Agreed, I've watched several of their videos multiple times just because of the graphics and attention to details. Their knowledge of science, math, and engineering make this channel second to none.
Very well detailed. Great explanation! Another option is to take it inside the plane as a handbag. Just remove the seat that Brompton fits in the head bin. This is my favorite!
Were you successful with this strategy? On which airline(s)? Our recent flight experiences (pre-covid that is) usually involved full planes where carry-on storage was at a premium. More than once, we ended up having to shove our bags under the seat in front of us as no more space was available in the overhead bin. Post-covid could be different with less passengers to contend with. Experience with gate check-in wasn’t too enjoyable either, as we ended up having to pick up our baggage on the same conveyor belt as the checked-in luggage at the end of the flight (thus it had been tossed around as casually by baggage handlers as any other items). Successfully travelling with a “carry-on” Brompton is ideal, it is worthy of Instagram posts (ex.: Bromptonmafia) and offers some bragging rights to the lucky passenger/cyclist, but I would be reluctant to rely on such a strategy to begin a long-awaited enjoyable/trouble-free vacation.
@@2Bikes4Adventure United Airlines From Rio de Janeiro to New York and New York to Rio de Janeiro. It is great! You must confirm the weight allowed for hand luggage.
@@2Bikes4Adventure I was in Orlando when it happened. From Rio to Orlando I took the Brompton in a Delsy 29 and on the way back she came in Ikea Bag with a pillow at the base for protection
What a great sharing.... thks for that. I think we can solve the box raining issue by wrapping it with food wrap type of plastic. If not mistaken major airport also now provide that kind of services.
You can apply a coat of wood sealant or some type of translucent varnish to the cardboard box, it vastly improves its water resistance as well as the resistance to physical abuse.
When I bought my 2019 top Brompton, I intended to take it to Malta on a plane and therefore I bought a top luggage for it, the B&W black travel suitcase with a band around and solid locks! Sadly my same age wife (by then 73) didn't like my eventual riding in the wrong side on the narrow roads, so I never got to use it for more than a local Danish travel in my car, and I found out it could be just folded in the back, without being able to be seen from the outside. Finn. Denmark
@@2Bikes4Adventure I kept it for local use also, as we have storage room in our cellar. But I have a hyper expensive, Vincita padded pouch for the folded pedal, which I use for transport. And I have added a sown on leather for both my frame and - up the stem post for protection against scratches during handling (Not one of a Bromptons most cared about items! "Clear tape" from the Factory!). As a "Rainy Dane" I have mudguards on my bike, and I found out the even on my Superlight, with titaniums stays, it has "Heavy Metal" clamps on them, so I have found some from carbon and alu, as I have changed security parts and front axle to titanium. I hope to come below 9 kilo on my SuperlightM6LXBrompton, even with Mudguards! And not so much above the double as expensive, 4 gears T-line, with mudguards, I have seen from films on TH-cam! Finn. Denmark
@@2Bikes4Adventure I didn't like the too low gears at first, but going up a steep serpentine road on the Danish rocky Island of Bornholm, I had to use them and even to walk, as I couldn't even ride going up, also passing some animal protection tubes, crossing the road at intervals! And going down, I had my doubts and was afraid of my Bromptons braking ability, from very high speed to a full stop before passing the tubes! But my Brompton never let me down and efficiently brought me down all the way in safety!! It may be that a younger and lighter person than I (73/100 kilo) and in a better shape, could have done it? Today I'm 75. Finn
I use the 3rd method. Double Dimpas and cut-to-size cardboard is the easiest to find, use and discard. The Dimpas fold flat and get stuffed at the bottom of the backpack until it is time to pack up to go home. Truly the lightest travel system for this bike. Stuffing soft items in all the gaps in the bag helps prevent serious damage to the bike.
We dread the day IKEA discontinues the DIMPA. Did you ever experience difficulties finding used cardboard in some countries? We had some problems in Bergen, Norway.
@@2Bikes4Adventure, no more DIMPA is bad! LOL! I think it was just bad luck you had in Norway. I've never been there, but I have to say that I've not had trouble finding cardboard boxes to cut up. Convenience stores and supermarkets are bound to have some, so it is only a matter of cutting and taping the pieces up to fit.
Brompton Politics 🤔 that’s interesting . On a more serious note I am a firm believer in the B&W hard case after years of use and never gave much thought about the aesthetics of the case as it provides total protection without even removing the seat post or the pedal ( folding pedals on both sides ) 👍🏽
@q80aziz, We agree, the B&W hard case remains the gold standard as far as total protection is concerned. Other solutions are basically compromise between portability and protection.
Removing the seat post and the right pedal is not a big deal. However, beware the Brompton Tool “closed” 15mm wrench cannot be used to remove pedals. The “open” wrench coming with the Tern Tool us better suited for this job. An other option would be replace the standard Brompton pedals with MKS Removable Pedals. In such case, you would not need any tool to install/remove the right pedal.
This is top quality. Great hints and tips but I’m a little confused as it’s not 100% clear to me whether you declare that the Samsonite cases contain bikes. You mention that you don’t like to pay additional fees for transportation and highlight the fee in the video, however the web page you show contains a statement that, “bicycles … should be registered at time of booking”. So, do you simply turn up with undeclared cycles and hope for the best? Thanks.
You can build a wooden frame with bolts for inside of your Dimpa that can be taken apart with a wrench and compacted. It is about $20 in wood and another $10 or so if you want to add caster wheels.
