Hi there! I know that this channel is more about your adventures than bike gear specifically, but I bet a lot of people (including yours truly) would love it if you made a long-term review of the helix bike. There are very few proper reviews of the bike and it seems like you two have more experience with them than anyone else! In any case, thank you so much for sharing your adventures.
Thanks for your positive comments and suggestion. I never thought about doing such review but I will think seriously about it. That would guide me if you (or anyone else in fact) would share what you would expect in such review (for what usage, what kind of trips, any personal preference,...) ?
@@Freewheels_ca I also would love to hear more about your experience specifically with the Helix bike! It would be great to know: how well the folding process worked for you; how well it rides on different surfaces (with or without panniers); how easy it was to maintain & service the bike; if any bike parts/components gave you trouble along the way; and what you disliked about the bike. As the first commenter said, there are shockingly few reviews of the Helix bike out there, so I'm sure your video would be highly appreciated if you decided to make it. Thanks very much!
Thanks much for your interest and suggestions. I am effectively interested in doing a review but I would like to wait a little more time until the official rear rack is released and had a chance to try it out. In any case, it is already winter with lots of snow here and I am not planning a trip before spring. But I will probably do something next year... @@vigorousera
Yes I considered using a backpack, it would have been easier to carry when for example taking a train. However, the center of gravity of a backpack is quite high and makes the ride more unstable. The panniers provides a lower center of gravity and a more balance distribution of weight. Since we are more often riding than taking trains, we opted for the panniers. Also, the panniers allow organizing our stuff in two separate bags instead of a bigger one. We put all camping stuff in one pannier and all personal stuff in the other, making sure that the weight is similar. I guess it is a question of personal preferences.
Thanks for the info. Does the Samsonite EVO you are using meet the 62 inch (158 cm) overall dimensions? Reason for asking is a 24 inch wheel is 61 cm and searching I cannot find any Samsonite luggage that is that wide that is not oversized and subject to $200 USD surcharge. A
On paper, Samsonite was claiming 62 inches, but In fact, the linear addition gives 65 inches without the wheels and 67 inches with the wheels. However, our experience is that they check the weight at check-in (max 23 kg) but they never measured the length. So, it is a risk but after 4 trips, they never measured and we are pretty confident that they won't. In any case, be aware that Helix is coming with a suitcase in the coming months and I have been told that it will be compliant to the 62 inches limit. See here: helix.ca/store/product/?productID=12
We leave the empty luggage in the storage room of the hotel where we land. This means that we go back there at the end of the trip. Our flight is always to/from the same city. For example, we landed this week in Budapest. I am writing you while in the train to Munich. And tomorrow we start cycling for one month following the Danube back to Budapest.
@@gsdiligpalawan5180 Normally, they don't charge anything. We always ask 2 questions before we book the hotel: Can they keep our luggage during all our trip ? and Can they store it for free ? Typically, the AirBnB don't have storage space, it is preferable to use an hotel.
Thanks for sharing!
I also love cycling ❤
Hi there! I know that this channel is more about your adventures than bike gear specifically, but I bet a lot of people (including yours truly) would love it if you made a long-term review of the helix bike. There are very few proper reviews of the bike and it seems like you two have more experience with them than anyone else!
In any case, thank you so much for sharing your adventures.
Thanks for your positive comments and suggestion. I never thought about doing such review but I will think seriously about it. That would guide me if you (or anyone else in fact) would share what you would expect in such review (for what usage, what kind of trips, any personal preference,...) ?
@@Freewheels_ca I also would love to hear more about your experience specifically with the Helix bike! It would be great to know: how well the folding process worked for you; how well it rides on different surfaces (with or without panniers); how easy it was to maintain & service the bike; if any bike parts/components gave you trouble along the way; and what you disliked about the bike.
As the first commenter said, there are shockingly few reviews of the Helix bike out there, so I'm sure your video would be highly appreciated if you decided to make it. Thanks very much!
Thanks much for your interest and suggestions. I am effectively interested in doing a review but I would like to wait a little more time until the official rear rack is released and had a chance to try it out. In any case, it is already winter with lots of snow here and I am not planning a trip before spring. But I will probably do something next year... @@vigorousera
tres magnifique
Very well thought out. Did you consider useing a backpack instead of panniers? They are popular with some folding bike tourers.
Yes I considered using a backpack, it would have been easier to carry when for example taking a train. However, the center of gravity of a backpack is quite high and makes the ride more unstable. The panniers provides a lower center of gravity and a more balance distribution of weight. Since we are more often riding than taking trains, we opted for the panniers. Also, the panniers allow organizing our stuff in two separate bags instead of a bigger one. We put all camping stuff in one pannier and all personal stuff in the other, making sure that the weight is similar. I guess it is a question of personal preferences.
Thanks for the info. Does the Samsonite EVO you are using meet the 62 inch (158 cm) overall dimensions? Reason for asking is a 24 inch wheel is 61 cm and searching I cannot find any Samsonite luggage that is that wide that is not oversized and subject to $200 USD surcharge. A
On paper, Samsonite was claiming 62 inches, but In fact, the linear addition gives 65 inches without the wheels and 67 inches with the wheels. However, our experience is that they check the weight at check-in (max 23 kg) but they never measured the length. So, it is a risk but after 4 trips, they never measured and we are pretty confident that they won't. In any case, be aware that Helix is coming with a suitcase in the coming months and I have been told that it will be compliant to the 62 inches limit. See here: helix.ca/store/product/?productID=12
how do you transport the empty lugguage between stops?
We leave the empty luggage in the storage room of the hotel where we land. This means that we go back there at the end of the trip. Our flight is always to/from the same city. For example, we landed this week in Budapest. I am writing you while in the train to Munich. And tomorrow we start cycling for one month following the Danube back to Budapest.
@@Freewheels_ca Does the hotel charge a fee for the use of the storage room?
@@gsdiligpalawan5180 Normally, they don't charge anything. We always ask 2 questions before we book the hotel: Can they keep our luggage during all our trip ? and Can they store it for free ? Typically, the AirBnB don't have storage space, it is preferable to use an hotel.
@@Freewheels_caThanks
👍