Dahon on Vacation: Suitcase to Riding
#26
Freewheel Medic
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 13,019
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Liked 2,341 Times
in
1,036 Posts
I'm out on my final Georgia coastal island ride before heading home to New Hampshire tomorrow. My Dahon hasn't disappointed me and has been a real pleasure to ride. I'll probably end up with about 180-90 miles.
Today I met a Corgi puppy!!! Sweet Pea will eventually live in NH about 25 miles from my house. Small world! I should mention I've been a Corgi owner for nearly 20 years.
Today I met a Corgi puppy!!! Sweet Pea will eventually live in NH about 25 miles from my house. Small world! I should mention I've been a Corgi owner for nearly 20 years.
#27
Freewheel Medic
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 13,019
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Liked 2,341 Times
in
1,036 Posts
Final picture for this trip. In the car for transport back to the condo where we are staying. It's already disassembled and in the suitcase for the flight home. Needs a good cleaning and a different set of wheels for the trip to the Florida panhandle during late April and early May.
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
#28
Freewheel Medic
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 13,019
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Liked 2,341 Times
in
1,036 Posts
New Hampshire update!
I flew home from Georgia yesterday via Jacksonville, FL with my connecting flight in Baltimore, MD. I had about a 3 hour layover. As I waited to de-board at BWI I watch both my suitcases come off the plane and go side by side on the same luggage cart. I felt that was a good sign. However, last night back in the Manchester, NH airport only one suitcase arrived with me, and the one with my neatly packed Dahon was missing!
Here's hoping it ended up on the last plane from BWI to MHT, which laded early this morning at about 1:30 a.m. Southwest promises to deliver it to my home 50 miles northwest of the airport sometime today. Fortunately I had taken all those pictures of me unpacking it, so I can prove what it contained. Also, my limited edition Brooks England saddle and Brooks bags were either in my carryon or my other suitcases. They would be the most difficult bits to replace if everything is lost or stolen.
The baggage agents who took the missing luggage report were absolutely amazed I could fit a bike into a regulation sized suitcase. They were very impressed when I showed them the pictures.
I flew home from Georgia yesterday via Jacksonville, FL with my connecting flight in Baltimore, MD. I had about a 3 hour layover. As I waited to de-board at BWI I watch both my suitcases come off the plane and go side by side on the same luggage cart. I felt that was a good sign. However, last night back in the Manchester, NH airport only one suitcase arrived with me, and the one with my neatly packed Dahon was missing!
Here's hoping it ended up on the last plane from BWI to MHT, which laded early this morning at about 1:30 a.m. Southwest promises to deliver it to my home 50 miles northwest of the airport sometime today. Fortunately I had taken all those pictures of me unpacking it, so I can prove what it contained. Also, my limited edition Brooks England saddle and Brooks bags were either in my carryon or my other suitcases. They would be the most difficult bits to replace if everything is lost or stolen.
The baggage agents who took the missing luggage report were absolutely amazed I could fit a bike into a regulation sized suitcase. They were very impressed when I showed them the pictures.
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
#29
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Bas-Rhin, FRANCE
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
This winter I've upgraded it again and added a SRAM Dual Drive three speed rear hub with a 12-25 9 speed cassette. Combined with a 53-42 Shimano 105 crankset, and I have 54 speed Dahon !
Cheers
#30
Freewheel Medic
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 13,019
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Liked 2,341 Times
in
1,036 Posts
The short tutorial would be that I sourced most of the parts from ebay and made them work. However, I can be more detailed to specific questions. My assumption (which could be very wrong) has to do with the SRAM Dual Drive system. Let me begin by describing the original drivetrain.
This Dahon is the Speed 7 model and it was either a 2013 or '14. It came with an inexpensive single crank with a bash guard and a 7 speed Shimano freewheel. IIRC the freewheel was 13-28 and the chainring was 48 or 50.
I was not happy with this gearing for the mostly coastal/beach riding I was doing while on vacation. I changed the freewheel to a mid '90s Sachs Aris 8 speed which was 12-24. I also went to Shimano 105 8 speed barends which I found shifted better in friction mode. However, the cheap permanent chainring somehow became bent in the suitcase, so I upgraded to an early '90s Shimano 105 double crankset (53-42) and added a Shimano FD and Litespeed mounting bracket. Thus the Speed 7 became a Speed 16.
This past Fall, while browsing ebay for a replacement part on the Dual Drive system I have on a Cannondale hybrid, I spotted the 20" (406mm) Dual Drive wheel. I was intrigued and the price was very reasonable since it was missing a few parts and came with no shifters. Digging in the archives I found that Dahon had offered this option in the past on certain models for a 24 speed system (8 speed cassette combined with the 3 speed IGH).
I knew the freehub on the Dual Drive can handle a 9 speed cassette (and probably a 10 speed). So combined with the double crankset and the IGH I have a 2X3X9 system, or a 54 speed Dahon (BTW I've ad my Cannondale set up as an 81 speed). This provides way more gearing options than ever needed--- but provides lots of flexibility, especially when coming to a sudden stop and there was not time to shift to a lower gear. The Dual Drive IGH lets you downshift while stopped.
