The Other Bike
My son’s folding bike
The Pacific Reach 20” wheeled alloy folding bike was also bought second hand. It’s a slightly unusual design for a folding bike with front and rear suspension.
The pics tell the story.
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Graham SmithHi Scott yes folding pedals are easier for packing the bike, but they are especially handy when putting the unfolded bike onto crowded public transport, or even just wheeling the bike along crowded streets. They just make the bike less wide, so less likely to bump or catch fellow travellers on the shins.
I’ve used folding pedals on my Bike Friday Tikit for several years. They work well.
4 years ago
I’ve used folding pedals on my Bike Friday Tikit for several years. They work well.
4 years ago
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Scott AndersonThinking about you and the dreadful fire situation, Graham. Hope all is well with you.
4 years ago
4 years ago
Graham SmithHi Scott,
Thanks for thinking of us.
Yes the extent, ferocity and duration of these bushfires are dreadful. They’ve affected many people, and vast numbers wildlife. Something like the area of Wales has been burnt, and the fires will continue burning for weeks or months.
Other than being covered in dense smoke (our house smells like a wet ashtray:) our city hasn’t been directly damaged.
Being in Taiwan in a couple of days will be quite a contrast.
4 years ago
Thanks for thinking of us.
Yes the extent, ferocity and duration of these bushfires are dreadful. They’ve affected many people, and vast numbers wildlife. Something like the area of Wales has been burnt, and the fires will continue burning for weeks or months.
Other than being covered in dense smoke (our house smells like a wet ashtray:) our city hasn’t been directly damaged.
Being in Taiwan in a couple of days will be quite a contrast.
4 years ago
Scott AndersonTo Graham SmithHave a safe flight, and enjoy your respite from the fires. We’ll look forward to following along.
4 years ago
4 years ago
John SaxbyThanks for your splendid story and photos, Graham -- especially liked the description of the monastery and spa in the hills. Nice contrast to our -18 windchill last night.
Thanks too for the info on your bikes. Good choices of machines and gear -- they seem to do the job very well.
We are watching the catastrophic fires from afar, all too conscious of that the fires mean for people throughout Australia. The areas we drove through in January 2018, from the great Ocean Road to Canberra and Sydney, are now either engulfed in flame or threatened. Of course we are anxious about our family in Gold Coast, but--so far--they seem to be in a corridor of relative tranquillity, with moderate temps and rain.
And, we think of you and your family, and other cyclists we know at a distance, such as Mike and Mary in Vic, and Sam and Kat in Newcastle. With too few exceptions, governments around the world seem unable to act with the imagination, creativity and scale of resources that the catastrophes and science demand. We have in Canada a comparable combination of political inertia, vested interests in fossil fuels, and stasis-cum-denialism that seem to afflict Aus as well. The interviews with Canadian firefighters, which we hear daily on the CBC, underscore just how how fierce and unprecedented these fires are.
I hope your family is and will be OK, and I can only imagine your own feelings just now.
Take care, John
4 years ago
Thanks too for the info on your bikes. Good choices of machines and gear -- they seem to do the job very well.
We are watching the catastrophic fires from afar, all too conscious of that the fires mean for people throughout Australia. The areas we drove through in January 2018, from the great Ocean Road to Canberra and Sydney, are now either engulfed in flame or threatened. Of course we are anxious about our family in Gold Coast, but--so far--they seem to be in a corridor of relative tranquillity, with moderate temps and rain.
And, we think of you and your family, and other cyclists we know at a distance, such as Mike and Mary in Vic, and Sam and Kat in Newcastle. With too few exceptions, governments around the world seem unable to act with the imagination, creativity and scale of resources that the catastrophes and science demand. We have in Canada a comparable combination of political inertia, vested interests in fossil fuels, and stasis-cum-denialism that seem to afflict Aus as well. The interviews with Canadian firefighters, which we hear daily on the CBC, underscore just how how fierce and unprecedented these fires are.
I hope your family is and will be OK, and I can only imagine your own feelings just now.
Take care, John
4 years ago
Graham SmithTo John SaxbyThanks John. It’s great hear from you.
Taiwan is turning out to be an excellent cycle touring region, especially the eastern side. It feels and looks very similar to the NZ South Island west coast.
And yes it is very grim at home for exactly the reasons you mentioned. I suspect we are living through some sort of major ecological tipping point. It’s hard to imagine that South East forests will ever recover from these mega fires. It might be a transition phase to major new ecosystems of more drought and fire tolerant vegetation as climate change dries and heats the continent. I’ve visibly noticed the changes in local bush land over the past decade.
A few friends have lost houses in the NSW South Coast fires. Many more farmer friends and colleagues are struggling because of the prolonged drought. There’s no sugar coating it. These are hard times in regional Australia. That said, I’m am grateful my own family are well, and able to enjoy life, and I’m especially pleased I’m doing this current tour with my eldest son.
All the best to you and your family.
4 years ago
Taiwan is turning out to be an excellent cycle touring region, especially the eastern side. It feels and looks very similar to the NZ South Island west coast.
And yes it is very grim at home for exactly the reasons you mentioned. I suspect we are living through some sort of major ecological tipping point. It’s hard to imagine that South East forests will ever recover from these mega fires. It might be a transition phase to major new ecosystems of more drought and fire tolerant vegetation as climate change dries and heats the continent. I’ve visibly noticed the changes in local bush land over the past decade.
A few friends have lost houses in the NSW South Coast fires. Many more farmer friends and colleagues are struggling because of the prolonged drought. There’s no sugar coating it. These are hard times in regional Australia. That said, I’m am grateful my own family are well, and able to enjoy life, and I’m especially pleased I’m doing this current tour with my eldest son.
All the best to you and your family.
4 years ago
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