@@2Bikes4AdventureYes it can. The reason I chose a wooden frame over PVC was that the wooden frame was fastener with bolts and wingnuts which were easier to assemble and disassemble quickly than PVC pipers which are hard to pull apart for some people.
Seems though the designated box has most of these positive traits like; lightweight, foldability, durability and weather resistance. It seems kinda hassle to do all those things rather than paying extra premium for the supposed case. Of course if you don't travel often, you won't see the need for it that much.
Ultra-helpful video! I'm about to become a Brompton owner, with the express purpose of having a bike to travel with. I'm just annoyed with myself, though - only yesterday, I recycled a corrugated plastic bike box I've been lugging around for years! It would have been perfect for cutting up and using in an Ikea bag. Here in the UK, we don't get those corrugated plastic yard signs during elections, in fact I don't think we even use that sort of corrugated plastic for anything! Lesson learned - never throw anything away! ;-)
The advantage of using cardboard over corrugated plastic is that you feel no guilt discarding it at the arrival airport. By the same token, you have to prevent the urge to discard it prior to your trip :-) Enjoy your new Brompton (and keep the box)
I just did my first flight with my Brompton and used the dimpa from London to Istanbul yesterday. Do you usually put a big fragile sticker? I was worried that my bike would get damaged, especially when I just got It a few days back while visiting London.
@Remote365, We don’t bother putting stickers such as “This side UP” or “Fragile” on our Dimpas as we have little confidence it makes any difference for baggage handlers. One thing you can do to reduce damage risks is to remove the EzyWheels as they tend to concentrate impact forces in a smaller area of the frame (or rack).
also wondering if it's normal for the real wheel to rub the frame when folded? I see it's touching the frame when I fold my bike and I couldn't find much online. thanks in advance!
@@remote3652 The rear wheel will touch the top tube (and down tube) when the bike is folded at rest. A small gap will likely appear when carrying the bike.
The bike is solid and my Ebike conversion went great. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L Very smooth ride at 30mph with no problems (135 miles ridden so far). The picture is a bit deceiving - there is WAY less space in the center of the frame than it shows. The suspension connection takes up the entire thing. So I needed to attach my battery on the bottom of the frame and my controller on the top. Instructions for assembly were lacking but honestly it wasn't too hard to figure out even though I have very little bike knowledge. Watched some youtube videos on adjusting the disk brakes but that was it. Still, I am loving it and very happy with the purchase.
Indeed, looking for cardboards in Porto :-) Here’s a short video of that trip: Cycling Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela (Brompton bikes) th-cam.com/video/nvZ-9WGCkWE/w-d-xo.html
We do not gate-check, we always check them as regular luggage. When available, we use the self-checkin station to get the luggage tags and, if using Dimpa or cardboard boxes, go deposit them directly at the oversize luggage counter. We never had to pay extra for our Brompton/Birdy in more than 10 years of travelling.
That was an awesome video! I'm flying to Munich this month and really want to take my decathlon folding bike and you just gave me a pretty good idea of what I should do. Really appreciate your effort Here keep it up!! Hope I can afford buying a Pompton one day lol
0:20 Such professional videographers. You even set up a camera in the overhead luggage bin... 3:34 and on your luggage that's on the carousel. 3:57 "We avoid selecting the name and face of a politician who's well known or controversial..." - lol.
I emailed Will Butler-Adams a few years back saying that they should have a scheme where if you take your electric Brompton on a plane to a city/location where there is a Brompton store then you should be able to hire a battery for the duration of your trip. He did reply saying its a good idea/concept. The issue is carrying the Lithium battery on a plane.
@@2Bikes4Adventure - The wholesale cost to a business would be even cheaper per unit as no mark up, okay you need to factor in the admin etc etc but it could work.
@@lotuselise4432 If managed at a Brompton Junction store, the overhead would not be that much. Could even have some rental rebate if store items are purchased at the same time.
Our most recent flight experiences (pre-covid that is) usually involved full planes where carry-on storage was at a premium. More than once, we ended up having to shove our Brompton bags under the seat in front of us as no more space was available in the overhead bin. Successfully travelling with a “carry-on” Brompton is ideal, it is worthy of Instagram posts (ex.: Bromptonmafia) and offers some bragging rights to the lucky passenger/cyclist, but we would be reluctant to rely on such a strategy to begin a long-awaited enjoyable/trouble-free vacation.
Hawaiian Air charged me $115 for my Brompton in an Ikea Dimpa bag fr Las Vegas to Tokyo. Asia Air charged me Y22,000 ($150) fr Tokyo to Bangkok. They both anger me because the Brompton was all I checked in and the only reason airlines charge extra for bicycles is becuz bicycles are oversized (but not Bromptons). Im in Thailand so I will buy a cheap hardcase when I go back to Japan for the autumn leaves
Nice to hear from you again. It has been more than 2 years! We were never asked to pay for our Bromptons while flying to Asia, Europe, North or South America. We use Dimpas, cardboard boxes or hard cases depending on the travel plan. We avoid mentioning the B word (bicycle) during check-in (or when purchasing online tickets). Oversize X-Ray operators often comment on the content being a bicycle, which we confirm. In the US, TSA have been known to open our Brompton luggage (leaving a note confirming their visit).
Hello i am proud that you you both tour with your lovely folding bikes, that Brompton is my dream bike but i can't afford to buy it, proud subscriber here from Philippines Keepsafe, ridesafe & Godbless 🙏😊
@@2Bikes4Adventure wow thats sounds good i wanna join you guys when you come here! i will shout out your channel for more friends thanks for the reply.
