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#bikenite

163 posts59 participants5 posts today
Replied to Phil (ascentale)

@ascentale @arnodegroote @bikenite #BikeNite A6: I think the most useful gear for very long rides (in my case bike touring) is Eerder Metaal's Seat Post Hugger, an adapter to mount a Brompton front bag on the rear side of your seat post: eerdermetaal.nl/brompton_websh

That way I can take more luggage with me for long bicycle journeys while still being able to fold the Brompton at least partially.

Replied to Phil (ascentale)

@ascentale @pete @bikenite #BikeNite A5: There seem quite some small cargobike manufacturers in #Zurich: flinccycles.com/ and monopole.cc/ (although their bikes are assembled in France) come to my mind as I like both designs.

For recumbents there is wolfundwolf.ch/ near Basel and Fateba (longbike.ch/) in Winterthur, all within an hour of car or train travel. I have a Fateba from the late 90s.

portus-cycles.de/ manufactures steel frames ca. 100km away.

Replied to Phil (ascentale)

A4b: I answered that already to @grivettcarnac before, but here's a short summary for the #BikeNite folks: For "to be seen" lights I love those from Knog: They either have a built-in USB-A plug or an USB-C socket and are quite bright with usually lots of modes.

As a USB-chargeable "to see" lights with high and low beam I have a NiteCore BR35: flashlight.nitecore.com/produc — my old one has MicroUSB, but current ones seem to have USB-C.

Cc @ascentale @billyjoebowers

Next #BikeNite is this Friday at 4pm Pacific _daylight_ time (UTC-7)!

This is our weekly call for questions. Reply with any you'd like me to add to the discussion on Friday. Please add the BikeNitePQ hashtag so it's easier to find a Proposed Question. There is room for more. I know there are some questions that have already been submitted since last week, and I will be adding them before Friday's BikeNite.

(BikeNite is a Q&A type discussion on the Fediverse.)

#BikeTooter cc @bikenite

Replied to Daigoro Toyama 🌸

@daihard @ascentale If it were me, I'd either build a bracket out of metal (bending and drilling it, adding rubber on the inside for gripping) and screw one of the screw-on taillights on there.

If you know someone who knows how to do 3D printing patterns, you could make a bracket out of plastic (again, I'd recommend adding a little rubber on the inside of the bracket for gripping). #BikeNite

Replied to Phil (ascentale)

@ascentale @meganL @bikenite A2. I used a Qantas bike box, a cardboard box like those used to originally ship the bike, but about 5cm wider. This was checked as 'sporting goods (surfboard, bike box)" and a USD50 fee paid. I'd note that such fees have doubled or tripled in the post-Covid years.

I used cardboard from an excess refrigerator box to further line the Qantas box.

I removed the pedals and handlebars, taping the tools for reattaching those to the inside of the box. I taped the pedals to the cranks, so it was clear to someone looking at the x-ray what those SPDs did. I wrapped the handlebars and taped them to the wrapped top rail (tape never directly touched frame or parts). I used a knife to modify a small foam "Esky" (for a six pack of cans) to entirely enclose the derailleur. I wrapped the exposed chain with newspaper. I tossed the gaff tape into the boz last thing before pressing the taped lid down - it would be needed for the return trip, but gaff tape in the carry-on leads to serious questions from the federal police.

The frame was held in position by soft foam 2cm X 2cm blocks, excess from shipments to work. I gaffer taped those blocks either side of the frame at intervals.

I filled the void with cycling clothes, empty water bottles, shoes. Nothing which an x-ray would suggest needed a further inspection (eg CO2 or batteries, so popped the battery out of the wheel/pedal RPM detector).

At either end I paid for a taxi van (often used for wheelchair passengers) to transport the box to the hotel. I had already arranged with the hotel to store the box for five weeks. Being an adventure destination this wasn't unheard of. That also meant I could leave my 'good' non-cycling clothes in that box.

Steal what you will from the above. Best of luck.

Edit: Travel insurance. They didn't charge more, but the bike had to be a specifically listed item, complete with model/year/serial and full parts list.

Edit: Customs. Pack a copy of the purchase receipt for the bike (hopefully years old), and a printed itinerary highlighting the cycled sections. If asked to describe them "accompanied personal sporting goods" is the magic phrase. Don't confuse matters by suggesting anything other than that you will be leaving the country with that bike.

Edit: maps. Download these to the phone or GPS before you pack. Met some poor soul in Hobart airport trying to get a maps download from the free wifi, and then across to the GPS, so they could cycle to their hostel.

Replied to Phil (ascentale)

@ascentale @artemesia @bikenite

A8. Depends on the location and situation. My bicycle is my main transportation so I have a good U-lock and a cable lock (that I rarely use).

In Huntsville, Alabama it required locking or it would be stolen. Lost one from in front of a bicycle shop when I went in for a tube.

Here in SouthEast Minnesota people leave very expensive bicycles just sitting on their front porch. I think I'm the only one who locks to the grocery store and library racks.