Folding Bikes - Bought a bike for my lady

Just to stop her from complaning that i got myself a bike recently, i got her a Dahon MUSL.

I think this is a great bike for female given the weight advantage.

The original gears that comes with the bike are all pretty nice stuff, the shifter and rear-der already using SRAM X9, and the very nicely finished Kintex Pro rims amkes the bike more elegant~~

So when i have time this week, i will test ride with her with my Tyrell~

Enjoy the pics, and enjoy cycling

BR
JP

When 2 become 1~

My compliments on your bikes.

My compliments on your photography.

Ha! I spotted a dust particle on the Mu SL! ;)

Well, it's a very nice bike.
There's a scatch already?

Love the pictures and the "Photo by: Qoo" logo. :)

Well, it's a very nice bike.
There's a scatch already?


No, its not a scratch, it just happened that i drink a few drops of water b4 i took the picture,

Just double check the frame is flawless....:)

For her safety....i bought her these, :rolleyes:

Wow. Your photos look like pro product advertising ones. (I hope I didn't just insult you there, that you ARE in fact a pro photographer... ;) )

Plus I'm interested in replacing my aging Bell helmet with one of these... what model helmet is that?

Wow. Your photos look like pro product advertising ones. (I hope I didn't just insult you there, that you ARE in fact a pro photographer... ;) )

Plus I'm interested in replacing my aging Bell helmet with one of these... what model helmet is that?


:D Thank you once again for your compliment~~~~;)

I am not a photographers for products, i just enjoy leisure shooting of all kinds of goodies (mainly toys). Perhaps i can launch a few of my pics in a while.

About the helmet, the one you see in the picture are Giro Atmos, i think its the one worn by Armstrong this year:)

You should go and get one~~

JP

What beautiful pics and awesome bikes! Wishing you lots of happy moments with your lady. Many of my memorable dates with my wife were on two wheels...

About the helmet, the one you see in the picture are Giro Atmos, i think its the one worn by Armstrong this year:)

You should go and get one~~

JP

Caution on replacing a Bell helmet with a Giro...

I was told recently at my LBS that Giro and Bell are owned by the same parent company, but whether that is true or not, it was suggested that Giro has more of an oval shape, whereas Bell is more round.

I owned a relatively entry level Bell street/mountain-style (with the visor...) and had been hoping to buy a road helmet for some time. I tried Giro helmets several times, always intending to buy the Atmos, but never liking how it fit. Recently I tried several Bell road helmets, including the Furio and the Sweep. Both fit me perfectly... thus I am inclined to believe that Bell fits one type of head shape and Giro another.

So if Bell fits you, I would suggest that Giro may not... and in particular caution you not to buy without test-fitting one first in a store. In case anyone was inclined to just internet-order sight unseen.

cheers

Yes, great job with the photos. The lighting is great. Backgrounds and product positioning are also pretty good. The frame classes them up a lot.

I'm afraid the logo cheapens them down though. Maybe I'm too picky for free pix though, hehehe.

As for the bikes, I like hers better than yours. But I'm a sucker for curvy lines.

What's the story with the front hub? Does it have a generator in it or something?

The helmets look like they'll have much better ventilation than my cheapy Bell.

Caution on replacing a Bell helmet with a Giro...

I was told recently at my LBS that Giro and Bell are owned by the same parent company, but whether that is true or not, it was suggested that Giro has more of an oval shape, whereas Bell is more round.

I owned a relatively entry level Bell street/mountain-style (with the visor...) and had been hoping to buy a road helmet for some time. I tried Giro helmets several times, always intending to buy the Atmos, but never liking how it fit. Recently I tried several Bell road helmets, including the Furio and the Sweep. Both fit me perfectly... thus I am inclined to believe that Bell fits one type of head shape and Giro another.

So if Bell fits you, I would suggest that Giro may not... and in particular caution you not to buy without test-fitting one first in a store. In case anyone was inclined to just internet-order sight unseen.

cheersI was planning on doing exactly that - buying online. Thanks for the caution. I have an inexpensive Bell Aquila (same as your...?) and had actually decided for myself the Bell Sweep R may be a better buy. I better go and try them on. But the Aquila is huge (one size fits all...) so not a guide to what I might need.

