First Post / Ride Report: A Rinkou Ride with My Platypus

[rice curry]

 

Hi, I’m Rice and I live in Japan. This is my first post here. Nice to meet you all!

There aren’t any unpaved roads near where I live, so when I want to ride trails or gravel, I usually have to ride about 19 to 37 miles to get there, or go by car or train.

On my recent ride, I took my Platypus on the train using a Japanese bike travel style called “Rinkou.” For Rinkou, bikes have to be partially disassembled and packed in a bike bag before being brought onto trains.

Because the Platypus has a long wheelbase, I was a little worried about whether it would fit in the bag, but it turned out to be totally fine.

I went out by Rinkou, had a great time riding up and down through rural hills and forest roads, and since I still had some energy left, I rode home.

Rice

[Dan]

Hey rice, your bike is super cool! I've never seen a drop-bar Platypus.

Cool bike tunnel too, though it does look dark in there.

[Ron Mc]

Welcome to the forum, and post more photos.  

We have a friend in Hiroshima on Fiberglass FlyRodders forum who shares beautiful photos of Japanese countryside, rivers, fishing tackle, and bike-fish outings.  

Borrowed photo of his home roads - and streams

 

[Steve]

Rice, I'd love to see a bit more of your Platypus - the drop bar set up with chubby tires looks interesting. Pics from your off pavement rides would be welcome too!  Thanks for posting.

Steve in AVL 

[Roberta]

Welcome!  I bet your platypus rides really well with those flat tires.   

So to get your bike to Rinkou, it looks like you disconnected the light and took off the front wheel, placing it next to the rear wheel then connected the front wheel to the back wheel and frame, turned the front handle the bar and fork and put it in a bag.  Did I get everything?  I’m thinking this might be a good alternative to those of us who want to take our Rivendell’s on Amtrak in the US. 

Miles of smiles to you,

Roberta

Philadelphia, PA  

[Rice Curry]

Hi Ron-san,

That is a wonderful photo! Hiroshima is such a great place for cycling. I’ve visited a few times, and it’s one of my favorite places in Japan.I’ll post another ride report sometime. Thank you for the warm welcome!

Hi Steve-san,

I’m really happy that you’re interested in my “Droplatypus,” as I’ve been calling my drop-bar Platypus.

By the time this reply gets posted, I think I will have already added fenders and a basket and posted some side-view photos of it in its town-bike setup, so please check those out too.

When I take it back out into the hills and dirt again, I’ll try to post an off-road ride report as well. Thank you!

Hi Roberta-san,

Exactly! With 2.2-inch tires at low pressure, it has a very cushy, magic-carpet ride.

There are a few different rinko styles, including vertical and horizontal setups. I use the vertical style because it takes up less floor space when the bike is standing.

First, I turn the bike upside down and remove the wheels. Then I attach a small rinko support bracket to the rear dropout. Thanks to that bracket, the bike can stand vertically without the rear derailleur touching the ground.

Then I sandwich the frame between the front and rear wheels, almost like hamburger buns around the frame, and secure everything with straps in three places, making a triangle. After that, I attach the shoulder strap, put the whole bike into the rinko bag, hoist it up, and carry it.

There are also two main types of rinko bags: one type, like the one I use, covers the entire bike from the ground up, and another type simply goes over the bike from the top.

This is a different brand, but the vertical style looks something like this:
https://youtu.be/Sjt2bF4N7io?si=WEsAoADEkdPbIJEX

The bag is very thin, so if I were using Amtrak and had to check the bike as baggage, I would be a little worried about the derailleur hanger getting bent unless the staff handled it carefully. 😅

Can you take a complete bike directly onto trains around Philadelphia? I’ve also seen videos of buses in some places in the U.S. with bike racks on the front. I wish we had more of that kind of bike-friendliness in Japan!

Rice

2026年7月4日土曜日 6:24:28 UTC+9 Roberta:

[Rice Curry]

Hi Dan-san, thanks! I’m glad you like it.

I haven’t seen many drop-bar Platypuses either. I set this one up in a classic Japanese step-through randonneur style.

The effective top tube is long, but with a very short 25 mm stem and a handlebar with about 90 mm of reach, the position is still comfortable for me. It keeps the Rivendell geometry, but makes the bike feel a bit more sporty.