This video is three years old, so maybe it was different then, but I can't find a Samsonite Epsilon 29 for twenty bucks, or at any price. There was a new Samsonite 29" square spinner that I heard would work, but it wasn't too much cheaper than the B & W. I'm not touring on the Brompton but intend on using it to visit sites within the city, and I'll be able to keep the case in our hotel room. I think the B & W is going to be best for my use.
@@2Bikes4Adventure Very happy you enjoy my country. I love your videos, found some more footage, one just outside the Trindade Metro station in Porto, my home town (I'm currently living in London - Brompton paradise!)
If you look at some of our other videos, you will find more “easter eggs” from Porto (inside the metro from Trindade to the Airport, the Dom Luis bridge...). We are often asked about our Bromptons while travelling, not the case in London. It seems 1/3 of all cyclists there have them :-)
since you have experience can you please advise me for how long you can comfortably ride 20 inch bike non stop? with a family member I am planning to fly abroad for backpacking camping in the wild which could take more than few weeks, as I am planning to go farer into the wild I wonder if 20 inch foldable bike would be comfortable enough to ride lets say 2-4 hours (in no rush) non stop? I am a little scared to get a bigger bike into a plane as it could be too big depending on airlines and also there is a bigger chance to break bigger bikes during flights. THANKS IN ADVANCE
Hi Nomadic Mind. While touring with our Brompton (16” wheels) or Birdy (18” wheels), we would cycle for 5 to 8 hours / day. Your “mileage” may differ however, based on various factors: - Road/trail surface - Type of tire (width and pressure) - Elevation gain - The amount of luggage you are carrying - And how comfortable your seat is At first glance, 2 to 4 hours seems very doable unless the trail condition is more appropriate for a mountain bike (single track, large obstacles, soft ground) or very steep. Anything paved, dry/hard pack or small gravel should be fine if you have the appropriate tires (and gears). Enjoy your trip.
It's so wholesome to see a married couple always enjoy each other's company even while pursing life's simpler pleasures. That's truly romantic! God bless you two! Even though we can't hear you converse with each other, you couldn't be doing this so much if didn't enjoy each other's company. Wish you both stay out of harm's way, stay healthy and enjoy many more adventures. This is how couple's should actually be, pursuing healthy hobbies while having fun. Wish my future wife will like this kinda stuff..😢😊
Hi Pam and Gilbert! Many thanks for your insightful video. Could you provide the exact dimensions of the Samsonite luggage you’re using please? A lot of deals are available on the online marketplaces right now, and I want to make sure to not buy the wrong suitcase. Again, many thanks ! And well done for cycling through the Tarroko gorges!
The Samsonite model we use is not perfectly rectangular (somewhat larger at the bottom and tapering at the top). The rough dimensions are 29” x 21” x 12” or 74cm x 53 cm x 30cm. Good luck in your search. PS We went down the gorge, not up :-)
Thanks for sharing this fantastic and educational video. Although I’ve had tons of trouble finding any Samsonite suitcases which are over 29cm in depth. For it to work it needs to have at least 33cm to fit a Brompton. It seems that 99% of suitcases sold are under 30cm n depth … what would you do here?
@whitefalconcruzer, we found our Samonites on the used market (about $20US), Facebook Marketplace would be a good place to start. @ChrisbyBike is suggesting a Delsey Paris model similar to this one: amzn.to/3QDOeMS Another option is the Vincita Sightseer (ref video th-cam.com/video/ZbLhMq1WQ5o/w-d-xo.html )
I accept that they do, but I really don't see any logical reason why the airlines should care if the case/bag/box contains a bicycle as long as it's within their weight and size limits. Personally, I avoid the issue by travelling on a ferry from the UK to the continent, then [if necessary, but rarely] a train. :-)
Policies concerning bicycles vary from one airlines to another (any reason to charge an extra fee seems to be valid). It can also varies depending how sympathetic the employee at the check-in counter is. We fell the less obvious the Brompton is (while still being within weight and size limitations) the better it is.
Hi Pam and Gilbert! I just bought the Samsonite luggage. Many thanks for your very helpful video! Do you know if a Birdy Mk3 fits inside ? If there is a need to disassemble the bike, which parts of the bike are concerned ? Thanks!
Salut Didier, Having only experience with a Mk1, we cannot vouch for a Mk3. However, we suspect the monocoque flaring at the bottom of the seatpost will cause a problem. In any case, here is how we disassembled the Mk1 to fit into a Samsonite Oyster: -Remove seat and seatpost -Remove handlebar (keep all cabling connected) -Remove top part of stem (we have a telescopic stem) -Remove both pedals -Remove both wheels and rear rack (if you have one) -Fold the front suspension fork fully backward as far as you can (under and parallel to the top tube) -Fold the rear triangle (keep the derailleur installed) -Fold the stem The bike should now be in its smaller configuration. The crankset angle will need to be adjusted to fit in the suitcase. Once the bike is in the suitcase (top tube parallel to the hinge), and put the rack, stem and seat in the middle. The seatpost is near the suitcase hinge and the handlebar along the side. We finish with the 2 wheels. We could email you a photo sequence showing the packing process if this would help. Bonne chance
@@2Bikes4Adventure dear Pam and Gilbert. Your assumption was right concerning the monocoque flaring. However, it does fit in the Samsonite luggage (73x63x28), provided you fold the bicycle as prescribed in your comment above (basically removing all the parts of the bicycle). A slightly bigger luggage would be great, but I'm afraid it will come with a supplementary cost at the airline check-in. But you’ll need to take the 18’ wheels separately. They fit in a cabin suitcase though. The Birdy is a great bike, but it can't hold the comparison with the Brompton regarding the folding capacity. I'm available to disclose pictures of the folding to anyone who needs it :).
