Show off our bikes! (page 7 of 9)

For those who aren't closed off to e-bikes...

When you love bikes, you love all bikes...😉

what kind of bike is it? battery power? as I approach 60, I'm starting to think about it😛 the problem for me is air travel because of the battery... and the weight too... and with the pandemic, air travel might become unaffordable for this kind of trip🙁

as I approach 60, I’m starting to think about it😛 the issue for me is air travel because of the battery

I’m starting to consider it too. I figure that in some cases, depending on the destination country, it should be possible to send the battery by mail (or DHL, Chronopost, UPS, FedEx, etc.) to the hotel where you’ll spend the first night.

Your bike is really cool!

Here are my two travel bikes.

A Triban RC520: aluminum-carbon, Shimano 105 groupset (34-50/11-36), which I use in two different configurations depending on the type of trip:

1° With a Tubus Fly rear rack and Ortlieb panniers when I leave home by bike without needing to take the train. 2° With bike-packing bags (like in the photo) when I need to use intermodal transport (train + bike or other). In this case, I equip it with detachable pedals and fenders, and by removing the front wheel (or both wheels), I put the bike in a lightweight bag (Buds) for TGV transport.

A Brompton M6L (6-speed) folding bike for trips on flat or nearly flat terrain, requiring intermodal transport (bike + train, plane, boat...) with a Brompton front bag and saddle bag. When folded, it fits in a 75x60 cm bag and goes everywhere—on transport and even in the tent at the stop or in the hostel room.

Good evening, We have Cube 500Wh e-MTBs from the 2018 model. E-MTBs for both small paved roads and trails (still smooth ones, since we're taking it easier than before)—27.5" for my wife and 29" for me. Width: 2.20. Range: 100 km or 1,000 m of positive elevation gain without any issues. Just watch out for the ability to fit a proper rear rack.

The 2020 versions seem even nicer with a Bosch motor that disengages and 625Wh, which depends on your use (need to bivouac every other day?). Happy trails to everyone!

Hi The cost of shipping a battery by freight is prohibitive... And buses and TGVs in France won’t take them unless they’re dismantled. So, we aim for TERs or German/Swiss trains, or head to regions/countries accessible by car or ferry! That’s what we do—Morocco in particular is great (outside of COVID times, of course).

The cost of shipping a battery as freight is prohibitive

I didn’t look up the rates, but for air freight, it can be really expensive or even banned. On the other hand, by postal parcel, the rate is around 40 € for 2 kg, but with a typical delay of 2-3 weeks once you leave the EU, and it can stretch to 6-8 weeks in some countries.

imagine coming from Quebec😉

Hello A 500Wh battery in a postal package? By declaring the battery? Not forbidden? Which means of transport? What possible destinations? If anyone has already tried this, thanks for the feedback—it’d open up new possibilities...

Hello, A 500Wh battery in a postal package? Declaring the battery? Not forbidden? Which means of transport? What possible destinations? If anyone knows where it’s already been tried, thanks for the feedback—it’d open up new possibilities...

Yes, obviously, it’s forbidden as a dangerous product, but La Poste (French postal service) still accepts a battery of up to 100 watt-hours if it’s installed in the bike.

According to La Poste:

Electronic devices containing lithium batteries, such as mobile phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, etc., are allowed in postal transport, provided that the battery is installed in the device, it’s in excellent condition, and the package complies with the permitted quantities of batteries or cells.

A package cannot contain more than two batteries or four cells contained in one (or more) device(s). For lithium-ion batteries, the energy must not exceed 20 Wh per cell or 100 Wh per battery.

Happy with your Gravel Origine. Did you travel with it? Thanks for the feedback.

2009 MBK Greenfield - 3x9 (not originally bought for travel) Suspension fork – SR Suntour – NEX4610 V2 MLO (well rinsed, but hey!) Front mudguard Zéfal Raider Front (mounted with clamps, zip ties, and bits of inner tube—not too pretty but indestructible!) Rear mudguard Tubus Cargo V-Brake brakes – Iltech (not exactly top-notch! considering Magura, at least one of the two) 4 Ortlieb Back Roller Plus brown panniers (maybe a bit too discreet on the road) SKS mudguards



Rohloff Speedhub 500 with internal gearing, bought second-hand + Mavic A719 – 622x19C + chain tensioner (easy to switch back to a classic derailleur since the derailleur hanger is there) Shimano LX FC-M661 crankset + TA Specialités 40-tooth outer chainring mounted with short singlespeed bolts (easy to switch back too) Shimano hybrid pedals (never used the locking mechanism) Pletscher Zoom kickstand (finally one that works) Schwalbe Marathon GT 40x622 tires (yeah, it’s heavy, but so’s the rider! Still better than my previous Plus version in 47x622)



Ergotec Moon MAS handlebar (love it) Ergon GP3 Biokork cork grips Brooks B17 Standard saddle (finally broken in, phew! When it’s hot, I much prefer leather over plastic…) Adjustable Ergotec Swell Eco stem (heavy but sturdy—don’t trust it when there’s only one bolt! Maybe one day I’ll switch to a fixed stem with the same features now that I don’t adjust it anymore) Vaude handlebar bag on Clikfix mount (a lockable one might be nice!) Busch & Müller Toplight Flat S Senso battery-powered rear light (nothing up front—headlamp in flash mode around the handlebar bag if needed)

Total weight without water: 36 kg

In short, lots of tinkering, but I love it, and I know this beast inside out!

Nice setup.

Are cork bike grips any good?

Oh yeah, I really like these—they're from June 2018, bought at Rosebikes, and the photo is from today. The model is called Biokork.

Actually, my question was: does it absorb sweat from your hands well when you're hot? Because the top is plastic—yeah, they have two models, with and without bar-ends.

Hi there, my three touring bikes:

Depending on the route, I take one of the three:

The Fahradfabrik T400 steel bike—I only use it on remote trails now. Super comfortable for 10-hour rides, but the brakes are a pain to adjust, and it’s as heavy as a dead horse to transport.



My aluminum Trek—I take it even for routes with trails in Europe. It’s stiffer than the T400, but I’m really comfortable on it. It’s lighter, and I’ve also used it in tough conditions: a 4,000 km crossing of the Andes with plenty of trails and a trip through the Atacama Desert. The photo was taken in the Sud Lípez, by the way.



My carbon Lapierre—for short rides of a few days around home. I avoid trails with it, though I do a bit since I put Schwalbe tires on. Some people told me it didn’t make sense for this type of bike. Even with luggage, it’s nothing like my other two bikes.



Luc

For that one, the "Fahradfabrik T400," for tires, check out the Heideneau K 60 Scout ;)

Hello and one more for the road! Safe travels! Laurent.

Modified Fahrrad T100 with MTB gears 44x32x22/12x36 or 11x34

Refurbished Rock Rider 320 with MTB drivetrain 42x32x22/13x32 + V-brakes