Zizzo Liberte - folding bike

[A2022]

great photos! two bikes with 20-inch wheels and two people on a nice trip in an RV9A, that has to be a first. I'm still trying to get my wife to go on a bike trip. perhaps one day she will bite.

edit: well, today she bought a new bike helmet, so, getting closer.

[rockwoodrv9a]

I found it is easier to take the front wheel and seat off when trying to fit two bikes in the back really helps them go in easier. Mine do not have quick release so I have to carry a wrench but I have one in my travel tool kit anyway!

Worth the trip. It is a little crazy coming in on RWY 26 with a bluff and trees a couple hundred feet over the water. It makes it tricky to know how high you are. But a Citation X landed after we did so maybe Im just a wimp! We will go back later in the fall to see leaves changing and spend a night at the Grand.

[A2022]

the Liberte bike has quick release on both front and rear wheels. no problems so far with anything becoming loose, and I ride one of them hard on MBT's with rocks and roots.

the Forte uses a wrench nut like the Urbano. one person side there is likely to be less theft if the wheel is wrench bolted. not sure if I believe that was the decision point, but perhaps that is a real issue in other places. the wrench nut is probably more durable.

I've had both a Forte and Liberte loaded in the 9 for test fit purposes. I needed to put the Liberte in the suitcase fold in order to do that. I'll mess around today and load both Liberte's to understand what I need to do for that. I find the smaller tires on the Liberte makes them easier to load. Now, one of them has small racing tires and it is very easy to load, so I think loading those two together will be easier.

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I used the suitcase fold on one and fit them easily. removed both wheels with quick release and the seat post. a compact fit.

took a 10-mile ride from the home airport this morning and found a hat. perfect fit.

[A2022]

Five days, Traverse City Michigan, on the bike, camping, low cost. it was very good. she needed the food (a crunchy, oats and honey) because she is a hard-working mother.

Dire Straits - So Far Away (Live at Wembley 1985)
https://youtu.be/4HdLtZAxM9Y?si=hKJ6_1Ql29HoJAzX








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too many photos but gives the flavor of a very nice trip at low cost. good apples everywhere, growing along the bike trail, I mean... very good.

note: if you don't have a bike, the airport will give you one for free. Traverse City is set up for bicycles. in the Summer, bikes move thru town faster than cars.

Lane 8 - Midnight
https://youtu.be/m-xqBm2ANoU?si=FszVBtbkfIiTtOMl

[A2022]

OK, let's say you have a short ride to where you want to go, or begin a hike. Is it possible to ride a folding bike with a backpack? after some testing, I think so, if you keep it under 5 miles. the backside takes the strain. let's say you wanted to attend the wine and hops tasting event at Put-in-Bay for one evening. the cheapest hotel is sold out and is also a minimum stay of 2 nights. the others run $700 and up for a two-night minimum stay. Humm, what about riding 0.6 miles to the state campground with an overnight pack. tent camping charge is $31, and you have your own bike transportation. that leaves some money for other things. I'll give it a try.

there could a lot of uses for the backpack for hiking in Kentucky this Fall. also, for two people to Traverse City, if each had a backpack, the airport would give you a couple bikes for free. it's about two miles to the campground. no need to get an expensive hotel (they are expensive up there) or any other transportation. really inexpensive! leaves funds for Pizza.

trying to understand how best to pack this thing. ah, the lengths people will go for wine and beer.... plus, they have some good bands at night up there. all the ladies from Toledo say they are on "island time".

it's all about saving money. my wife likes that. weather is perfect. see you there.

Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby (Official Music Video)
https://youtu.be/rog8ou-ZepE?si=6TCAzlQMAYS7ERJn

https://putinbay.com/events/annual-isla ... -festival/



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I wasn't sure if the pack was the right way to go for this trip, but I think it was. no problem with the pack and bike. only 0.6 miles to the state park, so basically nothing. riding with the pack was trouble free but more pressure on the ass, so probably limit riding with a pack to less than 5 miles. anyway, I feel like I beat the system, golf cart and bike rental has increased... a lot. my lodging was $31 for one night and that's all I needed. the minimum stay for hotels there is 2 nights and will run you $500-800 when all the fees are added. wine and hops tasting festival was very good, and they had really good food. I made the mistake of getting a sandwich beforehand, so next year I will know. just eat at the festival. I saw three bands, all different styles. there were more bands but the later it became the more I chatted. riding the bike back to the state park was OK. spent way too much time trying to get my ear buds untangled.... need to go to high beam on the bike because it's dark. I rode right past it the first time. I can still ride a wheelie in the dark, going up hill. looking forward to next year!

note: a folding bike is faster than a golf cart.

note: I made the landing mid-field turn off at Put-in-Bay for the first time.

Slipstream (feat. Julia Church)
https://youtu.be/dbHyBqKlnWg?si=IXgXbu-vYr-CwY_U

[A2022]

perfect Ohio day for a bike ride. part of the trail was being repaved, so I took an alternate route. corn here is 12 ft high. I measured it. soybean fields were loaded. beautiful orange habanero organic sauce. no pain, no gain...

sure, I could ride my bike around the block at home, but when you can reach out with a plane and ride beautiful places, why not.

[rockwoodrv9a]

Looks fun. I have to travel to Harbor Springs on Tuesday to look at a lot at the ski area. If I cant get the curtsey car I will have to ride my Zizzo. Lucky the hills around Michigan are not like the Colorado mountains!!

[A2022]

Looks fun. I have to travel to Harbor Springs on Tuesday to look at a lot at the ski area. If I cant get the curtsey car I will have to ride my Zizzo. Lucky the hills around Michigan are not like the Colorado mountains!!

Harbor Springs is an uptown place. I am sure Mark will find a courtesy car for you. the ride between Harbor Springs and Charlevoix is one of my favorites. I am planning for it again in 2024. if you like burgers, the Smok'in Betty at Petosky Brewing Co is one of the best I have ever had. watch out for the guy that likes to taxi his white/black/green Cirrus at 50 kts on the ramp.

[A2022]

Frank Lloyd Wright and the Wright Brothers were not related.

Springfield Ohio and the art Museum, the gallery was down for a new show, opens Nov 4th. some wind today. it was nice for a change.

why is the tiny girl on the scale?

Baltimora - Tarzan Boy
https://youtu.be/_r0n9Dv6XnY?si=G6FzPyIY2fLaZ4BI

a very nice 4 hr trip, total.

[A2022]

makes my bike wheelies look pathetic.

Girl Biker Performs - You Must See
https://youtu.be/WB3qTVg3hhs?si=B0xGxOC4mNhM41k9

put this girl in a jet. she is very precise.

[A2022]

we don't do the e-bike crap.... yet. maybe in another 20 yrs. hey, Zizzo is good value bike. I push them really hard, and they have been good. I think they have their 2023 Forte dialed in nicely.

makes me want to by another Liberte and trick it out for the mud and snow!

[A2022]

Zizzo to Wichita Kansas. a nice trip and some nice bike trails. visited my parents, installed a sink faucet, ate good food and watched ball games. good pickles, sandwich and cake while cruising home by St. Louis. airplane is tucked away and ready to go again.

what's going on with the weather? I didn't take any long pants to Wichita in November.

passed 1200 flight hours over the Mississippi.

Tinlicker - Rebirth (Ft. Hero Baldwin) [Official Video]
https://youtu.be/owNOQeplt0Q?si=7SqjDfb7lQePnj81

[A2022]

Piqua Ohio, so nice. it doesn't need any words. the photos tell the story. nice airport and friendly mechanics working on engines to chat with.

I saw three bald eagles. captured one in a photo. see if you can find it.

12-inch cheese pizza (rating 9.1 of 10) and a couple cokes... $17.39.