Very neat tip with the coroplast signs. I have in mind to go to London for a couple months next year and pick up a Brompton while I'm there. I'll have to fly back with it... so I figure a DIMPA bag and some cardboard should do the trick.
London is the Brompton Epicentre of the world. We never saw so many people cycling Bromptons. You will certainly enjoy the bike and the city. One or two Dimpa plus some cleverly folded cardboard should indeed to the trick in bringing your new friend back home.
Great analysis and explanation of the 3 options. I wonder if the Trigo folding case is the ultimate solution. It protects the bike, but the folds up tiny and can be attached to the front of the brompton as a small package. th-cam.com/video/qrd8-XFCszE/w-d-xo.html
Looks very promising. We just tested a similar concept on our latest trip, the Vincita Sightseer. We cycled to/from the airport (31km/19 miles) with it attached on the front luggage block. We will release a video on the subject shortly.
It would depend where you are in the world and how much time you have to find that (sufficiently large) cheap suitcases (we would need 2). Finding discarded cardboard would be easier, although we did have some difficulties doing that as well in some countries. We would certainly keep a full day prior to the return flight to find and/or built the “Brompton Check-in” luggages.
![2 More Ways to Fly [ Vincita Sightseer & Cabin Carry-On ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZbLhMq1WQ5o/mqdefault.jpg)
![2 More Ways to Fly [ Vincita Sightseer & Cabin Carry-On ]](/img/tr.png)
![Bikepacking on Folding Bikes - Is It Worth It? [Cycling Japan]](/img/n.gif)
Great video comparing the alternatives, thank you!
This latest version covers two more options:
2 More Ways to Fly [ Vincita Sightseer & Cabin Carry-On ]
th-cam.com/video/ZbLhMq1WQ5o/w-d-xo.html
As a content creator, I'm super impressed with the thought and detail that went into putting this together. Amazing vid!
You are putting a lot of effort on your YT guitar channel as well. Well done.
@@2Bikes4Adventure Thanks! It means a lot. Hoping to buy a brompton soon! looking forward to browsing your whole catalog of vids!
Agreed, I've watched several of their videos multiple times just because of the graphics and attention to details. Their knowledge of science, math, and engineering make this channel second to none.
I don’t have a folding bike, I don’t plan on buying one but your videos are incredibly well made so I enjoy them anyhow. 😁
I have feeling that you are a wonderful person and people love you everywhere you go 😊
... and Brompton bicycles are wonderful and people love them everywhere they go 😀
I find that Brompton users are inherently clever in so many ways. Thank-you for posting.
Excellent presentation. Thank you so much.
Very well detailed. Great explanation!
Another option is to take it inside the plane as a handbag.
Just remove the seat that Brompton fits in the head bin.
This is my favorite!
Were you successful with this strategy? On which airline(s)?
Our recent flight experiences (pre-covid that is) usually involved full planes where carry-on storage was at a premium. More than once, we ended up having to shove our bags under the seat in front of us as no more space was available in the overhead bin. Post-covid could be different with less passengers to contend with.
Experience with gate check-in wasn’t too enjoyable either, as we ended up having to pick up our baggage on the same conveyor belt as the checked-in luggage at the end of the flight (thus it had been tossed around as casually by baggage handlers as any other items).
Successfully travelling with a “carry-on” Brompton is ideal, it is worthy of Instagram posts (ex.: Bromptonmafia) and offers some bragging rights to the lucky passenger/cyclist, but I would be reluctant to rely on such a strategy to begin a long-awaited enjoyable/trouble-free vacation.
@@2Bikes4Adventure United Airlines From Rio de Janeiro to New York and New York to Rio de Janeiro. It is great! You must confirm the weight allowed for hand luggage.
@@2Bikes4Adventure I was in Orlando when it happened. From Rio to Orlando I took the Brompton in a Delsy 29 and on the way back she came in Ikea Bag with a pillow at the base for protection
@@2Bikes4Adventure To Travel in side USA SouthWest is perfect.
Excellent Video! Thank you. ❤
thank you for creating these videos
Brilliant and comprehensive. Thank you for posting.
Very informative, thank you. Happy travels..
Bromtonolgy class!!! Wonderful job!!!
Thank you so much for your sharing. It is a really good channel for Brompton cyclists. I just got my Brompton yesterday :)!
Congratulations for your new Brompton. You will enjoy it for a long time to come.
what a nice video! great job.
Excellent video! Thank you ! Greetings from Italy!
You are so organised. Great tips.
Fly business ! The brompton will fit-in as a cabin luggage
Ref this follow-up video discussing carry-on legal dimension
2 More Ways to Fly [ Vincita Sightseer & Cabin Carry-On ]
th-cam.com/video/ZbLhMq1WQ5o/w-d-xo.html
What a great sharing.... thks for that.
I think we can solve the box raining issue by wrapping it with food wrap type of plastic. If not mistaken major airport also now provide that kind of services.
You can apply a coat of wood sealant or some type of translucent varnish to the cardboard box, it vastly improves its water resistance as well as the resistance to physical abuse.
Really useful and beautifully presented - thank you! 😁
Thank you for your sharing.
Great information channel about brompton.
Thinking buy a brompton I'm watching a lot of videos on your channel.
