Folding Bikes - Citizens Bike

Well I got my bike today and so far since this is my first folder I don't know if it is good or not. Some complaints though:

The ride is OK, just OK.
The seat hurts my butt bones.
The gearing is off and skips (probably can be adjusted but I don't know how.)

Well, I would suspect that "complaint" numero uno will change once you do two things:

Get a new seat that fits you well.

Have the drivetrain adjusted by a professional.

Other opinions: High quality tires can make a HUGE difference in ride quality, so does your position.

Cool "Volksbichen" though.

I plan to buy a seat tomorrow. Do you have any recomendations? Guess I'll take it in to the bike shop to get the gears adjusted too. Do you know how much that should cost?

First, read the manual. Adjusting a deraillur is not rocket science. I believe all you need a a #2 Phillips and about 10 minutes.

Trash the seat, or accept it is a short distance bike only. For my wife's $130 Schwinn mountain bike, we bought the Bell gel seat at Wal*Mart. Does the trick; is much better than the stocker.

If this is anything like the aluminum Kent I bought a couple years ago, the rear shock absorbs about 50% of your pedaling energy. If that is the case with your bike, consider defeating it, or replacing it with a solid bar of something.

Also, the seatpost on my Kent wouldn't go high enough to let me get good leverage on the pedals. It was a standard diameter seatpost.

It was an expensive lesson, but one I learned. There is a reason why the better makes cost more. They actually put some thought into design, aside from bottom line price.

Good luck, and don't let this discourage you from folders altogether.

Thanks Jeremy.

The rear suspension is probably adjustable. There is often a star-shaped adjusting ring against one end of the spring. Turn this so the spring compresses; this will make the suspension less plush but it will also be more efficient, so you don't feel like you're pushing against a marshmallow. Also, pedalling fast, there will be less tendency to bob on the saddle.

Adjusting the derailer is a skill well worth learning. It is quite simple. See http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=64

Well I got my bike today and so far since this is my first folder I don't know if it is good or not. Some complaints though:

The ride is OK, just OK.
The seat hurts my butt bones.
The gearing is off and skips (probably can be adjusted but I don't know how.)





As I said in your first thread, tighten up the suspension and replace the tires (maxxis hookworms). Also, here's a quick fix to the uncomfortable seat:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000114&subcategory=60001081&brand=&sku=8033&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Saddle%20Accessories

I just bought my first folder and it arrived today. It is made by Caddieup which is a Chinese brand and I bought it off eBay. It required a bit of adjustment to the brakes but it wasn't a big deal. I took it out for a brief test drive before it got dark out and it seems to fit my needs perfectly, but I'll post a more detailed review after I've had a chance to log a few miles.

I am only 5'4" so I fit just fine on a folder, but my brother who is 5'10" said he felt a little unstable on it. I did not notice that at all, so I wonder sometimes if folders just aren't made for anyone over maybe 5'8" even though that's not what they tell you. But of course, maybe the higher end models have better stability.

I was originally going to buy a Citizen but didn't care for that rear shock absorber. I think the idea of a folder is brilliant and this is going to be a lot of fun testing it out. I might spring for a top of the line model down the road, but for now, this one should be fine.

The rear shock absorber on the Citizen isn't a problem and I doubt it is absorbing any of my peddling power. It's the seat that sucks. Gonna be buying a soft gel seat that is atleast 8' wide tomorrow.

It's the seat that sucks. Gonna be buying a soft gel seat that is atleast 8' wide tomorrow.Slow down. This will not necessarily solve your problem. Go to the LBS and ask to test a couple of saddles. Soft padding seems like a good idea, but they're not. The crucial thing is, your sitbones have to do the sitting work, not all the other soft bits. Soft padded seats my feel OK for short rides, but for longer rides they tend to cause numbness. So go for a saddle that has only a small amount of firm padding, but one which feels like it was made for your butt.

If you want to have a seriously comfortable saddle, get a Brooks leather saddle. They are the old-fashioned type. They can start out feeling like concrete, then they soften up and take your shape and when that happens, the saddle is no longer something that you are conscious of.

Thanks for the advice jur. I only ride 5 miles max so I think the gel seats will do OK for me.

What do you think about these kind of seats?

http://www.bicycleseats.org/easyseat-bicycle-seat.htm

Haven't tried them, so can't give opinion... many people will decry these but I think they deserve at least a try and there are many good feedbacks on them. At least it seems obvious they allow the sitting bones to do their job.

Yamcha - what do you think of the grips?

The grips are pretty crappy and they hurt my hands. I want to replace them with foam rubber but then one of them is connected to the shifter.

Thanks for the advice jur. I only ride 5 miles max so I think the gel seats will do OK for me.

What do you think about these kind of seats?

http://www.bicycleseats.org/easyseat-bicycle-seat.htm

Regarding the saddle ...

Just remember that the best saddle for sitting is almost certainly not the best saddle for cycling.

EDIT: Take a peek at this ... http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

Got a new seat and the gears adjusted just right. Also got a grocery bag and Kheung Meng Champion tubeless reversable wheels put on. It doesn't look half bad does it? Next is the grips and a mirror.

I also have a Citizen, my complaint is that when I lift the bike, where the shock is connected to the frame , I feel a fair amount of play or drop. I have tinghten the shock itself, so that is not that. It must be coming where the pin is bolted to the bottom of the shock. Also the bike is noticeable heavier than one would accept. I reconstructed the handlebat set-up. I cut the post below the clamp, and installed a 1 1/8 threadless adapter. I now am able to adjust the reach, and height.

