IY, that is one nice looking Atlantis! I can definitely see the pros of a coupled frame, like a S&S or Ritchey breakaway. But it also seems like a technological solution. I love the simplicity of the rinko whereas it's more of a design philosophy approach to the problem of making a bike compact for travel. Again, not saying either is better or worse overall; I'm glad we live in a universe where we have both as options :)
But yeah, fantastic Atlantis build! Ben On Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 8:39:16 PM UTC-7 NYCbikeguy wrote: > Thanks for starting this thread, Takashi! > I'm lucky enough to have an S&S coupled atlantis and it made a world of a > difference traveling with a bike. > I've done full frame rinko-ing with a Miyata 1000 in the past and while it > was an adventure, I definitely bumped into many obstacles, at mass transit > hubs (airport, train stations). > Not to discourage anyone from rinko-ing with a full frame, but I'm > definitely encouraging people to look into coupled frames (even if it's not > a riv!) for overseas travel. > The biggest advantage of a coupled frame is that the only things you are > disassembling between transit stops are the couplers, cable couplers, and > EZY pedals. > I also got away with covering sharp and dirty parts of the bike with just > a blanket (as shown) and I was able to get through train stations without a > hitch. > I've done several tours in Japan already and zipped by Seoul, Korea for an > academic conference with my bike as well. > [image: IMG_2323.jpg][image: IMG_2322.jpg][image: IMG_2319.jpg] > [image: IMG_2321.jpg] > > Best, > IY > CT/NYC > > On Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 11:14:40 PM UTC-4 Tim Wood wrote: > >> It really was a wonderful tour. Absolute trip of a lifetime and can’t >> wait to return. >> >> I’ve had a couple messages about logistics and ride reports so here’s >> some info if interested: >> >> -we planned our route ourselves and didn’t utilize a tour group. We flew >> in to Tokyo, grabbed a cheap hotel by the airport and then a domestic >> flight the next morning to Fukuoka (peach airlines) >> -we built our bikes at the Fukuoka airport and ate tonkotsu ramen, stayed >> the night then set off the next day >> -our first three or four days we used gpx files from this website: >> https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/cycling-routes-and-reports/ >> This resource was amazing and allowed us to access some quiet routes >> along the coast >> -we stayed in a wide variety or accommodations ranging from traditional >> Japanese hotels, western hotels, nature hotels and even an ex-love hotel! >> Booking.com and Expedia were good. Also booked through local hotel websites >> using translate features. We usually booked accommodations 2 days in >> advance >> -we took a ferry to Shikoku and had no route files to rely on but what >> we did was follow the shimanto river valley and it was amazing. I ran a >> garmin edge explore 2 and used the phone app to build routes. I just >> followed the most squiggly lines on the map and it was the best riding. >> What I failed to do was upload an open source map of the area before I left >> so I had a route to follow but no road data >> -if I were to do it again I would spend more time on Shikoku. It blew my >> mind. Kyushu was great, and convenient with stores and services everywhere, >> but Shikoku was the best roads and riding >> -I don’t have any concise ride reports but I did document each day on >> instagram: @t_im_wood >> My buddy also filmed on his dgi mini and has posted some vlogs on >> YouTube, search: drinkstrong adventures. >> -if anyone wants gpx files im sure i can figure out how to share those >> from the garmin app >> >> Cheers everyone, >> >> Tim >> >> >> >> On Thu, Oct 16, 2025 at 5:10 AM Takashi <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Bill, that's a good investment for sure. 3 of 4 bikes I own have >>> Ezy-Superior pedals. >>> >>> Tim, it must have been a wonderful tour! I've toured in Shikoku but not >>> Kyushu. >>> Are you planning to post your tour report somewhere? I'd love to see >>> photos. >>> >>> Takashi >>> >>> 2025年10月15日水曜日 12:24:35 UTC+9 Tim Wood: >>> >>>> Nice Takashi, your Rinko setup is tidy. >>>> >>>> I just returned from a 2 week bike tour of Japan and I’m in love. Such >>>> an amazing place to ride a bike; beautiful scenery, paved roads >>>> everywhere, >>>> kind people, fair prices, and amazing food. >>>> >>>> We tried to avoid big cities and focused our trip on Kyushu and Shikoku >>>> islands, but still did a fair bit of Rinko transits, but on quieter train >>>> routes and were able to get away with front wheel off, pedals on and seat >>>> lowered. >>>> >>>> Flying in from Canada we had the logistical challenge of having a bag >>>> that worked for both plane and train travel. We thought about storing a >>>> bike box at narita airport for the duration of the trip but elected to >>>> just >>>> bag the whole way and it worked out. Here are two photos of the bike >>>> packed >>>> for train: >>>> >>>> >>>> [image: IMG_6026.jpeg] >>>> >>>> >>>> [image: IMG_6024.jpeg] >>>> (Tubus Tara protected the brakes and acted as a kick stand! It also >>>> allowed me to keep my fenders on. I stored the Rinko in the saddle bag, >>>> it >>>> was quite bulky but necessary) >>>> >>>> I can’t wait to go back. My goal is to return every 2 years until I’ve >>>> seen it all. Shikoku was bike touring heaven in my opinion. Wow. >>>> >>>> Tim >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/x2SCiXmsQJM/unsubscribe >>> . >>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>> [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/4888a2da-5510-4ec4-b412-ed220ae7a881n%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/4888a2da-5510-4ec4-b412-ed220ae7a881n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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