Thanks
Hope your Brompton dreams come true
Your videos are so informative, well thought out, and clearly presented. Please keep up this top-notch work!
When I bought my 2019 top Brompton, I intended to take it to Malta on a plane and therefore I bought a top luggage for it, the B&W black travel suitcase with a band around and solid locks! Sadly my same age wife (by then 73) didn't like my eventual riding in the wrong side on the narrow roads, so I never got to use it for more than a local Danish travel in my car, and I found out it could be just folded in the back, without being able to be seen from the outside. Finn. Denmark
Probably less trouble to return the B&W than the wife
@@2Bikes4Adventure I kept it for local use also, as we have storage room in our cellar. But I have a hyper expensive, Vincita padded pouch for the folded pedal, which I use for transport. And I have added a sown on leather for both my frame and - up the stem post for protection against scratches during handling (Not one of a Bromptons most cared about items! "Clear tape" from the Factory!). As a "Rainy Dane" I have mudguards on my bike, and I found out the even on my Superlight, with titaniums stays, it has "Heavy Metal" clamps on them, so I have found some from carbon and alu, as I have changed security parts and front axle to titanium. I hope to come below 9 kilo on my SuperlightM6LXBrompton, even with Mudguards!
And not so much above the double as expensive, 4 gears T-line, with mudguards, I have seen from films on TH-cam! Finn. Denmark
…and your M6LX also has a lot better gear range than the T-Line (at 1/2 the price)
@@2Bikes4Adventure I didn't like the too low gears at first, but going up a steep serpentine road on the Danish rocky Island of Bornholm, I had to use them and even to walk, as I couldn't even ride going up, also passing some animal protection tubes, crossing the road at intervals! And going down, I had my doubts and was afraid of my Bromptons braking ability, from very high speed to a full stop before passing the tubes!
But my Brompton never let me down and efficiently brought me down all the way in safety!!
It may be that a younger and lighter person than I (73/100 kilo) and in a better shape, could have done it? Today I'm 75. Finn
Nice work and kudos to you!
I use the 3rd method. Double Dimpas and cut-to-size cardboard is the easiest to find, use and discard. The Dimpas fold flat and get stuffed at the bottom of the backpack until it is time to pack up to go home. Truly the lightest travel system for this bike. Stuffing soft items in all the gaps in the bag helps prevent serious damage to the bike.
We dread the day IKEA discontinues the DIMPA.
Did you ever experience difficulties finding used cardboard in some countries? We had some problems in Bergen, Norway.
@@2Bikes4Adventure, no more DIMPA is bad! LOL! I think it was just bad luck you had in Norway. I've never been there, but I have to say that I've not had trouble finding cardboard boxes to cut up. Convenience stores and supermarkets are bound to have some, so it is only a matter of cutting and taping the pieces up to fit.
Brompton Politics 🤔 that’s interesting . On a more serious note I am a firm believer in the B&W hard case after years of use and never gave much thought about the aesthetics of the case as it provides total protection without even removing the seat post or the pedal ( folding pedals on both sides ) 👍🏽
@q80aziz, We agree, the B&W hard case remains the gold standard as far as total protection is concerned.
Other solutions are basically compromise between portability and protection.
Très beau résumé pratique, présentant clairement le pour et le contre des différentes options. Merci !
excellent!
Informative, concise, and professional. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences in such an accessible manner! Love the infographics as well!
Great video! Kudos on being clear about the (minimal) amount of disassembly required and the dimensions to look for :D
Removing the seat post and the right pedal is not a big deal. However, beware the Brompton Tool “closed” 15mm wrench cannot be used to remove pedals. The “open” wrench coming with the Tern Tool us better suited for this job. An other option would be replace the standard Brompton pedals with MKS Removable Pedals. In such case, you would not need any tool to install/remove the right pedal.
amazing advice, the dimpa and cardboard is especially useful for biking right out of the airport. Thank you!
You should be a teacher, you are thorough in your presentation, much appreciated.
Nice piece of advice.👍 I, too feel the hardcase, though weighed down by price and weight serves better.
Thank you for a great video. It is lovely to see creators combining effort and skill to produce such excellent content
Stay tuned for more!
All your reviews are clear & detailed..very nice.. thanks from 🇮🇳
Excellent quality videography.
This is top quality. Great hints and tips but I’m a little confused as it’s not 100% clear to me whether you declare that the Samsonite cases contain bikes. You mention that you don’t like to pay additional fees for transportation and highlight the fee in the video, however the web page you show contains a statement that, “bicycles … should be registered at time of booking”. So, do you simply turn up with undeclared cycles and hope for the best? Thanks.
Hi Mick, our flights usually allows one free check-in luggage. When using a suitcase, we were never asked if it contains a bicycle.
@@2Bikes4Adventure Thanks. It makes me wonder what would've happened if the bikes had been discovered.
Good
All I can say that your content is just fantastic. Hats off to you ❤
This is brilliantly comprehensive, thanks.
Thank you for that great video ! Grüße aus Österreich !
Again you made an informative video. I hope one day I can travel like you. Happy cycling life. 👍🏻😊
Thank you for this video, it was very informative and helpful.
Thank you! Very nice & useful tips 😁
I loved this, even though I don't even have a Brompton
Really useful video! Lots of insights. Thank you.
Do you think the Samsonite Oyster would do? My grandpa has one in another place but it's about 71cm x 57cm x 25cm.
@harcoremonkey, we successfully used Samsonite Oysters for our Birdys, unfortunately, they are not deep enough (25cm) for our Brompton’s
Thanks for your video. So helpful!
