Here's a true story I received from one of my customers that took their magnesium alloy folding bike across the border into Mexico.

After unpacking the bike and finally figuring out how to get air into the tires (I can't find any small air pumps that make a good connection on the valve), I took it out for a ride in the middle of the night. Wanted to test it on a nearby hill without traffic before I had to use it for real the following day for a trip into Mexico. Well, I cut through a school parking lot and a police car stopped me! I thought it was public property, but just being on school grounds at that hour made the officer suspicious. He acted tough but let me continue after I explained what I was doing and he did complement me on the nice bike.

About two weeks later, on a trip back from Mexico, I discovered I had left my car keys behind and I had to bike all the way back to the border AND across the city of San Luis R.C., Mexico (6 miles one way?). Only problems I encountered were an obnoxious dog and a sandy road for the last two blocks that the thin tires had trouble plowing through (many streets there are not paved). I'm sure glad I didn't have to hoof it on foot...don't know if I had money for a taxi.

So, the bottom line is that for the price, I'm very pleased in the bike's ability to be transported in my car and to carry me to my destination. One accessory that I'm looking for is a way to widen the carrier rack in back so I can carry a box or other bulky items with relative stability. I improvise using a clipboard and an assortment of bungee cords.

By the way, Mexican streets are treacherous at night! Pot holes, drain grills with slots parallel to line of travel, speed bumps, etc.

Labels: folding-bike-stories