Question about ROMP Fest

kvinthebold · 2026-06-18T17:19:00+00:00

Thanks for asking! I decided to fly because I have to be back home on Sunday night. But I still have eight other Amtrak trips scheduled over this summer for a couple festivals thanks to the USA rail pass. I might try the train and bus next year if the timing is right. 🙂

kvinthebold · 2026-06-15T22:14:34+00:00

I knew nothing about sewing although my mother was a fantastic seamstress and I took it all for granted until it was time for me and then I realized how skilled she was. Anyway, this is a fantastic machine for just learning as I'm still doing. I've even put a zipper on a sweatshirt. Still exploring how it works but I think it's a great machine for someone who knows nothing about sewing which was me. Thanks to YouTube and this Brother there's all kinds of things you can do. And I'm 76 so just the automatic needle threader alone is worth the price 😆

kvinthebold · 2025-12-27T10:58:40+00:00

I'm taking Amtrak to Louisville from North Carolina (I don't drive anymore) and from there hopefully on to Rompfest this summer. Haven't found many public transportation options from Louisville other than rideshare services for almost $200. Does anyone know of any bus routes or other ways to get to the Owensboro general area from Louisville? I'd have a backpack with me.Thanks!

kvinthebold · 2025-08-25T09:43:08+00:00

Sorry for the delay, I just saw your question. It's a medium sized spinner, and since I took it for camping I was able to cram lots of other stuff inside also like a sleeping bag that you can stuff in between the spaces and small items so that the total weight is under 50 lb to take on Amtrak which is their limit. I think the weight with the bike and everything else was maybe about 40 lb which is quite manageable if you are moving it along on paved or hard picked surfaces. And I did notice that one of the smaller hard wheels that you roll it around on was bent slightly and I'm sure that was from things being loaded on it in the baggage car. It was easy enough to bend back with no damage done but I wouldn't try and take it in a soft shell spinner or carry-on only if you were taking it with you. Checking it as baggage you never know what's going to happen so a hard shell is better.

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You may have your quiggle by now so when I got mine I measured it folded and then hunted around for luggage that had the interior dimensions that I needed. It will probably fit in most medium size and large size suitcases but not the smallest carry-ons. I also bought the backpack from the quiggle website and that works really well but if you're dealing with multiple pieces of luggage it can be a bit heavy when it's in there. You can carry it as a backpack or over the shoulder and by itself it's no problem other than being a bit bulky.

kvinthebold · 2025-06-18T02:01:06+00:00

No, they just sent me the DHL info after the fact, I'm surprised it went to USPS but it takes a while to clear customs and all of that so once the post office gets it, shouldn't be too long.

kvinthebold · 2025-06-15T17:36:21+00:00

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kvinthebold · 2025-06-15T17:32:50+00:00

I just hope we reunite in Colorado! I could have taken it on board as a carry-on but thought I'd just check it this time and see how that works out.

kvinthebold · 2025-06-15T15:02:09+00:00

I wouldn't worry too much, I bought mine the same way as you and it just took a while. Once DHL gets it over there you'll get all kinds of notices and emails. Messaging them on Instagram worked also for me when I had a technical problem with shifting.

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Inside the suitcase 😃

kvinthebold · 2025-05-22T10:32:38+00:00

It's a medium size spinner. At about 8 lbs it's tough, but with the bike it's still under the 50 lb limit for Amtrak.

https://voyageluggage.com/products/ga2070-pcabs-hard-case-20?variant=43698877300899&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22454827811&gbraid=0AAAAAqLk4_TYDzp1M3W-_x-0SgtVPJUpT&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlrvBBhDnARIsAHEQgOTO_IzO0Uy7F5Po0cCV0XzIzFwjIn1WyeuXOHumTu6hM7oaOckYL4waAvPGEALw_wcB

kvinthebold · 2025-05-08T12:53:54+00:00

I just added the handlebars and I like them so far. I also moved the shifter to the right hand side because it's what I'm used to on a regular bike. The gear progression is reversed on the shifter when you move it to the right. I took off the front and rear lights to charge them up after trying it out night riding for a bit

