Picked up a new Helios P8 last week and the weather has been so bad in Chicago that I have not had a chance to ride it. Well the sun came out yesterday afternoon but my fixed gear track bike was staring me in the face begging to be taken out so I had oblige. It is such a simple machine, just pedal and don't stop.
Fast and fun nothing to think about. I will be taking my Flyte Roadie out for a 50 mile ride for cancer on Sunday so there was no hurry to take that out. It will get the brunt of the long rides this summer. It is comfortable, light and smooth. Today the sun came out again in the late afternoon after another cloudy day so I pulled out the P8, adjusted the seat and started riding. There is something really fun about riding that darn thing. I rode up and down the block and up and down again and again. Then rode with my kid around the driveway back and forth and round and round. I have not ridden a bike like this since I was a kid, 35 years ago. It reminds me of my Schwinn PeaPicker. Tomorrow morning instead of running down by the lake, I am going to take the new P8 for a nice long ride. The Big Apples are a nice tire for the city streets and it is just a lot of fun to ride. Tomorrow when I get home, my new Bike Friday Pocket Pilot will be waiting for me so it will be back to serious bike riding with the shoes, jersey, gloves etc, but for now it is just fun! I got this to have a second folding bike for the family but I might have to hold it back a while!
Lots of riding for me this summer!
Kenal0

Managed to get the bike out for an extended ride at the lakefront today.
My initial thoughts are:
Solid build, no rattles or sqeaks.
Smooth gear shifting with the exception of 8th gear where I have a little rubbing of some kind. I have not had time to check it out.
Handle bar stem does not go down far enough for my liking, I am used to my road bikes and like a little more aggressive riding position.
Big Apples are nice for the city pavement where you can go from a nice new paved surface to 50 year old street. If I did not have the Bike Friday coming I would change for a narrower tire, but since it is for all my family to use, I will leave it.
Seat was not too bad but I am still switching to a Brooks B17 like I have on the rest of my bikes. This is the only seat that I can take right out of the box, install and have zero discomfort when riding for long periods of time.
Folding is simple and easy making it a non issue.
I like the collapsing pedals but I am used to clipless so, I am looking to see if the Power Grips will work, if not then I can go to Power Grips with a quick releas pedal.
Overall I am very pleased with the bike. It is all that I expected.
Kenal0

The handlebar height is something that takes some getting use to if you have been riding road bikes. However, I like it so much, that I actually got a longer stem for my non-folding road bike. I would recommend leaving it as is, especially if other members of your family are not aggressive riders and they will be using the bike. You could get it lower by cutting a few inches off the bottom of the telescoping part, but then you can't go back to the higher bar positions.