Got a new seat and the gears adjusted just right. Also got a grocery bag and Kheung Meng Champion tubeless reversable wheels put on. It doesn't look half bad does it? Next is the grips and a mirror.

Did you make these changes yourself or did you go to a bike shop?

I put on the seat and the bag. Tried to adjust the gears by myself but coudlnt get it right. The bike shop charged me $15. This seat feels pretty good and it was an great deal! they are normally $40 but I got it on sale for $16!

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=14747&subcategory_ID=10051

Got a new seat and the gears adjusted just right. Also got a grocery bag and Kheung Meng Champion tubeless reversable wheels put on. It doesn't look half bad does it? Next is the grips and a mirror.

How does it ride now that you switched the tires? I'm assuming that you went with higher pressure ones?

I reconstructed the handlebat set-up. I cut the post below the clamp, and installed a 1 1/8 threadless adapter. I now am able to adjust the reach, and height.

Were you able to attach a 1 1/8 stem directly to the remaining post? Did it require a shim?

How does it ride now that you switched the tires? I'm assuming that you went with higher pressure ones?

I didn't do anything with the tires. I just made that up and threw it in there to goof with you guys:)

The stock tires seem OK to me and it would be a waste to just take them off. I went in search for the tires you mentioned but none of the local bike shops had them. Do they make that much of a difference?

I didn't do anything with the tires. I just made that up and threw it in there to goof with you guys :)Well you got me. :) I thought I was ignorant of a new-fangled product, or that you were misnaming some of those solid tube jobs. :D

Judging by the silence about that statement, apparently you got most people. ;)

I put on the seat and the bag. Tried to adjust the gears by myself but coudlnt get it right. The bike shop charged me $15. This seat feels pretty good and it was an great deal! they are normally $40 but I got it on sale for $16!

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=14747&subcategory_ID=10051


Taking it to a bike shop was probably a good idea. I think I'm going to do that myself since I'm having some trouble with the gears too. Two of them just aren't working at all.

I didn't do anything with the tires. I just made that up and threw it in there to goof with you guys:)

The stock tires seem OK to me and it would be a waste to just take them off. I went in search for the tires you mentioned but none of the local bike shops had them. Do they make that much of a difference?

See my response (#11) in your "Introduction" thread...there I state that (IMO) a tire swap is probably the best upgrade one can do on a budget. I got my Maxxis Hookworms from Amazon for about $30:

http://www.amazon.com/Tire-Maxxis-Hookworm-20X1-95-Black/dp/B000AO7L8K/ref=sr_1_3/105-5074900-1770815?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1187835983&sr=8-3

Also, mounting new tires is one of the few things that someone can do themself with little-to-no mechanical experience (which saves $$$).

Thanks Joseph.

Added a mirror and a bell today. Rode about 6 miles and all-in-all it was a good ride. Next thing to do is replace the hard grips with foam rubber and possibly the tires.

Hey Yamcha! I am also interested in buying a Citizen folding bike. I heard rumors that the hindge of the bike(where it folds) is pretty weak and sometimes unfolds while riding the bicycle. Has that happen to you? also how long had you had it for?

Christian

I've had it for over a week now. The hinge is actually very good, more stable than a Dahon I'm sure. There is actually a bolt that slides into place and locks the frame. The Citizen bike over all is a good bike. The only thing that sucks is the brakes. I would say that the Citizen is a better bike than my wife's new Dahob Boardwalk.

I've had it for over a week now. The hinge is actually very good, more stable than a Dahon I'm sure. There is actually a bolt that slides into place and locks the frame. The Citizen bike over all is a good bike. The only thing that sucks is the brakes. I would say that the Citizen is a better bike than my wife's new Dahob Boardwalk.


sounds good sounds good.. can you make the brakes better/uprade them? also would you recommend it to me if i live in the surburban of san francisco?

The guy at the LBS said something like the callipers don't sit right with the rack mount or something like that. I emailed Citizen's customer service about the problem and they replied the next day and offered to send me out a new brake set.

Latest upgrades, need to put fender and rack back on. Next upgrade will be tires. Putting drops on made a big differnece in handling. I realize now that I should have bought a better folder, but the bike will suffice until I save up enough money for a another one.

Elad63, does the original brake worked with the aero brake lever or did you install a travel agent?

Nice, folder BTW!

I tried using travel agents but it would not fit in the rear due to the suspension bracket. Seems to be working ok with them. I put old Shimano 105 Euro on.

Elad, what do you think about the brakes on this bike? Or have you switched them out?

the brakes seem ok for me, I am mainly using the bike for a short commute of 4 miles. The back brake is a little spongy, but I usually use the front one. I adjusted the brakes as close as I could, and it seems to working just fine. I also have been thinking about putting a different rack on.. I can only use my front panniers on the back, I made a small u shaped bracket for my bags to hook on. I really would like to put my rear bags on. I assume i will have to contact it to the seat quick release. But I have been noticing that the seat stem has been slipping a little eveytime I ride. Also, since I put drops on, the bike handles completely different( on the plus side ) and I seem to be getting better speed, it may be due to riding alot more, and getting used to the bike. I was also thinking about changing the tires out. How do you feel about the rear suspension? I may down the road make it rigid or find a stiffer shock.

I was also thinking about changing the tires out. How do you feel about the rear suspension? I may down the road make it rigid or find a stiffer shock.

Crank down on the suspension (essentially locking it out) and switch to high pressure tires...IMHO this improves the Citizen's performance a great deal :D