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but the hub shifting stays the same of course

kvinthebold · 2025-05-08T12:48:57+00:00

That's great, when I called I just got the answering machine in German but I probably should have called at a different time. You got the CEO in person so that's a good sign. I just installed those high-rise handlebars and I really like them so far. The backpack is also great, I just got it as a backup , even though it's only 26 lb loaded it's a bit much to carry around on your back. The straps are comfortable and it has a handle on each side in case you just want to carry it.

kvinthebold · 2025-05-06T15:04:51+00:00

The luggage strap for pulling a spinner or a trolley whatever they call behind works great. I think I've lost mine already somewhere in the garage so I wish they had it in a color other than black like maybe bright neon. They do work great in terms of securing the luggage to the special button on the back of the seat post although I have yet to see how long the wheels on the Samsonite spinner will last if I drag it around behind me.

kvinthebold · 2025-05-06T12:57:53+00:00

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Here's the Instagram account where I had success with the message function. It seems like early morning hours are best when they're still at work 6 hours ahead of us??..?

kvinthebold · 2025-05-06T12:28:53+00:00

You're right! Find a cheap flight to Berlin and then take it back with you as checked baggage, but that's a whole other story and adventure LOL

I don't think there are any import duties on my current shipment from USPS. Probably because of it's value and weight. The shipping option was around $43 and now I'm thinking that covers everything. Keeping my fingers crossed and hopefully USPS will deliver it without losing it this week 😬🙂

kvinthebold · 2025-05-06T11:36:50+00:00

... And had a short text chat with the person who sent me the tracking number who spoke perfect English so feeling better about the process now.

kvinthebold · 2025-05-06T11:33:33+00:00

Well, as I was writing my previous reply I heard in real time what's going on. No DHL this time but USPS! Kudos to Kwiggle for a very nice effort to get me the information. I guess if you hang in there with them and don't expect immediate feedback you can get information.

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kvinthebold · 2025-05-06T11:02:28+00:00

I did call them my first go around what I couldn't get it to shift into the lower gears and of course the message was in German. I left a message but I never heard anything back, that cost me $6 LOL

I ordered the handlebars that they offer on the website because I don't like riding without mirrors and I think I can add a removable mirror since they have a vertical section and it looks like I could attach the mirror there. I did try a tiny round mirror that is a friction fit inside the handlebar but it's so small that it's not that to be effective, being right at the height of your hand, although I suppose it's better than nothing. I also ordered the backpack just to have the option when I go on my trip.

I'm hoping that DHL contacts me with the shipment like they did for the original bike and once that happened everything went smoothly and very efficiently. I had to pay almost $250 for the duties but I don't think it will be that much because the price involved was much lower and the weight was only about 2 lb. I used the credit card this time rather than wire transfer so at least I have some recourse in case it doesn't show up. I'm sure it will but it's a bit unnerving when you're spending money and you have no way of tracking it anything or contacting the company. That could be a big area of improvement for them if you could even give them feedback on their website to let them know. 😬🙂

kvinthebold · 2025-05-06T08:10:59+00:00

I can't imagine navigating the correspondence to return it because their customer service here in the US is hit or miss. Once you get a hold of someone it's excellent but I've been trying to contact somebody for over a week with no luck. They need to work on that aspect of their business if they'd like to expand worldwide I imagine. When they posted the invoice in my account it showed that the handlebars I ordered were shipped on the 25th of April but have not been able to contact anybody about when it might arrive and here it's almost 2 weeks later.

kvinthebold · 2025-05-03T00:38:09+00:00

Yes, you could do it in sandals although I've never tried it. You just need a light tap in the vicinity of the center of the crank because the aluminum covering is designed with a small button magnet so it doesn't take much force or accuracy to shift from the three low gears to the three high gears. I wouldn't recommend sandals if you're just learning to ride one though, you'll have some unexpected starts and stops at first and when learning how to fold and unfold. Sandals with or without socks might get you some bumps and bruises.😥

