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I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect, but the truth is that I had no idea just how great a folder could be. When Willie Hatfield at Bike Friday reached out to ask whether I’d be interested in testing their new model built specifically for bikepacking, I was enthusiastic and intrigued. Margaret and I still routinely take our Bike Fridays on vacations, pack them into the trunk of tiny rental cars, and unfold them in mere minutes to explore cities and the countryside. Many folders and mini velos ride terrifically-the Bike Fridays are the best in my experience-and they are functional and fun. It was a compact package to take up the stairs at a hostel, or I could keep an eye on it stashed in the corner of a restaurant. I took it on buses and trains and threw it in the back of kind strangers’ cars when I got in over my head. The multi-modal travel possibilities were transformative. I got my first one over 20 years ago for tours in faraway places. My cards on the table: I love Bike Fridays. Photos by Casey Wheeler and Willie Hatfield