Hope this is helpful. Please feel free to ask any ore questions and I'll do my best to answer.
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
#31
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Bas-Rhin, FRANCE
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yeah sorry, just did my presentation in the appropriate section.
My bike is a Dahon Vybe that i have to restore, i'am just looking at the tweaking possibility at this moment and your gear setup sounded interesting.
Thanks
My bike is a Dahon Vybe that i have to restore, i'am just looking at the tweaking possibility at this moment and your gear setup sounded interesting.
Thanks
#32
Senior Member
I'm out on my final Georgia coastal island ride before heading home to New Hampshire tomorrow. My Dahon hasn't disappointed me and has been a real pleasure to ride. I'll probably end up with about 180-90 miles.
Today I met a Corgi puppy!!! Sweet Pea will eventually live in NH about 25 miles from my house. Small world! I should mention I've been a Corgi owner for nearly 20 years.
Today I met a Corgi puppy!!! Sweet Pea will eventually live in NH about 25 miles from my house. Small world! I should mention I've been a Corgi owner for nearly 20 years.
Corgi breed, great choice. The one of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth herself!
#33
Senior Member
You are correct! It is absolutely amazing I can pack the whole thing in a regulation sized suitcase and still have spare room for my bike shoes, most of my bike gear and the tools needed for assembly. The key trick is to keep it at just under 50lbs so I don't incur a charge from Southwest Airlines.
I flew home from Georgia yesterday via Jacksonville, FL with my connecting flight in Baltimore, MD. I had about a 3 hour layover. As I waited to de-board at BWI I watch both my suitcases come off the plane and go side by side on the same luggage cart. I felt that was a good sign. However, last night back in the Manchester, NH airport only one suitcase arrived with me, and the one with my neatly packed Dahon was missing!
Here's hoping it ended up on the last plane from BWI to MHT, which laded early this morning at about 1:30 a.m. Southwest promises to deliver it to my home 50 miles northwest of the airport sometime today.
Here's hoping it ended up on the last plane from BWI to MHT, which laded early this morning at about 1:30 a.m. Southwest promises to deliver it to my home 50 miles northwest of the airport sometime today.
I hope it showed up.
#34
Freewheel Medic
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 13,019
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Liked 2,341 Times
in
1,036 Posts
[MENTION=109941]Rob_E[/MENTION] and [MENTION=207730]3speedslow[/MENTION]
Good News: Southwest found my suit case with my Dahon. Somehow their tag had come off in BWI when it transferred planes. Because I went back to the airport, Southwest gave me a $50 voucher for future travel.
Bad News: Someone, and I'm assuming TSA, unpacked the suit case and then tried to re-pack it and did a terrible job putting it back in the same order, padded in the same way, and forgot to secure the tie-down strap.
The biggest issues was they flipped over the rear wheel and had the cassette towards the outside (I had padded it and nested it into the rear triangle). The long Dual Drive axle poked a crack in the suit case. I had a wide plastic stop on the non drive side to prevent this as packed. I was so glad I removed the IGH Shift Rod. If it had been damaged I would have really been angry because they are exceptionally hard to find! They also moved the foam padding protecting the chainring and several teeth are bent.
Has anyone ever had any luck in collecting damages caused by the TSA?
I still need to go through it and reassemble to asses if there is any other damage.
Good News: Southwest found my suit case with my Dahon. Somehow their tag had come off in BWI when it transferred planes. Because I went back to the airport, Southwest gave me a $50 voucher for future travel.
Bad News: Someone, and I'm assuming TSA, unpacked the suit case and then tried to re-pack it and did a terrible job putting it back in the same order, padded in the same way, and forgot to secure the tie-down strap.
The biggest issues was they flipped over the rear wheel and had the cassette towards the outside (I had padded it and nested it into the rear triangle). The long Dual Drive axle poked a crack in the suit case. I had a wide plastic stop on the non drive side to prevent this as packed. I was so glad I removed the IGH Shift Rod. If it had been damaged I would have really been angry because they are exceptionally hard to find! They also moved the foam padding protecting the chainring and several teeth are bent.
Has anyone ever had any luck in collecting damages caused by the TSA?
I still need to go through it and reassemble to asses if there is any other damage.
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
#35
Senior Member
I had a suitcase come through the baggage return an the end of a flight with a hole torn in it. The airport took my luggage and returned it with a patch over the hole .not exactly reimbursement, but it was a good patch job and I figured as good as I was going to get. I've used two, hard-sided suitcases to transport my Raleigh Twenty. I know one of them come out with a puncture, but since it was a thrift store purchase, I didn't even bother with it .I think the same might have happened with the replacement suitcase, but after that trip, I switched to an S&S bike and case. Fortunately my bikes have always come through undamaged. Good luck .
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,743
Bikes: Trek 730 (quad), 720 & 830, Bike Friday NWT, Brompton M36R & M6R, Dahon HAT060 & HT060, ...
