Folding Bikes - REI's Novara Buzz Fly By - folding bike (by Dahon)

All those bikes I mentioned are covered by the 20% discount, but my question was would I also get the normal REI 10% dividend in addition to that, making it 30%? The 1% credit card discount should be no problem. That applies to all purchases everyplace, so it would be at least 21% off, and 31% off if the dividend kicks in too.

Then I guess I'm not much use to you. I applied my dividend from last year and got 20% off a bike I bought. I have no idea if next year I will receive a dividend on that sale. Call em up and tell me. :)

I've test rode the REI folder and the Fusion and the Randonee. In my opinion, the Randonee is the best REI bike by far. $950 - 20%.

I felt the Randonee was a great bike, too, but I am pretty biased toward steel frame road bikes. I'd rather use an exotic high strength steel than titanium or carbon fiber any day. 200ksi + and still fatigue friendly and ductile at reasonable temps, bring it on.

I was just thinking... I wonder if any of the super commuters on this site in the midwest or Canada have ever cracked a frame on a really cold day... Maybe no one's dedicated enough to test that scenario.

When you use the 20% member discount on one full price item, it will not count towards your 2009 dividend. I found that out last year when I bought my Safari. I used the discount and my dividend this year to buy the Fly-By folder. It was the only one available up here in Anchorage. Should be able to get outside on it soon.

When you use the 20% member discount on one full price item, it will not count towards your 2009 dividend. I found that out last year when I bought my Safari. I used the discount and my dividend this year to by the Fly-By folder. It was the only one available up here in Anchorage. Should be able to get outside on it soon.


Right, AK. I found out all the info today. No dividend on the 20% off item. BUT my REI Visa card gets me 5% off all REI purchases, including discounted purchases (and 1% all other purchases), to be returned at end of year in form of dividend. So that means I can buy one item - including all of REI's Novara bikes, for 20% +5% = 25% discount before the sale ends at the end of March. Also, you can use the discount for items you order from REI, in case the item you want is not in stock. They will deliver the item to your local store at no additional charge (don't know if that applies to Alsaka).

...my REI Visa card gets me 5% off all REI purchases, including discounted purchases (and 1% all other purchases), to be returned at end of year in form of dividend. So that means I can buy one item - including all of REI's Novara bikes, for 20% +5% = 25% discount before the sale ends at the end of March. ...

That's close but off just a tad I think. Total savings - discount plus dividend - is 24%. The 5% dividend is on the 20% discount price so it's like getting 4% off the regular price.

Still a great deal, though, and I know I'm splitting hairs.

By golly, you're right!

I probably would have bought a fly-by, but the REI by where I live didn't have one on the floor, and no one in the bike shop at all.

So I used my discount on a new pair of shoes, which I needed more than a bike anyways. Maybe if the fly-by isn't discontinued next year I'll hit up a bigger store and try it out.

I concur REI is expensive .

JH - Expensive, but don't forget the 10% rebate for members, plus 5% more if you use their credit card, plus their guarantee is the best.


Biz - You can also use your discount to order stuff directly from REI, stuff that might not be in the local REI store. Shipping is free if you pick it up at the store. You could return the Flyby if you didn't like it, no questions asked (I didn't like it. It didn't fit me lengthwise. Better for shorter people, I think).

I concur REI is expensive .

It's member co-op, not a private company. You get to vote on your choice for the board of directors and affect the way the co-op is run. It's also why you get an annual dividend, special member-only sales (the great price on the FlyBy is one), travel services, return privileges and other member benefits. It may not be for everyone and it is not a full-time discount store but it is tremendous value to those that shop regularly for outdoor activity products. Alternative vendors may have a cheaper price on particular items, so I could understand that if you're an occasional shopper for outdoor products, you'll do what you need to get the best price. I've been an REI member for over 30 years and my one-time membership fee has provided incredible products, service and savings.

I concur REI is expensive .

Really? I find the prices quite reasonable. As a example I picked up a messenger bag recently that was $20 less at REI than the manufacturer's MSRP then I used my dividend and 20% coupon to get a smoking deal. I often find stuff at REI at [not sale stuff] that is cheaper than the prices elsewhere. Perhaps there are large scale discounters, like Sierra Trading Post, which are cheaper, but on the whole REI seems to be a good deal - to me.

I have been a REI member for 33 years, going back to shopping at the original store on 11th Avenue on Capitol Hill in Seattle. It is my impression that over the years as REI has widened their product selection to become more mainstream and appeal to a broader customer base, their prices have become less competitive. Back in the day, when they were strictly mountaineering and camping gear, their prices were more competitive with the marketplace. But recall that back then, their competitors were Eddie Bauer, LL Bean, Kelty and a number of small niche European companies. So in comparison back then, REI prices were great, especially with the dividend. Now that you no longer get a dividend on sale items, it is not quite the bargain it used to be.

The best deal I ever got with REI was their affinity credit card. Since 1% of my purchases are added to my REI dividend, and I pay off the balance in full each month, it is free money. My dividend that I just received is about $ 200, and only a small portion of that is based on items purchased at REI.

The best deal I ever got with REI was their affinity credit card. Since 1% of my purchases are added to my REI dividend, and I pay off the balance in full each month, it is free money. My

But Amex blue will get you 1.5% and you don't have to use the money at REI.

But Amex blue will get you 1.5% and you don't have to use the money at REI.

I have an Amex credit card that I use for business. It pays me back 1%, I believe.

But Amex blue will get you 1.5% and you don't have to use the money at REI.

Isn't that only for amounts over and above your first $6500 in spending for the year? Not exactly the same as getting 1.5% on the total amount of all your purchases.

