IN JAPAN
Bike Fridays cost nothing to check in on domestic or International
flights - they are in a Samsonite suitcase - who would ever know?
They are packed with special compression bars so watching them fly out
onto the baggage pickup did not hurt them or us a bit. Wheeling
them up and down escalators was fun and easy. Sometimes
while transporting we left the trailer wheels on and put the case in a
trunk then folded the bikes in the carry on bags and put them inside.
No
grease on those white lace taxi seat covers!
Other times we just disconnected the trailer and threw the Bike Friday and all right into a vehicle. Very versitile
!
Transporting through train stations was easy and best done in off peak hours. We would wheel our suitcases through the boarding gates without a problem.
Our
only concern was getting the bike suitcase wheeled across the gap from
the platform into or out of the train during short stops. This
proved to not be a problem.
It was easier than carrying a bag in each hand and squeezing out the
door.
They bounced easily up or down and right over the narrow space.
Once
on the train we stash our bike cases either in a small luggage area or
behind the first seats where there is plenty of space or leave them in
the space just inside the doors.
In Hiroshima we discovered the train station has huge LOCKERS! The
cost was $5 for 24 hours. Your hotel may gladly hold luggage at no
cost. After all the bike is in a suitcase!
Getting on and off subways was also very easy, again in off peak hours!
Security
was never a problem. But we did use our special Dutch locks for
quick lock ups. Japan is pretty mellow and second they are pretty
unusual bikes so get lots of attention. But we noticed other bikes (a Bike Friday no less) locked up.
We would
lock the bikes and suitcases all together when left outside at night if
checked into accommodation and carry in just what we needed.
While camping , we just used the Dutch lock and locked the suitcases.
The suitcases also have their own combination locks!
Often
we took the bikes right into our room by folding them and then wheeling
in the suitcase. In Japan the stairways, elevators and rooms
can be very small. Perfect size for a Bike Friday
On ferries we learned to just wheel them on into the hold with trailer attached.
Out on the Road
Ok, we did find a couple interesting tight spots with the trailer. With panniers it would be a problem too! But with the Bike Friday's we found unhooking the trailer from the bike with the air hose quick connect hitch... works great!
If you get in a pinch, even lifting over a guard rail is easy if done separately. It is not any more difficult going up over a curb with a Bike Friday than with a fully loaded touring bike with pannier's. Curbs!! Oh yes, we hit a curb with one trailer wheel a couple times and the trailer did a flip. The bike remained upright and all we felt was a little tug. The hitch did get damaged but because we had a hitch on the right side for Japan we just simply changed the trailer over to the left American side and continued on.
Several times, with the bikes inside the suitcase and the carry bag full
of gear hung over the handle, we pulled them sometimes over a kilometer
down the street to get to a room or train once the tour was over.
It can even be done with ONE HAND!. Certainly a test of convenience
and ease.... those Bike Friday's!!!
As for riding a Bike Friday.....well some things just need to be experienced for yourself.
WE LOVE OUR BIKE FRIDAY'S!
And
of course for Biking Boaties the biggest advantage is
space. With Bike Friday's we can now
take our bikes with us aboard wherever we go.
