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Have Folding Bike. Will Travel.This website is about pedaling your way to fun and adventure on a folding bike. It includes suggested journeys and trip reports, articles on various bike topics, and useful links. It's the product of one person with a passion for folding bikes. Please share your brilliance with me.Folding bikes (aka "folders") are gaining popularity with big city commuters because they are compact and portable. But these contortionists of the bike world have a more adverturous side! You can pack them in a suitcase and fly away with them. You can plunk them in the trunk of your car and zoom off with them. You can stuff 'em in a bag and travel the rails with them (Amtrak treats folding bikes as carry-on luggage with no travel restrictions -- unlike regular bikes). For me there's something almost magical about hopping off a train, assembling my bike (in less than 30 seconds!), attaching my panniers and pedaling away. No hailing a taxi. No standing in the car rental line. No being herded onto a tour bus. I'm off adventuring as soon as my feet touch the pedals. I like to travel light, use public transportation, and let my journeys unfold from one location or base camp. Your preferences may be different. Not to worry! You'll find a bike-centric journey on this website that fits your lifestyle, whether it's a leisurely weekend getaway to a small New England town or a two week blow-out-the-carbon folding bike tour of the Southwest. So flip up that kick stand and let's get going! Why go to Sacramento? American River Bike Trail!  Most people visiting central California choose to ignore Sacramento (sorry Ahnold!) and move right on to the spendors of the Sierras, the Bay Area and the Pacific Coast. That's understandable...unless you have a bike. Within, and beyond, this sprawling metropolis is one of the most popular road bike trails in America. I did a 50 miler on this trail last summer, when the temperature was in the upper-90s. Thought I'd die! But it's a year later, the heat stroke nightmares have gone away, and the weatherman promised a more reasonable 80 degrees for Sacramento. Time to give this trail a second chance. more... My October Day in Monterey  Ever since reading John Steinbeck's Cannery Row in my late-teens, Monterey has had a special hold on me. Sure, a lot has changed since I first visited Monterey 25 years ago, but much remains the same: Harbor seals basking on the beach. Sea birds gliding effortlessly overhead. Giant waves crashing against ancient sea rocks. And that intoxicating fishy smell that gives your primordial brain the clear message that you're at the right place. One thing, however, was distinctly different for me this time. I was exploring Monterey, Pacific Grove, and the awe-inspiring coastline from the seat of my bike. My only question was, "Why hadn't I done this before?" more... Angel Island (and a Fabulous Ferry Trip)  A trip to San Francisco is not complete without taking a ferry to Angel Island State Park. Angel Island is one of the best places in the Bay Area to take a bike...and a picnic lunch. But the journey to the island, via the very affordable ferry, is probably as enticing as the island itself. more... Santa Barbara and the Channel Islands Car-free  Santa Barbara is oozing with charm. The historic 1820 mission. Picturesque Spanish Colonial architecture. An inviting, and bike-friendly, downtown. A beautiful bike-accessible coastline with plenty of places to pull over and take in the sights. Car-free Santa Barbara, a far-sighted initiative to get people to visit this appealing seaside town -- without their car -- piqued my interest. I grabbed my folding bike, jumped an Amtrak, and spent four glorious days exploring the Santa Barbara area. My trip included a ferry ride to and a tranquil hike across an island with a deep and fascinating history. more... |