In any case, cards giving a 1% cold hard cash rebate on all purchases are easy to come by (shop around a bit and you should even be able to get 1.25%). I personally get a 2% cash rebate across the board from my Fidelity branded Mastercard (no longer available for new accounts), not to mention a 5% cash rebate on restaurants, books, music, and movies from Citibank; a 5% cash rebate on gas, grocery, and convenience stores from Associated Bank; a 3.75% cash rebate on the top 3 categories I spend the most on each month from Chase; and a 3% cash rebate on the top category I spent the most on each month from RBS.

My Capital One card points got me two round-trip airfares to Europe in 2006. Unfortunately, I only entered the world of folding bikes in 2007. This year I'm prepared. Either the Strida or the FlyBy is coming along, maybe both if I can talk the wife into it.

I figure someone had to rein in the thread drift here back to the original subject.

I have a question for your experienced folder riders. Do you think this bike would fit into a Samsonite Oyster suitcase? I rode one this afternoon at my local REI and the bike seemed to fit fine and I thought the ride was quite nice. I am not an experienced folder person so, I am curious as to what opinions are out there in regard to getting this thing into a suitcase for air travel? 20% is enticing me, but not if it doesn't in a suitcase.

Yes it will if you take it apart. I have air travailed using the Dahon made Airporter Suitcase many times and had good luck doing so. http://dahon.com/us/accessories/luggage/airporter.htm It is a bit oversize but so far knock on wood no airline overcharges as of yet.

Ciao,
Timothy

That's good to hear, because I did buy the FlyBy. It seems to be a good bike but I have not yet tried to get it folded into my Samonsite suitcase. If that is not as convenient as I want, then maybe I will try this Dahon airporter bag. So thanks for the info. But looking the bike over and another website demonstrating packing, I am thinking the suitcase will work. I am out of town now but I will be back home on April 5 and give it a go.

In the mean time I have been riding the bike some and making some "points" with a couple of ladies I met on the bikeway. Of course there is nothing to do with my credit card. (Just in case my employer or the FBI is checking the forum) They seem to find the bike cute.

I think that Dahon and REI have a good potential with the FlyBy. The sales staff at the REI were sad to part with it.

Really? I find the prices quite reasonable. As a example I picked up a messenger bag recently that was $20 less at REI than the manufacturer's MSRP then I used my dividend and 20% coupon to get a smoking deal. I often find stuff at REI at [not sale stuff] that is cheaper than the prices elsewhere. Perhaps there are large scale discounters, like Sierra Trading Post, which are cheaper, but on the whole REI seems to be a good deal - to me.

Their clothing prices are pretty absurd, but that's to expected considering who their customer base has become. I see lots of overweight suburbanites go in to keep up their "outdoorsy" rep requesting "Baby Keens" or "Baby Merrils" by name because they want themselves and their kids to be dressed head to toe in overpriced name brand hiking clothes as they "hike" through the malls. You should see the distance between some of those Starbucks... It's ghastly... Most of the enthusiasts I know and myself abandoned REI except for the once a year discount a long time ago because they are not competitive. You can fish out a deal now and again on the outlet site, but all in all it's a far cry from a value oriented shopping experience. I usually go there to check something out and then buy it somewhere else. Most fair-trade outfitters out price them, which is pretty remarkable.

Gruffydd-- please let us know how packing it in the suitcase goes. Most of the packing instructions I've seen are for bikes with derailers, and I've never futzed with removing the wheel of a hub bike.

Do you have an Oyster-sized Samsonite?

I will do that. And I do have the Samsonite Oyster suitcase. So I will be happy to let you know how well the packing goes. But it will be a couple more weeks before I am back home where the suitcase is stored. I'm thinking the internal hub should be easier to pack than a deraileur or at least no more difficult, but I have never had one either. I bet that experienced folder riders here can fill in those details.

Just as a foot note (and unrelated to this thread) I just started to rebuild a Raleigh 20. It is at the powder coater now and I am going to pick up a new Phil Wood BB today. I am still deciding on other components to use. But it will be interesting to compare the folding and packability of the two bikes. Cheers.

All gone until at least July. :(

All gone until at least July. :(

When I bought my 2007 Dahon Mu XL last year, I believe that the shipment from Taiwan did not arrive until mid-April, and that Dahon shipped out their entire year's production at once. This is according to the LBS from which I purchased my Dahon. They provided me a shipping number so that I could see the progress of the package from the port of entry in Los Angeles, to the LBS and then to me.

I just bought a Buzz fly-by as well, with intention of packing it in a Samsonite Oyster case (it will be a new experience for me.) Of course I had to learn how the back wheel comes off. Turns out there is a little plastic lockring that you give a quarter turn and remove, and the cable mechanism just slips off. The hub and cable mechanism are dotted so you can line it back up. All told, much easier than messing with a derailleur. I had to fiddle a little to get the mechanism back on, but that was mostly just getting used to the coordination of lining up the dots. And nobody has mentioned the cool little ding-bell built into the left lever -- my wife is ready to de-ding it!! :-)

All gone until at least July. :(

REI just got a boatload of Dahon Speed D7s in Denim Blue or Sage Green for $429 ($343 with 20% member discount through March 30). It doesn't have a nifty curved frame, Nexus 8-speed hub and seat post pump like the Buzz Fly By but the D7 is slightly lighter (even though it's steel instead of aluminum) and faster (based on gear inches). The 7-speed Neos derailleur is quick-shifting and its small size is tucked under the wheel stay for some protection. I've read many positive comments on the D7. If you couldn't get a Fly By, it may be the next best deal through Sunday.

Thanks, I'll check it out!