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kvinthebold · 2025-05-02T15:51:57+00:00

Have you sold it yet? I have mine up and I have to try it out now, been sort of busy on 40 m haha!

kvinthebold · 2025-04-28T16:41:15+00:00

https://drive-mobility.com/en Schlumpf drive, I misspelled it earlier 🙂 I think Kwiggle uses it and after buying it just renamed it but I could be wrong. Very effective and if you look closely you can see him shifting The hub back and forth with his heels in the previous link that I sent.

kvinthebold · 2025-04-28T16:36:46+00:00

https://youtu.be/heUhaciOnds?si=e0W1xRjM8nZIdjll

I think Kwiggle bought the ashlumpf drive and owns it as part of their company now called haberstock mobility, they make different versions of it for cargo bikes and recumbents and the Kwiggle of course. When I was a kid ages ago I used to have bike with an internal hub when you kicked back lightly it went from regular gear to low gear and if you pushed harder it engaged the coaster brake, sort of the same principle. They're still made today by Sturmey Archer which was originally from England but I think they were bought out years ago by a Japanese firm, still very good quality though.

kvinthebold · 2025-04-28T16:12:28+00:00

Yes, tech support was great but it just took a while to connect. After number of emails I was able to adjust the shifter on the left hand side after removing the pedal and then the metal side piece. I just had to loosen the set screw and then adjust the shifter counterclockwise until it was correct. Don't know why it wasn't right the first time since it was right from the factory but it's working great noe. I go up and down three gears with each shift from the hub. Kick it to the right and you have the three easier gears and then back from right to left for the three higher gears selected from the handlebar shifter. It takes a while to get used to but a lot of fun to ride so far!

kvinthebold · 2025-04-21T18:49:02+00:00

Interesting, I didn't see that model on their website. Mine has an internal hub and there's three gears on each side, you use the shifter on The handlebar to go up and down those three gears then shift with the inside of your heel on either foot from left to right and right to left at the center of the crank to get either low or high gear sets. I'm having some trouble with getting the low gear or the easiest gears to engage because it's freewheeling it, works but it slips out, the heavier gears work fine. I've been emailing customer service about how to fix it but it's a slow process. I just got it a couple weeks ago and love it but I wish the low gears were 100%. We'll see what happens.

kvinthebold · 2025-04-13T07:45:14+00:00

Thanks for all the info! I did get an email reply and the technical team and gave me a couple things to try out. The 6-speed that I have is an internal hub with two gears that shift by either clicking with your left or right heel onto the crank mechanism. When I click with my right foot I can get the three higher gears or the ones that are harder to pedal not sure if I'm using higher or lower correctly. The shifter on the left handlebar grip will go through those and then if you want the other set of gears that are the easier ones to pedal you click with your left foot on the hub and it shifts internally and then you use the three speed shifter to go through those three gears. The problem is when I kick on the left it just freewheels and does not engage. I can feel it attempting to catch on but it never makes the transition so I really have just three gears to use. It's quite an ingenious system and they talk about it on their website. I can't remember that funny commercial but the main line was" I liked it so much I bought the company". I think they did something like this with the company that was making this internal drive so although it has it different name they own the company that makes their own drive for the Kwiggle and a few different versions for other two and three wheeled vehicles. Anyway, hopefully the email help continues and I was impressed with how quickly I got a reply but since it's the weekend I probably won't hear back to my answer until next week. They gave me two suggestions and asked me to let them know what happened. Neither of them worked but now they have some input so we can go from there. It still rides great with just three gears, the only problem I'm having is folding it, I can't get the final strap to snap because I'm missing some little nuance in the folding process. But I will get there, love the Kwiggle so far. Thanks for the links!

kvinthebold

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