I've used both Giro and Bell helmets, both fit fine. I prefer the Bell because, at least with the cheaper helmets like I use, it's much, much easier to use Bell's dial thingee than the Giro's tightener.

I'm not a huge Mu fan, but the grips are funky. Chain tensioner is a nice touch as well.

So, can you read the water bottle while riding? On my Mariner, I'd probably kill myself reaching down to the tube. ;)

There you go again, confusing me with the words 'chain tensioner'. :o What do you mean by that? I don't see anything on the Mu that is a chain tensioner except the normal derailer, or am I missing something?

Caution on replacing a Bell helmet with a Giro...

I was told recently at my LBS that Giro and Bell are owned by the same parent company, but whether that is true or not, it was suggested that Giro has more of an oval shape, whereas Bell is more round.

I owned a relatively entry level Bell street/mountain-style (with the visor...) and had been hoping to buy a road helmet for some time. I tried Giro helmets several times, always intending to buy the Atmos, but never liking how it fit. Recently I tried several Bell road helmets, including the Furio and the Sweep. Both fit me perfectly... thus I am inclined to believe that Bell fits one type of head shape and Giro another.

So if Bell fits you, I would suggest that Giro may not... and in particular caution you not to buy without test-fitting one first in a store. In case anyone was inclined to just internet-order sight unseen.

cheers


I totally agree with you on that, therefore i would suggest anyone who has intention of getting a helmet to test fit the helmet in your LBS first before ordering online~~

After all, what fits me may not fit on others~:D

JZ--The front hub is a Pantour suspension hub. It just moves a few milimeters, but absorbs some of the vibration. Would be great if Dahon made a non-hinged folder. They really do a good job with all the details. I bought those grips for my Birdy from Nashbar...they were $5 and about 10gm, super comfy.

By the way, NYC residents can get a free helmet by calling 311. They will fit you and everything. No joke.

Edit: Unfortunately, the helmets (http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/images/bicyclists/bikehelmet1.jpg) are not as cool as the condoms (http://72.32.200.206/flash/).

Yes, great job with the photos. The lighting is great. Backgrounds and product positioning are also pretty good. The frame classes them up a lot.

I'm afraid the logo cheapens them down though. Maybe I'm too picky for free pix though, hehehe.

As for the bikes, I like hers better than yours. But I'm a sucker for curvy lines.

What's the story with the front hub? Does it have a generator in it or something?

The helmets look like they'll have much better ventilation than my cheapy Bell.

The front hub is a Pantour suspension hub. Basically there is an elastomer placed inside the hub to absorb some of the bumps both horizontally and vertically. the tension of the hub can be adjsuted via the screw position within the hub.

The MU is a great bike to ride for a speed of less than 15mph, but anything above that i found it hard to keep up, that maybe due to the seating position was originally setup for her height, so i find it difficult to put the pedal down~~

The Tyrell however goes like a full size road bike.....so i like mine more~~~:eek:

JP

I've used both Giro and Bell helmets, both fit fine. I prefer the Bell because, at least with the cheaper helmets like I use, it's much, much easier to use Bell's dial thingee than the Giro's tightener.

I'm not a huge Mu fan, but the grips are funky. Chain tensioner is a nice touch as well.

So, can you read the water bottle while riding? On my Mariner, I'd probably kill myself reaching down to the tube. ;)

both bikes have no problem in reaching the water bottle during the ride, i do that quite often

and of course i wont even think of drinking if i am doing some 30mph downhill...:D

JP

There you go again, confusing me with the words 'chain tensioner'. :o What do you mean by that? I don't see anything on the Mu that is a chain tensioner except the normal derailer, or am I missing something?

Perhaps he is referring to the Chain Guard?:rolleyes:

Ok, in post #1, 10th photo down, look just below the US flag. That little black plastic bit is, IIRC, a chain tensioner. It keeps the chain from jumping.

