Bike Friday Touring and Travel

[dlambert]

I just made the plunge into BF technology.  Before making the total plunge into their travel system, can others with BF experience share ideas on optimal set-up for touring?  Should I go with the trailer and carrying case, deluxe option, or do racks, panniers, and cardboard boxes for transport work better?  I anticipate train and plane transport to where I will start multiple day, primarily camping-based tours.  Thanks in advance.  Incidentally, my most recent tour used a regular bike with a Bob trailer, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

[nun]

Personally I'd give the trailer option a miss. I thing you give up a lot of the convenience of a folding bike if you have to pack it into a hard sided case when you use other transportation. See if you can lighten your load and fit it into a couple of bags on the BF and just pack the BF in a light weight nylon or plastic bag for transit. If you have the convenience of a folding bike, your luggage should also be convenient and as easy to carry as the bike.

[bogiesan]

There is a large and international collection of Bike Friday fans on the interwebs.

I have friends who have the money and time and health to travel all over the world and they have a pair of BFs they've had for about 20 years. They use their trailer transports. But not for touring. They tell me the only thing the BF trailer is really good for is tranpsorting their ultrlight traveling gear from the train to their hotel. Then they take off on their Bike Fridays for self-guided excursions but they never take the trailers.

The bikes go in the trailers for transport on trains and planes and buses. When they arrive sompelace, the bikes are assembled and the trailers haul their gear.

[RussSeaton]

I have friends who ... travel all over the world and they have a pair of BFs they've had for about 20 years. They use their trailer transports. But not for touring. They tell me the only thing the BF trailer is really good for is tranpsorting their ultralight traveling gear from the train to their hotel. Then they take off on their Bike Fridays for self-guided excursions but they never take the trailers.

The bikes go in the trailers for transport on trains and planes and buses. When they arrive sompelace, the bikes are assembled and the trailers haul their gear.

I'm guessing your friends leave the Bike Friday trailer/hardcase at the hotel they start and end the trip at.  They always start and end their bike trips at the same town/airport.  Never coast to coast or cross Europe type trips.  Always loop tours.

[BigWickerJim]

I traveled from Portland to San Francisco on a NWT this past summer.

I flew into Portland and then shipped the suitcase to San Francisco in the mail via general delivery. That worked out quite well.

Let me know if you have any questions.