Hei kaikille,
Olen David, australialainen mies. Vaimoni on suomalainen, 2 lapseni syntynyt Espoossa. Olen asunut Espoossa noin 6 vuotta välillä 1999 ja 2005.
OK, now may I switch to English? Puhunvähän suomea , mutta ei tarpeeksi. I used Google Transate to help type this.
It is not confirmed yet but my family and I will be visiting my wife's parents in Espoo, most likely in July for about 3 weeks. This is my first Summer visit for a long time. The last 2 times we visited in the Winter which coincides with the long school holidays here (Brisbane).
The problem is I have been riding recumbents for about 10 months. I commute to work 5 days per week on my HPV Grasshopper (non-folding) 19 km there and back, and ride a Bacchetta Corsa on weekends for pleasure. I try and ride both days, but that's not always possible. Like some 'bent riders, I have too many bikes.
My current bikes are:
HP Velotechnik Grasshopper non-folding
Bacchetta Corsa
Bike E
Trisled Gizmo trike (older model, Australian made)
Cheap copy of Hase Kettweisel delta trike
Recently sold:
Greenspeed Anura delta trike
Kotzur - Australian made, long wheel base, 2 wheeler.
I ride everyday and my fear is not riding for a month on these holidays. We'll be about 1 week in the UK and 3 weeks in Finland. Possibly 1 week of that will be in a Summer cottage somewhere.
These are my options. I hope someone can help me with a solution.
- Go without for 4 weeks
- Buy a used bike in the UK and use it there and take it to Finland, then leave it there or bring it home to Brisbane
- Buy a used bike in Finland to use and bring it home
- Buy a new bike (tax free for me) in the UK or Finland, then bring it home
- Borrow a bike in Finland (and not ride for that 1st week in the UK)
- Buy an upright/normal cheapy to get me through and leave it in Finland
Last time I was there (Christmas/New Year 2013), I borrow my father-in-laws 1970s 5-speed Raleigh Sprite. It's a nice bike but the Winter headwinds were very frustrating to ride in.
My recent thoughts:
- Buy an ICE B1/B2 2 wheel 'bent from the UK. It folds/disassembles, apparently into suitcase size.
- Buy a used or new HPV Grasshopper FX in UK/Finland. It would be ideal for Finland's paths and forest paths. I love my Grasshopper, but being older, it doesn't fold nor have disc brakes. I do occasionally have need for a folding bike (I have them too
) and I do prefer disc brakes for wet weather riding. Yes it does rain in Brisbane and when it does it rains very heavily. I have been searching for a used Grasshopper FX, but there are none for sale here. - I also enquired about a Lighning P-38 from USA with S&S couplings. It too could go into a suitcase. It would most likely be very expensive (as would be a new or used GH)
There's always the option to buy one of these ... http://www.polkupyorakauppa.fi/matkaaja-nojapyora.html MATKAAJA NOJAPYÖRÄ. Cheap anyway. Maybe my mother-in-law would like it after I finished with it. I don't mean that in a bad way. She likes bikes.
Another thought is buying a Brompton tax free. They are expensive little bikes. The perfect traveller. But it doesn't have the comfort of a recumbent.
Anybody have any ideas?
Oh yeah ... Hyvä kevät!
