Folding Bike?

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Hannibal
Posts: 10
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2015 7:35 pm

Re: Folding Bike?

Post by Hannibal »

jacob wrote:@Hannibal -

I had one almost exactly like that (with the fenders and handbrake taken off) and I'm same size as you. Earlier version by the looks of it.

I wish I hadn't sold it too!
. . .
Thanks for the very detailed reply. I went ahead and ordered it, currently waiting for it to be shipped. Like you said, it's not very fast, but it should be great for a noob like myself in that it's durable and easy to use/fix.

By the sounds of it, it should make a great backup mode of transportation (until I'm willing to take the plunge and go car free).

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Slevin
Posts: 626
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2015 7:44 pm
Location: Sonoma County

Re: Folding Bike?

Post by Slevin »

@Ego,
How quickly can you go on the Bike Friday NWT's? I've been looking around at bikes and its looking more and more like I'm going to get a bike friday bicycle, but I also love to ride fast! I know I'm never going to get the speed of a 700c bike, but the Bromptons (which only go up to 6 gears) just felt very slow to me.

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Ego
Posts: 6359
Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2011 12:42 am

Re: Folding Bike?

Post by Ego »

It is geared like a regular road bike so it goes just about as fast. I changed the tires from thin road tires to Schwalbe touring tires so that sapped some of the zing.

tylerrr
Posts: 679
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:32 am
Location: Boston

Re: Folding Bike?

Post by tylerrr »

just letting everyone know I did get a Brompton a few months ago and love it. I keep it folded in the trunk of my Toyota 4 door Yaris. Whenever I need it, I just pop the trunk and go outside my apartment. :)

Hannibal
Posts: 10
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2015 7:35 pm

Re: Folding Bike?

Post by Hannibal »

6 month update : The dahon S1 folding bike is working well. My only complaint is that the handle bar jiggles side to side and there seems to be no good way to tighten the otherwise cheaply built handlepost lock.

Although I thought I wanted a folding bike like the Dahon, I might just get the handlepost welded shut and then simply fold it in half when I need it to be more portable. Haven't decided yet. The Dahon is a blast to ride though.

One day I'd like to get a Bike Friday Tikit but that won't be for a good while yet.

tylerrr
Posts: 679
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:32 am
Location: Boston

Re: Folding Bike?

Post by tylerrr »

8 month update. Still loving my Brompton folder. I use it daily.

7Wannabe5
Posts: 9372
Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2013 9:03 am

Re: Folding Bike?

Post by 7Wannabe5 »

I am currently planning and budgeting for my mid-winter super-frugal snowbird escape. I can get myself and my minimal luggage/camping supplies to Georgia, South Carolina or Florida on MegaBus for approximately $6 to $16. The problem is transporting my bicycle and/or hauling trailer. I am considering throwing down for a folding bike, but I don't know if I will be able to find one that I will like. I have owned many second-hand bikes over the years, and my strong preference seems to be for hybrid-monster originally owned by very large man and then adjusted down a bit for me. My current bike is always the biggest one locked to any rack and will not meet standard luggage specification even if I disassemble it completely. IOW, I prefer comfort, ruggedness and flexibility over speed, but not the faux comfort of a single speed comfort bike. If I don't buy a folding bike, I will probably choose to buy whatever new used bike best meets my specifications for approximately $50 at whatever thrift center(s) is handy to my final bus stop. I love my new hauling trailer, because it has almost effortless and flawless operation fully loaded, and I can pretty easily disassemble it down to standard luggage size, so I will probably pay the extra $6 or $16 to buy a ticket for it. Any suggestions?

TimeTravel
Posts: 71
Joined: Sat Dec 10, 2016 1:04 pm

Re: Folding Bike?

Post by TimeTravel »

I own a Dahon Piccolo folding bike purchased many years ago.

Image

I use it primarily during the summer for some cardio work and short errands. One good use is folding and bringing along when I get my car repaired as the car repair shop is a few miles away. But instead of having to sit and wait, I just ride my bike home and wait until I get the car shop's call.

Watching on Youtube, I love watching and drool :lol: over how the Brompton's fold. But a Brompton is out of my price range and I ride with a side mirror and carry bag under the seat and think they might interfere with a clean fold/unfold.

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