Mu P8 103 miles in the Sunday in June tour through the northeast Ohio Amish countryside. Beautiful weather and it would have been starting out around 7:30 or 8:00 with breaks around every 25 miles and full lunch at mid-day.

sweeks

I rode to work on my Dahon Mu XL about 10 years ago. Normally, it's a 7-mile bike ride with the rest on a train, but I did it all the way on the folder so I could say I did it. It was a "bike-to-work Century". Actually, it was surprisingly easy. About 7 years ago, I did a Century on my then-new Tern Verge S11i. So... a hundred miles is the most I've done.

BobbyG

britbikes I've done 4 hours on my Bull-horned Dahon Boardwalk. Six hours (57 miles) is the longest I've been on any bike.

You mentioned Pikes Peak. I've lived in Colorado Springs for 30 years and have hiked up a few times, but riding up, even on the paved road seems like it would take forever, if I could even do

How long did it take you to ride up? And how was the ride down?

SparkyBeacon 

I did my toughest single day ride on my Bike Friday New World Tourist. It was 102 miles up and down the hills in and around Brown County State Park in Indiana.

britbikes

The ride up Pikes Peak took 3-1/2 hour, the ride down about an hour. My lack of acclimatization to altitude was my limiting factor, no the bike. Even with cheap Kenda K123 20” X 1.75 street rites at 40;psi, I had no handling issues on the descent.

rhenning

My longest was a 3 week PAC Tour supported tour across the Northern United States on my Bike Friday Pocket Rocket in 2005. Roger

rhenning

I should of added that trip the longest day was just under 200 miles a shortest was a bit under 100. Started in Everett Washington and finished In Williamsburg VA in 3 weeks time. Roger

CliffordK

This is coming home from about a 150 mile ride, pulling its trailer. Bike Friday Pocket Rocket.



The bike will fit into the trailer, although those rims did not.

I don't remember if there were other "Century" rides on it, but I've been out 40 or 50 miles several times.

joey buzzard

How many teeth are you running up front? Looks like a large dinner plate.
I like it!

CliffordK

I was playing around a bit.

That is the Bikingreen 70T chainring. They're not too expensive on E-Bay.

Unfortunately the front derailleurs don't like them.

That has a Sachs Dual Drive hub behind it which pretty much negates the benefit of the 70T. I can still climb pretty well in the 70T.

Keep in mind that a 20" wheel has about 2/3 the gearing of a 27" wheel.