@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: https://www.eerdermetaal.nl/brompton_webshop.html#!/Seatposthuggers-&-Headtubehuggers/c/72491968

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

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

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

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

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: https://flashlight.nitecore.com/product/br35 — my old one has MicroUSB, but current ones seem to have USB-C.

Cc @ascentale @billyjoebowers

@ascentale @moz @bikenite #BikeNite A1: Chiming in very late from Zurich, Switzerland. I recently test-rode a cargobike and what I was kinda surprised about was that the shop had several 5kg weights to test-ride the cargobike under load. I tried it with a 20kg load.

@daihard @ascentale Ask at not just makerspaces, but the local library that has a 3D printer. Many of them seem to. And I'm assuming the librarians in charge of it know how to do that or know people who do. #BikeNite

@meganL@mas.to @ascentale@sfba.social Thanks. I am very interested in having something made with 3D printing. I just don't know anyone off the top of my head who knows how to do it. I should ask around! #BikeNite

@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

@ascentale @bikenite

A6. Lots of very good things here!
My absolute go to are photochromic cycling glasses (€45 at Decathlon right now). An absolute must if you have a very long ride that's both by day and night.

Also: Garmin for navigation, but that's an obvious one to me, especially in this context.
#BikeNite

@ascentale @arnodegroote @bikenite

A6:

Since I did few of the more used mixed routes I really appreciate having a bell. It doesn't have to be fancy but if you have it it makes a difference.

@moz @ascentale @bikenite you forgot to add #carryShitOlympics towing that load around!

And yes, why we need bollards spaced 3 ft apart to keep out 6+ ft wide cars is beyond me. My trailer and cargo bike have similar issues at various trail entrances. #BikeNite

@Pepijn @fedibikes possible #BikeNitePQ /cc @ascentale

(TL;DR if you've never been, every Friday at 4PM Pacific we have bike chats on the #BikeNite hash tag with a host asking the questions that have been determined in advance, this might be a good potential question)

@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.

@gcvsa @ascentale @artemesia @bikenite #BikeNite A8. I use locks primarily as a deterrent - pretty much any lock can be defeated, so I just want my bike to be less attractive to a their than the bike parked next to it. My typical setup is a cafe lock on the rear wheel with a plug-in chain adapter for when I need to leave the bike for long periods of time.

@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.

@ascentale @arnodegroote @bikenite

A6.

Mobile phone.

Necessary now that almost all the public telephone booths are irritatingy out of service.

Bicycle rear rack is an absolute necessity to me now.