Nice info with good animation. Very clear. Subscribed already :-)
Gosh, this was super helpful. Thank you for sharing!
I can’t find a samsonite Epsilon on eBay or locally. Do you have another hard case recommendation?
Some Brompton users have been using the Samsonite Stryde Long Journey Rider [ amzn.to/4ddxtjF ]
You can build a wooden frame with bolts for inside of your Dimpa that can be taken apart with a wrench and compacted. It is about $20 in wood and another $10 or so if you want to add caster wheels.
PVC tubing could also be used
@@2Bikes4AdventureYes it can. The reason I chose a wooden frame over PVC was that the wooden frame was fastener with bolts and wingnuts which were easier to assemble and disassemble quickly than PVC pipers which are hard to pull apart for some people.
Do you have a tutorial?
Seems though the designated box has most of these positive traits like; lightweight, foldability, durability and weather resistance. It seems kinda hassle to do all those things rather than paying extra premium for the supposed case. Of course if you don't travel often, you won't see the need for it that much.
Great video and very well put together
The IKEA Dimpa is a great suggestion!
Excellent well thought out narrative.
Thank you for your info.
I have a Brompton and would love to travel like that.
Thank you! your Dimba bag and voting signs are very valuable tip.
Ultra-helpful video! I'm about to become a Brompton owner, with the express purpose of having a bike to travel with. I'm just annoyed with myself, though - only yesterday, I recycled a corrugated plastic bike box I've been lugging around for years! It would have been perfect for cutting up and using in an Ikea bag. Here in the UK, we don't get those corrugated plastic yard signs during elections, in fact I don't think we even use that sort of corrugated plastic for anything! Lesson learned - never throw anything away! ;-)
The advantage of using cardboard over corrugated plastic is that you feel no guilt discarding it at the arrival airport. By the same token, you have to prevent the urge to discard it prior to your trip :-)
Enjoy your new Brompton (and keep the box)
Brilliant suggestions , Ive used the dimpa bags for last tens years.
I just did my first flight with my Brompton and used the dimpa from London to Istanbul yesterday. Do you usually put a big fragile sticker? I was worried that my bike would get damaged, especially when I just got It a few days back while visiting London.
@Remote365, We don’t bother putting stickers such as “This side UP” or “Fragile” on our Dimpas as we have little confidence it makes any difference for baggage handlers. One thing you can do to reduce damage risks is to remove the EzyWheels as they tend to concentrate impact forces in a smaller area of the frame (or rack).
@@2Bikes4Adventure thanks for the advice! I'll do that. awesome videos BTW!
also wondering if it's normal for the real wheel to rub the frame when folded? I see it's touching the frame when I fold my bike and I couldn't find much online. thanks in advance!
@@remote3652
The rear wheel will touch the top tube (and down tube) when the bike is folded at rest. A small gap will likely appear when carrying the bike.
Great video! Thanks you for posting 😊
i reused some yard signs before an election and affected the outcome. worse for some. better for others. made the local paper too
The bike is solid and my Ebike conversion went great. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L Very smooth ride at 30mph with no problems (135 miles ridden so far). The picture is a bit deceiving - there is WAY less space in the center of the frame than it shows. The suspension connection takes up the entire thing. So I needed to attach my battery on the bottom of the frame and my controller on the top. Instructions for assembly were lacking but honestly it wasn't too hard to figure out even though I have very little bike knowledge. Watched some youtube videos on adjusting the disk brakes but that was it. Still, I am loving it and very happy with the purchase.
Brompton wheels are 16”
Excellent information based on experience. Very well done. Thank you.
Very useful and interesting, especially in Dempa bag 👍
Your videos are always helpful. Need to pack my brompton for a move in couple months time. Now, onto finding a good secondhand suitcase. Thanks!
Good luck in your search (it should not be too difficult to find one)
Those Ikea bags can be used for so many things.
Thank you very much. I'm looking at possibly going out to another state to pick up and bringing home a new Brompton finally!
Hope everything works out!
Thank you so much for such informative content.
This is brilliant! Thanks
Hey...Portugal at 04:55 ;o)
Indeed, looking for cardboards in Porto :-) Here’s a short video of that trip:
Cycling Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela (Brompton bikes)
th-cam.com/video/nvZ-9WGCkWE/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for the great video! Do you ever gat check your Bromptons when using the Dimpa, or do you always just check them as regular luggage?
We do not gate-check, we always check them as regular luggage.
When available, we use the self-checkin station to get the luggage tags and, if using Dimpa or cardboard boxes, go deposit them directly at the oversize luggage counter. We never had to pay extra for our Brompton/Birdy in more than 10 years of travelling.
This is excellent. Thank you.
That was an awesome video! I'm flying to Munich this month and really want to take my decathlon folding bike and you just gave me a pretty good idea of what I should do. Really appreciate your effort Here keep it up!! Hope I can afford buying a Pompton one day lol
Enjoy your trip in Munich 🍺
Hi, thanks for your video. Did you have to remove the seatpost when fitting the Brompton into the Samsonite Epsilon 29in ?
Yes, we remove the seatpost. It's visible at the top of the suitcase at 02:05 (just under the tire pump, held with a red bungee cord)
0:20 Such professional videographers. You even set up a camera in the overhead luggage bin...
3:34 and on your luggage that's on the carousel.
3:57 "We avoid selecting the name and face of a politician who's well known or controversial..." - lol.