Tinlicker feat. Run Rivers - Lost
https://youtu.be/bN9NaOhQfjo?si=PGmAFR6CJhaXj33t

[A2022]

Muncie Indiana, very nice. a lot of interconnecting bike trails along the river. the pizza was good, but not my style. I ate all of it. I'll give it a 6.3 of 10. I lost my water bottle on the way, but it always finds me. that water bottle has probably been lost 6 times, run over by a truck, and floated down a creek. when it was run over by a truck the lid blew off and traveled about 60 ft. transponder good for two more years.

pizza, a couple of cokes, and a bottle of water = $17.35

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I need to go back to Joe's Pizzeria in Dayton, close to the Air Force Museum. now that was good pizza!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bhGP97tvmo6s1Nyg8
https://joes-pizzadayton.com/

[A2022]

Springfield OH.... perfect December day. no corn syrup in the Coke... Mexico. I liked it because it had a very clean mouth feel. I remember that from when I was a kid, before the corn syrup arrived. total cost for the meal, with a cloth napkin, = $21. next time I'm going to get the Vick's garbage burger, wagyu beef, with chef's choice of additions. I hear it is awesome.

I cranked up the music and did my John Wayne walk to the airplane.

Lane 8 - Sunlight
https://youtu.be/Z4_qbgRIMQE?si=TwBKh1h_y3_B2YcB

[A2022]

Planning for 2024 bike touring trips.

Root River Trail was recommended. I'm putting the plans here, so I don't forget. Fly into Rushford.

Local geology. Continents take a long time to move around but we can get there fast in an airplane and look. Peering back into deep time...
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y

Eat here.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KYMfXTA7Zof9Q2ww6



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Old Abe Trail, Eau Claire. fly into Chippewa Valley and ride to Cornell.



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Door County WI. Fly into Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport.



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Petoskey MI. Fly into Harbor Springs.

[A2022]

Winter is a good time to inspect the bikes. look at tire, brakes, cables, frame, etc. so far, these have been good. I don't use any water on them and just lube them well with LPS1 for everything. from front to back, 2023 Forte and a couple Liberte's. I really beat the crap out of the red Liberte on mountain bike trails and it's holding up. for the money, I think Zizzo is a good value bike. I am fascinated by the hinge geometry and thin wall alum welding. someone spent a lot of time dialing in this machine welding process and I am impressed.

first time back to the hangar in about 10 days. recovering from a Christmas cold, that seemed worse than a normal cold...

[A2022]

not a Zizzo, but a TREK! these are nice bikes. handmade in the USA. my wife's bike getting a general Winter tune up. really foggy today, vis is maybe 300 ft. nothing better to do than be in the hangar working on a bike.

[A2022]

trip to Urbana to visit Cedar Bog. a nice day but cool. I liked it. a busy day at our home airport, I was 5th in line. Urbana didn't have much when I arrived behind two Maules. IFR turned VFR just in time. I ate at the airport Mindy's Cafe since I missed the Farmer's Daughter restaurant by 15 minutes. I had the Buffalo burger. It was good. Oil looks OK. I show the oil on the dipstick because one guy sent me a note that he likes to watch it. I think it's getting darker.

I really need to get more exercise. my weight is creeping up again. January weather was gloomy, and I couldn't get out much, but that's no excuse! the real problem is I eat too much.

[A2022]

decided to tune up my old road bike. really nice relaxing in the hangar, working on a bicycle. the new tires are slightly fatter because I'm fatter and older now. the folding bike is loaded in the plane, ready to launch tomorrow for the mountain bike trial. I expect to see a lot of animals stirring around in the woods since we are having some nice weather.






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overcast in the AM but turned out to be a really nice day. I worked up a sweat. oil looks OK. temp at takeoff = 1C.

if it's not windy, set the bike gear on the wing before you unload the bike. that way you only need to get down once. reverse the procedure for loading.