Interesting. We're never sure what the story will be with these bikes on trains and buses. It's all part of the adventure.

Good plan Scott. We have time to find our own beefy guy before the next train hop. I was surprised because this has never happened in all the times that I have bagged the bike. Seems like there's always a new curve ball when traveling by bike. Keeps it interesting.

You're right, that's the important part. I guess it was just the guessing game in the dark later at the door over which lockbox and which set of keys to use that rattled me. But it got us in.

Thanks Patrick! Delighted to have you ride along ;)

Looks perfectly good to me!

It’s likely possible to find a comfortable saddle without going to a heavy one with springs. Saddles come in many shapes and sizes, as do our contact zones. Many bikes shops offer saddle fitting and demo saddles or good exchange policies. Not something to buy online!

Correction… to get the handlebar stem off, not the head set 😜.

There’s a trick to get that head set out. David has used it for years with our old Bike Fridays. It has to do with the fact that there are threads on that last bit of the top of the forks where it sticks into the head tube. It requires a gentle tweak with a small wrench into the space in the quick release. It’s just a light tweak. And, of course that means you need to tighten that quick release tightly when you re-assemble it.

We have never had to quick fold our bikes in the buses. We just get there first and load the bikes in. No complaints so far.

I was looking at your route. If you have a chance to ride through Setenil de Las Bodegas it is worth it!
https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/portugalspain/olvera-to-ronda/

Our drama with bus a bike was much less dramatic, but I remember the stress! Leaving Tarifa last year we were told we only had to remove the front wheel, and I loved this, tie it to the bike with string hehe. Keith had the zip ties ready, waited until the last minute and then my quick release wouldn’t release. Helpful strangers kept making suggestions in Spanish. When it finally released, we threw the bikes under the bus, got in line last, and our bus driver hadn’t even noticed we had bikes. Phew!

How frustrating about your stuck stem! I recognize that problem, because it’s happened to me before too. The last time I had to take it to a garage, and it took a few doses of penetrating oil and some hammering and wrenching the handlebars by a beefy guy with much bigger biceps than I’ve got to break it free. Now, I pack a tube of grease in the suitcase and grease it well before assembly. Don’t wait until the last minute to deal with it or you won’t be able to suitcase it for the flight home.

short and sweet, and you are inside!

Hi Janice and Barry. I'm a Johnny Come Lately to this journal, and am glad I stumbled across it. Great photos and writing. Now I have to go back and read from the beginning.

At least language isn’t a problem.

It does sprawl forever, it seems like. That’s really our only complaint about Valencia - you have to go so far to get out of town and into the hills.