Like your use of a 360 camera. Keep you uploads
coming :-)
I emailed Will Butler-Adams a few years back saying that they should have a scheme where if you take your electric Brompton on a plane to a city/location where there is a Brompton store then you should be able to hire a battery for the duration of your trip. He did reply saying its a good idea/concept. The issue is carrying the Lithium battery on a plane.
This is an excellent concept. Assuming a battery is about $800 and it's rented $8/day, Brompton could easily recoup the investment in a year.
@@2Bikes4Adventure - The wholesale cost to a business would be even cheaper per unit as no mark up, okay you need to factor in the admin etc etc but it could work.
@@lotuselise4432 If managed at a Brompton Junction store, the overhead would not be that much. Could even have some rental rebate if store items are purchased at the same time.
How about taking the bike on board as carry on?
Our most recent flight experiences (pre-covid that is) usually involved full planes where carry-on storage was at a premium. More than once, we ended up having to shove our Brompton bags under the seat in front of us as no more space was available in the overhead bin.
Successfully travelling with a “carry-on” Brompton is ideal, it is worthy of Instagram posts (ex.: Bromptonmafia) and offers some bragging rights to the lucky passenger/cyclist, but we would be reluctant to rely on such a strategy to begin a long-awaited enjoyable/trouble-free vacation.
Hawaiian Air charged me $115 for my Brompton in an Ikea Dimpa bag fr Las Vegas to Tokyo.
Asia Air charged me Y22,000 ($150) fr Tokyo to Bangkok.
They both anger me because the Brompton was all I checked in and the only reason airlines charge extra for bicycles is becuz bicycles are oversized (but not Bromptons).
Im in Thailand so I will buy a cheap hardcase when I go back to Japan for the autumn leaves
Nice to hear from you again. It has been more than 2 years!
We were never asked to pay for our Bromptons while flying to Asia, Europe, North or South America. We use Dimpas, cardboard boxes or hard cases depending on the travel plan.
We avoid mentioning the B word (bicycle) during check-in (or when purchasing online tickets).
Oversize X-Ray operators often comment on the content being a bicycle, which we confirm.
In the US, TSA have been known to open our Brompton luggage (leaving a note confirming their visit).
when I get asked what's in my bag, I say camping stuff, a seat, survival equipment. Being charged for saying bicycle once was maddening, never again.
Hello i am proud that you you both tour with your lovely folding bikes, that Brompton is my dream bike but i can't afford to buy it, proud subscriber here from Philippines Keepsafe, ridesafe & Godbless 🙏😊
We hope to cycle in the Philippines one day.
@@2Bikes4Adventure wow thats sounds good i wanna join you guys when you come here! i will shout out your channel for more friends thanks for the reply.
This video is three years old, so maybe it was different then, but I can't find a Samsonite Epsilon 29 for twenty bucks, or at any price. There was a new Samsonite 29" square spinner that I heard would work, but it wasn't too much cheaper than the B & W.
I'm not touring on the Brompton but intend on using it to visit sites within the city, and I'll be able to keep the case in our hotel room. I think the B & W is going to be best for my use.
If you can store the B&W at the hotel, this will offer you the safest/most secure air transport solution.
NOTE: The used Samsonite Epsilon are easier to find in Europe. Ex.: www.gumtree.com/p/suitcases/samsonite-525-series-large-suitcase-/1456735133
Thank you!!!!!! very useful
4:54 that footage of the bins was taken in my home country Portugal!
Great video, thanks for sharing such good information!
You are right, this footage was taken in Porto as we were looking for cardboard to pack our bikes for the flight back home.
We really like Portugal 🇵🇹
@@2Bikes4Adventure Very happy you enjoy my country. I love your videos, found some more footage, one just outside the Trindade Metro station in Porto, my home town (I'm currently living in London - Brompton paradise!)
If you look at some of our other videos, you will find more “easter eggs” from Porto (inside the metro from Trindade to the Airport, the Dom Luis bridge...).
We are often asked about our Bromptons while travelling, not the case in London. It seems 1/3 of all cyclists there have them :-)
What if you haven't got a Brompton? Can I still fly?
Save your money, buy a Brompton then you can think about flying.
This is so thorough! Love this channel!
Stay tuned, more videos to come
Well done with the improvisation guys!!! Inspiring!!!
WITH A CARDBOARD BOX YOU CAN TAPE THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE AS WELL TO MAKE IT WATERPROOF
since you have experience can you please advise me for how long you can comfortably ride 20 inch bike non stop?
with a family member I am planning to fly abroad for backpacking camping in the wild which could take more than few weeks, as I am planning to go farer into the wild I wonder if 20 inch foldable bike would be comfortable enough to ride lets say 2-4 hours (in no rush) non stop? I am a little scared to get a bigger bike into a plane as it could be too big depending on airlines and also there is a bigger chance to break bigger bikes during flights. THANKS IN ADVANCE
Hi Nomadic Mind. While touring with our Brompton (16” wheels) or Birdy (18” wheels), we would cycle for 5 to 8 hours / day.
Your “mileage” may differ however, based on various factors:
- Road/trail surface
- Type of tire (width and pressure)
- Elevation gain
- The amount of luggage you are carrying
- And how comfortable your seat is
At first glance, 2 to 4 hours seems very doable unless the trail condition is more appropriate for a mountain bike (single track, large obstacles, soft ground) or very steep. Anything paved, dry/hard pack or small gravel should be fine if you have the appropriate tires (and gears).
Enjoy your trip.
