Apparently Mark Beaumonts worst day was when he was cycling through Louisiana when he was ran over and then robbed on the same day.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7208875.stm

You can view his route and get some info on his bicycle here at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/outdoors/programmes/pedalling_around/map/

I have thought about a folding bike in the trunk to get home. Faster than walking, especially if you opt for multiple gears.

The one downside of folding bikes is they are usually smaller tires which means not as efficient over bumps and such so you need to practice and train accordingly.

If your used to riding and in shape 50 miles is doable, if your out of shape its not going to be easy. I've been busy with other things for the last few years and finally got on my bike last summer and rode 15 miles in about two hours and was tired and sore for a week.

Also mountain vs road vs hybrid bike, the mountain tires have a lot more rolling resistance so its a lot more work for the miles. That being said for training and getting back into shape I'm using my mountain bike and those tires work as more resistance to help build up strength and endurance.

I bought my Cro-Mo steel mountain bike when I was stationed at the Pentagon. Not a lot of off-road riding in NOVA or DC so the first thing I did (right after the test ride, but before I took it home) was replace the knobby tires with 2” slicks. The knobs were awful on cobblestone streets, but 2” slicks could handle the streets & potholes, bike paths and occassionally grass lawns with ease.

The three tires I’m looking at now are the Serfas Drifter City Tire - 26 x 2.0, Continental Town and Country Tire - 26 x 2.1 and Electra Townie Original Bike Tire - 26 x 2.0. On all three the center line of the tire is smooth and if on pavement that’s your point of contact. Move to gravel, grass or dirt and the not so smooth areas of the tire make contact.

Yes, Mountain bikes are beefier- better for dirt, gravel and off roading. They are usually more comfortable to ride, too

We have saying here: it´s not the distance that kills you but the speed.If you had taken it a bit slower and rode that distance in, say three hours, you would perhaps not been so tired and sore.

This is my 3-gear bike: https://www.pyora-pori.fi/WebRoot/vilkas..._sininen_ml.jpg

Herman30, you are absolutely right. I've done fifty miles on my bicycle at my own pace and felt fine, whereas when I did it trying to keep up with a group (and admittedly on a very hot day) it wrecked me.

Montague make full sized folding bikes, have coveted their Paratrooper for some time.

https://www.montaguebikes.com/product/paratrooper/

The new round of electric bicycles make this even more useful - something to consider.

Even as an avid biker, I consider it just one possibility -- and really only useful under very specific conditions. (And would likely need some mods to carry more gear.)