Small Wheel Beast of Burden

Getting ready for a 40-day fully loaded bike tour of the United Kingdom. Pictured here is my Small Wheel Beast of Burden, a Bike Friday. Although I'm impressed with the Bike Friday's ride quality, handling and durability, I still have some apprehension about the little bike despite knowing friends who have toured with them. Guess that's natural 'cause it's so small and it'll be loaded with more than 40 pounds of gear. The Bike Friday is a foldable bike with 20" wheels that fits into a standard size check-in luggage for airlines. This means I can avoid special handling for the bike when flying and its exorbitant fees.

The impetus for this loaded tour is Shirl, whom I met during a loaded ACA bike tour across the U.S. in 2008 along their Southern Tier route. That being said, much Thanks goes to Shirl, who lives in the UK, for organizing this trip and putting together the itinerary. I remember her saying that we should consider bike touring the UK when we were riding across the U.S. and now it's coming to fruition. For me, the opportunity to bike tour in the picturesque countryside of England, Wales and Scotland was not to be missed, rain or shine. I've got my raingear and my fenders so I'm ready to go. This tour will also be a reunion for 8 out of the 17 that rode across the U.S. in 2008.