It's so wholesome to see a married couple always enjoy each other's company even while pursing life's simpler pleasures. That's truly romantic!
God bless you two! Even though we can't hear you converse with each other, you couldn't be doing this so much if didn't enjoy each other's company. Wish you both stay out of harm's way, stay healthy and enjoy many more adventures.
This is how couple's should actually be, pursuing healthy hobbies while having fun.
Wish my future wife will like this kinda stuff..😢😊
30+ years of tail winds!
Hi Pam and Gilbert! Many thanks for your insightful video.
Could you provide the exact dimensions of the Samsonite luggage you’re using please? A lot of deals are available on the online marketplaces right now, and I want to make sure to not buy the wrong suitcase.
Again, many thanks ! And well done for cycling through the Tarroko gorges!
The Samsonite model we use is not perfectly rectangular (somewhat larger at the bottom and tapering at the top). The rough dimensions are 29” x 21” x 12” or 74cm x 53 cm x 30cm. Good luck in your search.
PS We went down the gorge, not up :-)
Thanks for sharing this fantastic and educational video.
Although I’ve had tons of trouble finding any Samsonite suitcases which are over 29cm in depth. For it to work it needs to have at least 33cm to fit a Brompton. It seems that 99% of suitcases sold are under 30cm n depth … what would you do here?
@whitefalconcruzer, we found our Samonites on the used market (about $20US), Facebook Marketplace would be a good place to start.
@ChrisbyBike is suggesting a Delsey Paris model similar to this one: amzn.to/3QDOeMS
Another option is the Vincita Sightseer (ref video th-cam.com/video/ZbLhMq1WQ5o/w-d-xo.html )
I accept that they do, but I really don't see any logical reason why the airlines should care if the case/bag/box contains a bicycle as long as it's within their weight and size limits. Personally, I avoid the issue by travelling on a ferry from the UK to the continent, then [if necessary, but rarely] a train. :-)
Policies concerning bicycles vary from one airlines to another (any reason to charge an extra fee seems to be valid). It can also varies depending how sympathetic the employee at the check-in counter is. We fell the less obvious the Brompton is (while still being within weight and size limitations) the better it is.
Great Job! Very enjoyable to watch and learn. Now I want to get my own Brompton and get my travel shoes on. President & VP for sure!
Hi Pam and Gilbert! I just bought the Samsonite luggage. Many thanks for your very helpful video!
Do you know if a Birdy Mk3 fits inside ? If there is a need to disassemble the bike, which parts of the bike are concerned ?
Thanks!
Salut Didier,
Having only experience with a Mk1, we cannot vouch for a Mk3. However, we suspect the monocoque flaring at the bottom of the seatpost will cause a problem. In any case, here is how we disassembled the Mk1 to fit into a Samsonite Oyster:
-Remove seat and seatpost
-Remove handlebar (keep all cabling connected)
-Remove top part of stem (we have a telescopic stem)
-Remove both pedals
-Remove both wheels and rear rack (if you have one)
-Fold the front suspension fork fully backward as far as you can (under and parallel to the top tube)
-Fold the rear triangle (keep the derailleur installed)
-Fold the stem
The bike should now be in its smaller configuration.
The crankset angle will need to be adjusted to fit in the suitcase.
Once the bike is in the suitcase (top tube parallel to the hinge), and put the rack, stem and seat in the middle. The seatpost is near the suitcase hinge and the handlebar along the side. We finish with the 2 wheels. We could email you a photo sequence showing the packing process if this would help.
Bonne chance
@@2Bikes4Adventure dear Pam and Gilbert.
Your assumption was right concerning the monocoque flaring. However, it does fit in the Samsonite luggage (73x63x28), provided you fold the bicycle as prescribed in your comment above (basically removing all the parts of the bicycle). A slightly bigger luggage would be great, but I'm afraid it will come with a supplementary cost at the airline check-in.
But you’ll need to take the 18’ wheels separately. They fit in a cabin suitcase though.
The Birdy is a great bike, but it can't hold the comparison with the Brompton regarding the folding capacity.
I'm available to disclose pictures of the folding to anyone who needs it :).
Very neat tip with the coroplast signs. I have in mind to go to London for a couple months next year and pick up a Brompton while I'm there. I'll have to fly back with it... so I figure a DIMPA bag and some cardboard should do the trick.
London is the Brompton Epicentre of the world. We never saw so many people cycling Bromptons. You will certainly enjoy the bike and the city. One or two Dimpa plus some cleverly folded cardboard should indeed to the trick in bringing your new friend back home.
Great analysis and explanation of the 3 options. I wonder if the Trigo folding case is the ultimate solution. It protects the bike, but the folds up tiny and can be attached to the front of the brompton as a small package. th-cam.com/video/qrd8-XFCszE/w-d-xo.html
Looks very promising. We just tested a similar concept on our latest trip, the Vincita Sightseer. We cycled to/from the airport (31km/19 miles) with it attached on the front luggage block. We will release a video on the subject shortly.
Another idea when returning from a different location; would be fly out with a cardboard box, return with a locally-purchased cheap suitcase (?)
It would depend where you are in the world and how much time you have to find that (sufficiently large) cheap suitcases (we would need 2). Finding discarded cardboard would be easier, although we did have some difficulties doing that as well in some countries. We would certainly keep a full day prior to the return flight to find and/or built the “Brompton Check-in” luggages.
OMG U HIT A HOME RUN. AMAZING U MUST BE FROM IOWA . SALT OF THE EARTH
Great advices, thanks for those informations!
Excellent guide, very thoughtful