"If you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy." -- Dale Carnegie

Why the fears? I have done this a bunch of times, but here I am nervous about heading out to a country I have visited several times. I imagine that once I get going all will be well, but for the moment, it is what it is.

Time to pack things. There I was yesterday getting ready to pack the bike into its cardboard box along with the panniers and associated touring gear. The Cannondale was there and ready... and suddenly I decided to bring the Dahon Speed TR instead. Within this cloud of fear was a concern with my leg giving out in a country that does not like bikes on buses or trains. My thought was that, if required, with the Dahon I could fold it together, put it in its bag and carry it onto a train or slip it into the cargo hold of a bus or even onto a regional bus. This served to allay some of my fears.

I have the suitcase to carry the dismantled Dahon, but because this tour is point-to-point I would have to use a disposable box. What's easier than using the box I already had for a full size bike?  And that is what I did. What a dream that was. Lowered the seatpost. Removed the handlebars from the stem and tie wrapped them to the front rack. Flipped the stem down and tie-wrapped it to the frame to prevent scratching the frame. Then just taped or tied everything else to the bike. Not only was it a quick process to get the bike and gear into the box, but upon arrival in Faro, it will take me a really short time to have the bike out with the panniers and gear mounted and packed.

A few words about the Dahon. A few years back I was trying to decide between a folding bike or S&S couplers for my full size touring bike. The options were to add the couplers to my Raleigh Olympian (a bike that I loved but was coming to the realization that it always was a bit too big for me), to buy a new bike with the couplers already installed (there were limited off-the-shelf options), or, a folding bike. At the time Dahon made the Speed TR which had fenders and racks on the front and rear of the bike. I found a Speed TR for a decent price, which was about the price of the S&S couplers alone.

Since buying the Dahon I have added a Brooks Flyer saddle which takes the jolts out of the road, and just last summer I repainted it and added my own custom decals to cover the wear of the past seven or so years. I have used it locally the odd time but more importantly, I have now toured on it in Czechia on a tour with my wife, and two years ago in Istria, Croatia, on a solo tour. I have also taken it to Cuba a few times so I can escape the resort to tour the nearby countryside. It is getting used.

A question might be about its suitability for touring. It is not light, but neither are really any touring bikes. It works well mechanically and I make sure to keep it and any of my bikes properly tuned. It is comfortable now that I have the Brooks Flyer on it. My only issue is that I suppose I am a traditionalist of sorts and prefer the look of the regular diamond frame bikes. Finally, to add a bit of salt to the wound, this winter I just bought a brand new Salsa Vaya, then built up the perfect-for-me touring bike, yet it remains hanging in a basement on a hook. Not until my leg is fully healed, or I am close to home will it hit the roads for its first ride. That stings! It won't be for a while - I live where winter persists well into April, and often into May.

Anyway, tomorrow, all else being equal, I leave for Portugal.