It's a common term (in the US at least). There are many different designs for this task by the way:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/sub/1085-Chain+Tensioners+And+Guides.aspx

And IIRC, a "chain guard" is sort of like a disc that goes on the outside of the chainring, and keeps your leg / pants from getting dirty by touching the chain or chainring by accident. (Photo #9 in post #1) In which case, that also actually looks pretty good on this Mu. ;)




The MU is a great bike to ride for a speed of less than 15mph, but anything above that i found it hard to keep up, that maybe due to the seating position was originally setup for her height, so i find it difficult to put the pedal down.
That is probably due to several factors. The upright position is, as you surmised, probably the biggest single factor. If it has the stock Stelvios, the tires should be fast. The Pantour may soak up a little bit as well. Clips / clipless pedals would also make a difference. But I suspect most of it is position.

In my experience, I think it'd be hard to go above 15-18 mph unless you're in a really aero position (i.e. on a typical road bike, and with handlebars below the saddle). Drag does not increase in a linear fashion, rather in an exponential one; i.e. you need to expend far, far more energy to increase your speed from 18 to 21, or 15 to 18, as you do from 12 to 15.

Many folding bikes also are very limited in, or lack, the ability to alter the reach (distance from handlebars to saddle). A small cockpit can also result in a non-aero position.

Beautiful pictures there.

How do you find the Pantour hub on the Curve?

Did it come as standard with that hub, or did you get it fitted?

I'm considering doing the Pantour thing on my Merc. I feel some kind of shock absorbing/suspension technique on the front wheel might be a good idea. Pantour looks like the only way to achieve that on a Brompton clone like mine. I wonder what it would cost?

Ok, in post #1, 10th photo down, look just below the US flag. That little black plastic bit is, IIRC, a chain tensioner. It keeps the chain from jumping.

It's a common term (in the US at least). There are many different designs for this task by the way:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/sub/1085-Chain+Tensioners+And+Guides.aspx


It's actually not a chain tensioner. This is another area in which Dahon has taken a simple idea and made it work. It actually does not contact the chain unless it jumps during shifting at high RPM. It just breaks the wave created by the rear derailleur, thus keeping the chain on the bike.

J Gaerlan calls it a roller kit, but it has another name. (http://www.gaerlan.com/dahon/gear.htm)

Beautiful pictures there.

How do you find the Pantour hub on the Curve?

Did it come as standard with that hub, or did you get it fitted?

I'm considering doing the Pantour thing on my Merc. I feel some kind of shock absorbing/suspension technique on the front wheel might be a good idea. Pantour looks like the only way to achieve that on a Brompton clone like mine. I wonder what it would cost?


Hi There,

The Pantour hub was standard component on the MUSL, and it can be slightly adjusted by the tiny screw within the hub to alternate the horizontal / vertical travel of the hub.

Some of my friends are having problem on the reliability of the elastomer within the hub, some of them actually have the elastomer work so much that the compound actually breaks down!:eek: They then replaced the elastomer with a solid metal (of the same shape) to make the hub becoming a ridgid axle

For this bike, since its going to be riden by my lady who only weights no more than 45kg, i hope the elastomer will last longer!!

So far when i ride on the MU, i dont really feel how significant the hub is doing on the absorbing the bumps, but it does look nice on the MU...hehe:D

Wow, maybe it's just because it's new to me, but that Tyrell bike looks awesome!
It's a non-folder though right? Looks like a pretty nice stiff frame.

The Si they've featured on the Tyrell home-page gets the blood pumping!
http://www.tyrellbike.com/


I guess no chance of finding one of these unless you live in/near SE Asia right?

Wow, maybe it's just because it's new to me, but that Tyrell bike looks awesome!
It's a non-folder though right? Looks like a pretty nice stiff frame.

The Si they've featured on the Tyrell home-page gets the blood pumping!
http://www.tyrellbike.com/


I guess no chance of finding one of these unless you live in/near SE Asia right?

Spot on pal!!

I am living in Hong Kong, so it just happened that here is close to Japan and thus easier for shipment i guess~~

The Si model is a full Scandium version (one of my friend just ordered one, will post picture later), that one is purely a racer, with no damping what so ever the bike is targeted to hit around 17lbs only with everyhing on board~

For your interest, you may visit the below link about my Tyrell that i ahve posted earlier:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=327311&highlight=tyrell

Hmmmmm.

Tyrell Corp. Think I'll wait for the Nexus Six.

Hmmmmm.

Tyrell Corp. Think I'll wait for the Nexus Six.

Too bad she won't live. But then again, Who does?