Liked 356 Times
in
266 Posts
Myself I have not yet had a bike poke a hole through a case even though my bikes have been pretty routinely inspected by TSA. For Dahon and Bike Friday, that I took apart, I usually put some loose old cloth underneath and over the bike and I wonder whether it might have helped. For these bikes I also normally took a photo that I printed on a page and taped it to the inside of the case. The latter might have been even recommended by Bike Friday.
#37
Freewheel Medic
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 13,019
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Liked 2,341 Times
in
1,036 Posts
I'm guessing that TSA did not like my wiring for the Biologic dynohub, the lighting system with switches, and a USB charge adapter. All of that (with the exception of the lights) was stowed in the leather bag I made which hangs below the main tube.
Next trip I'm going to remove the dynohub, the lights and the wiring. That is a great idea to tape pictures of the bike on the inside of the suitcase lid.
I was guessing that going after the TSA for damages would be as fruitless as trying to prove to the Post Office that even after a box is delivered it can still be stolen and their insurance should cover loss. Trust me--- don't even try.
I hope to reassemble it on Friday/Saturday and I'll let you know if I find other damages. I also need to prep it for my next trip after Easter to the Florida panhandle. I have a new rear wheel on the way and I'm planning to run SRAM Rival derailleurs on the 9 speed cassette with the bar end shifters in friction mode. I'll need to build a new front wheel. I have the matching rim and the hub should arrive today or tomorrow. Time to pull out my wheel building notes and the spoke calculator! And finally, the original Dahon seat post has always been a tad too short. Freehwheel work has been great the past couple of months so yesterday I ordered a longer carbon fiber seat post from Taiwan.
Next trip I'm going to remove the dynohub, the lights and the wiring. That is a great idea to tape pictures of the bike on the inside of the suitcase lid.
I was guessing that going after the TSA for damages would be as fruitless as trying to prove to the Post Office that even after a box is delivered it can still be stolen and their insurance should cover loss. Trust me--- don't even try.
I hope to reassemble it on Friday/Saturday and I'll let you know if I find other damages. I also need to prep it for my next trip after Easter to the Florida panhandle. I have a new rear wheel on the way and I'm planning to run SRAM Rival derailleurs on the 9 speed cassette with the bar end shifters in friction mode. I'll need to build a new front wheel. I have the matching rim and the hub should arrive today or tomorrow. Time to pull out my wheel building notes and the spoke calculator! And finally, the original Dahon seat post has always been a tad too short. Freehwheel work has been great the past couple of months so yesterday I ordered a longer carbon fiber seat post from Taiwan.
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
#38
Full Member
I run a layer of cardboard with dense foam used in pelican cases to prevent damage. The foam is awesome for protecting the crank. I recently began adding tennis balls on the outside facing rim bolts to provide extra protection. Works great for leg stools on floors so I figured why not. No damage after about 50 flights in the past 2 years but twice Southwest lost my bikes. Both were found in less than 24 hours. The one that ended up in San Diego after I arrived in Kansas city will always be a mystery to me.
#39
Freewheel Medic
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 13,019
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Liked 2,341 Times
in
1,036 Posts
I run a layer of cardboard with dense foam used in pelican cases to prevent damage. The foam is awesome for protecting the crank. I recently began adding tennis balls on the outside facing rim bolts to provide extra protection. Works great for leg stools on floors so I figured why not. No damage after about 50 flights in the past 2 years but twice Southwest lost my bikes. Both were found in less than 24 hours. The one that ended up in San Diego after I arrived in Kansas city will always be a mystery to me.
The moral of this story is, no matter how carefully we pack our bikes in our suitcases for travel--- the TSA can take it all apart and could care less about the damage they subsequently caused.
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
#40
Full Member
The padding between the front wheel (first thing in) was tossed to the side as was the padding around the chain rings on the crank. And finally, the securing strap was left unattached. The moral of this story is, no matter how carefully we pack our bikes in our suitcases for travel--- the TSA can take it all apart and could care less about the damage they subsequently caused.
#41
Freewheel Medic
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 13,019
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Liked 2,341 Times
in
1,036 Posts
[MENTION=454349]kayakindude[/MENTION] great suggestions. Thank you. I'll try placing the frame in first to see if my wheels will fit on top. Where in New England are you located?
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
#42
Full Member
Here is an old picture of the wheels on top. My newer packing has more foam and less plastic wrapping. I also added tennis balls on the wheel hubs. I'm in Mass on the RI border. I do go to Newport VT a few times a year for the Kingdom Swim events. Back then I kept my helmet in the suitcase...bad idea.
#43
Freewheel Medic
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 13,019
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Liked 2,341 Times
in
1,036 Posts
I'll give that packing sequence a try with my suitcase. It does look doable. I spy you are a Market Basket shopper. Thanks again for the suggestion.
My sister in law was originally from Derby Line, VT and still has family in that area. Whenever they visit I usually head that way to spend the day. I've ridden the rail trail along the lake several times with a nephew.
My sister in law was originally from Derby Line, VT and still has family in that area. Whenever they visit I usually head that way to spend the day. I've ridden the rail trail along the lake several times with a nephew.
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com