I attached one side-view photo too, since it shows the setup better.

That tunnel is one of my favorite spots. It’s long and a little dark, so it feels like a small adventure. Since it is cut through a hill, it stays cool inside, and there is often a strong breeze blowing through it.

rice

2026年7月3日金曜日 15:52:23 UTC+9 Dan:

[Ron Mc]

Beauty - thanks for posting.  

[Takashi]

Welcome to the forum Rice!

Your Platypus looks very cool with those drop bars and fenders.

Looking forward to seeing more of your rides!

Takashi

[Rice Curry]

Thank you, Takashi-san! 

I’m really enjoying the Platypus with drop bars. I’ll post more rides again soon. 

I’d love to see your Rivendell too, if you feel like sharing sometime.

Rice

2026年7月6日月曜日 23:41:59 UTC+9 Takashi:

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Wow, Rice, a drop-bar Platypus! Very nice, and a good story about your outing with it. I hope you will post more! 

Leah

[Rice Curry]

Thank you, Leah! I’m really happy you enjoyed the story. 

I saw your Raspberry Metallic Platypus in another thread, and it really stood out to me. 

I loved the backstory too, especially the part about almost having to ride a bike called the Charlene Winthrop. 

Was that Raspberry Metallic paint a one-off, or were a few Platypuses made in that color? 

The drop-bar Platypus has been a lot of fun so far, and I’ll definitely post more!
Rice

2026年7月7日火曜日 10:31:08 UTC+9 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!:

[keith...@gmail.com]

Rice!

That dropbar Platypus looks mean and fast.

Like a saltflats, record setting, bullet bike.

Love it.

Thanks for posting! Can't wait to read about more of your bike adventures.

Keith, Los Angeles, CA

[Leah Peterson]

Hi Rice! 

The raspberry was only for my bike; it was the sample Platypus and Grant had it painted in my color. Rivendell really is made of the nicest people.

L

On Jul 6, 2026, at 10:54 PM, 'Rice Curry' via RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Thank you, Leah! I’m really happy you enjoyed the story. 

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[Rice Curry]

Thank you, Keith!

It still has the comfy Rivendell soul, but the drop bars definitely gave it a slightly faster attitude.

“Saltflats record-setting bullet bike” made me smile.

I’m running cup-and-cone hubs front and rear with a lighter grease setup, so when I hit top speed on a mountain descent, I like to pretend I’m Burt Munro for a moment.

I’ll post more ride reports soon!



Hi Leah,

Thank you for telling me the story behind that raspberry Platypus. Knowing it was the sample bike and that Grant had it painted in your color makes it feel even more special.

That color really stayed in my memory when I saw it. And yes, Rivendell really does seem to be made of the nicest people.

Someday I’d love to visit Rivendell, ride Repack, and explore some beautiful trails in that area.

Rice

2026年7月8日水曜日 4:53:20 UTC+9 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!:

[Roberta]

Hello Rice

Thank you for the information. 

Yes, indeed in Philadelphia, we can put two bikes on the front of buses. For commuter trains and subways were allowed to roll them onto the train car.   No extra charge for local travel.  Every locality has different rules and availability for Bikes.   In fact, I was really surprised when I was in New York City, that none of the buses can accommodate bicycles.   However, I did see a few bikes on the subway.

For Amtrak, which I haven’t taken with a bicycle,I’ve heard good stories and bad stories about bringing a bike. But, Amtrak does charge for the Bicycles, and has limitations to how many bicycles are on a car. 

 I’ve seen some Bikes putting couplers that will take the frame apart for transportation. That’s why your method was quite interesting to me.  I have no use for it now, but I might in the future, as I live in a good hub for Amtrak travel.  It’s all very interesting.

Roberta

Philadelphia, PA

[Rice Curry]

Hi Roberta,

This is exactly what I meant! Your photo really shows how convenient that front bus rack is. And that’s a beautiful blue Homer, too!

Being able to put a bike on a bus, or roll it onto the subway, really does expand the range of bike travel. I experienced that when I visited New York, so I’m very jealous!

It may depend on the person and the bike, but once you get used to rinko, packing the bike takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

I hope you get a chance to try Amtrak + rinko someday. If you do, please post some photos!

Rice

2026年7月8日水曜日 9:21:37 UTC+9 Roberta: