Folding Bikes - It's been a good week!

I've been revamping my folder line-up lately. Here's what I've added:

2003 Dahon Speed Pro, with SRAM Dual Drive and some other nice components. This will be my new "portable roadie":
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e157/sesamecrunch/dahon1.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e157/sesamecrunch/dahon2.jpg

and a 2006 Merc. It's certainly got personality!
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e157/sesamecrunch/merc1-1.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e157/sesamecrunch/merc3-1.jpg

And I sold my DT VIIIH :(, which was made kinda redundant when I got the DT Mini.

So, net +1 for the week :D

yours bikes look clean, how many folders do you have? any with full suspensions?

Dude...

I've seen your other bikes!!!

and that's only some of your many!!!

I hate you!!!! I hate you a lot!!!!

;)

VERY nice, sc. Enjoy exploring!

yours bikes look clean, how many folders do you have? any with full suspensions?

Actually, I've only got 4 now - these two new ones, a DT Mini and the folding recumbent. I've bought a lot of bikes, but have also sold/given away many. None of my present bikes are full suspension. I actually don't need or like full suspensions, the pogo-ing bothers me.


Dude...

I've seen your other bikes!!!

and that's only some of your many!!!

I hate you!!!! I hate you a lot!!!!

;)

I'm feeling the loove :D

how much did you pay for them?

They are beautiful. So, first, how do you feel the Speed compares with your highly enhanced Downtubes? Second, what tires are you running on that thing? Third, did you build those wheels?

They are beautiful. So, first, how do you feel the Speed compares with your highly enhanced Downtubes? Second, what tires are you running on that thing? Third, did you build those wheels?

I like the SpeedPro. It's very comparable to my former "portable roadie", which was a converted DT Front Suspension. They both had very good drivetrains and fast wheels/tires. The SpeedPro has the SRAM DualDrive, which is new for me, so I was very curious about it. I like it - very very wide range (something like 25-125 gear-inches), easy to use. The SpeedPro has no front suspension, so that's obviously nice for going fast. It's not particularly light, since the DualDrive is pretty heavy, but that's life...

The wheels on the SpeedPro are ALX DA16, came with the bike, and tires are Primo Comets.

how much did you pay for them?

SpeedPro was a very good deal, the Merc was a very fair deal. PM me if you want full details.

SESAME:

What's the real weight on both?

SESAME:

What's the real weight on both?

I'll have to get back to you on that. I don't have a digital scale at the moment. Been meaning to get one...

Ah Sesamicrunch - ignore the PM I just sent you. Hadn't found this thread then.

How does the Merc compare for practical use and fun with your DT mini?

I have a few pounds burning a hole in the side of the 'fun' money box. They're just itching to get out to be swapped for a bike. Just wondering what to get; Curve, Mini, Second hand Moulton.....

I wouldn't want to buy something that's less fun than I already have. One thing to bear in mind is that I'm short, so leg extension isn't ever a problem.


PS - be sure you have the allu chain tensioner for that Merc. Increases reliability about a thousandfold. I see the merc lost her rear mudguard. I just bought a pair of them as spares. The old front one has a mark on it where water has got in through a rivet hole. I like to have spares in house. My next spares purchase will be the two wheels. So far the only spares I've used were chain, gear cable and one tyre. All were still serviceable, but worn - just replaced as a precaution.

EvilV:

I've only just received the bike last night, so it would be hasty to make any comparisons :). But, they (the Mini and Merc) have very differing DNA, don't they?. Let me spend some time with both and then provide some feedback.

Thanks for your tips on the mods/spares. The Merc already has the aluminum tensioner. I do want to purchase a bunch of spares from Anita. She's got some great prices on her eBay site! I'll need to email her about shipping charges to California. Since there's no Merc support here, I think it would be wise to have some spares lying about.

I'm also going to take heed of some of the mods you've described over this and other threads. I believe in preventive maintenance, as you do. Hope I can continue to count on you for advice on Mercs!

Absolutely you can. It'll be interesting to read how you compare the mini and the merc. Whenever you're ready of course. Enjoy the rides...

By the way that 'waspish' Dahon looks nice.

Absolutely you can. It'll be interesting to read how you compare the mini and the merc.

They are quite different. Ignoring the drivetrain differences which are obvious ...

We passed along the Merc To Seasame since the boss and I moved a little further out from the District and those around town jaunts never take place anymore. I can't remember whether this was mentioned before, but she is also in her second trimester, so she is riding less now and will be riding even less in another two months.

The Merc definitely is more compact and quicker folding than the modified Mini.

I think that the Mini with a long stem has better handling qualities than the Merc. Although I would say the reverse is true regarding an unmodified Mini. Then again, for ergonomic reasons I rarely rode the Merc--the boss did almost all of the riding--so there are a lot of things going on here.

I never had to take apart the Merc like I did the Mini. So it is difficult for me to comment on the QA and such. But with the Mini, I would definitely recommend following Yan's new instructions.

I'm hopeless addicted. There has to be a name for this disease of non-stop buying of new folders.

Just picked up this Strida3 off Craigslist! New in box from a private party who brought it over from Taiwan.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e157/sesamecrunch/strida1.sm.jpg

SC, congrats on your folder fleet. Folder Fleet Syndrome is manageable. My wife being the clinicial psychologist she is, and me with four folders and a fifth expected, the clinical explanation is that your mental health benefits from the stress reduction of a folder fleet. Riding my road bike today, I caught up with another rider and was shocked to learn he only had 1 bike... the one he was on.

EvilV, only last week I rode a Moulton (cromo, full Campy Record, drop bars) for the first time. WOW!!! Felt almost as fast as the Maunakea bike (difference being the Capreo on the Maunakea bike) but handled a bit better at speed as a result of the drop bars and being able to shift weight lower. I choked on the price tag.

SC, congrats on your folder fleet. Folder Fleet Syndrome is manageable. My wife being the clinicial psychologist she is, and me with four folders and a fifth expected, the clinical explanation is that your mental health benefits from the stress reduction of a folder fleet. Riding my road bike today, I caught up with another rider and was shocked to learn he only had 1 bike... the one he was on.

EvilV, only last week I rode a Moulton (cromo, full Campy Record, drop bars) for the first time. WOW!!! Felt almost as fast as the Maunakea bike (difference being the Capreo on the Maunakea bike) but handled a bit better at speed as a result of the drop bars and being able to shift weight lower. I choked on the price tag.

I'm just buying a next to new hand built Pashley Moulton. I'll be setting off to pick it up 300 miles away in a couple of hours. I should be packing not idling here! This one has a retail price of £1450, but I'm paying somewhat less. The guy works at the factory and bought this for his grilfriend. Because there's a two month waiting list he had to wait, and she dumped him. He's had it ten days and it has done only 20 miles. He already has a new one of his own, so this one has to go.

:)

http://i22.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/b3/74/abf7_1.JPG

The one above is the bike I'm buying, the ones below are views of a different bike, but same model.

http://www.seidel-skulptur.de/moultonforum/boa_tsr640/tsr21.jpg

http://www.seidel-skulptur.de/moultonforum/boa_tsr640/tsr19.jpg

http://www.seidel-skulptur.de/moultonforum/boa_tsr640/tsr5.jpg

I'll be gone a few days, because I'm going to play with my new bike on a picturesque long distance ride on the Kennett and Avon Canal tow path.

http://www.paulspages.co.uk/bbcycle/


Specs:

http://www.tsr.uk.com/bikes/tsr30.php

features:

http://www.tsr.uk.com/features/

Good week !! - too right - great wide collection Sesame - NV !!

EV, IIRC the K&A path is hard packed, small grain gravel, like many rail to trail projects in the States, so it should be great fun. You'll know the first round of mods you need by the end of the ride. You're very lucky to find that Moulton at that price, but you deserve it (part of the Folder Fleet Syndrome rationale).

Be sure to take in the Canal Museum in Devizes.

EV, IIRC the K&A path is hard packed, small grain gravel, like many rail to trail projects in the States, so it should be great fun. You'll know the first round of mods you need by the end of the ride. You're very lucky to find that Moulton at that price, but you deserve it (part of the Folder Fleet Syndrome rationale).

I'm relieved to know I'm not the only one with Fleet Folder Syndrome! If someone ever finds a cure - don't tell me about it :D

Maunakea: Have you been EVERYWHERE in the world? You seem to be familiar with a LOT of places!

SC, I've never been to S. Am., Africa, or Antarctica .... and won't lose sleep over it.... but I do love cycling in the UK. British Waterways have done the cycling world a great service is restoring the canals of England, Wales, and Scotland. I was in London this year, with my Swift, for the Canalcade in Paddington. Lots of narrowboat owners have folding bikes. Very friendly folks, but not very keen on timetables. The scheduled events were on Dali time.

SC, I've never been to S. Am., Africa, or Antarctica .... and won't lose sleep over it.... but I do love cycling in the UK. British Waterways have done the cycling world a great service is restoring the canals of England, Wales, and Scotland. I was in London this year, with my Swift, for the Canalcade in Paddington. Lots of narrowboat owners have folding bikes. Very friendly folks, but not very keen on timetables. The scheduled events were on Dali time.

I added it up once and realized that I've had the good fortune to visit 35 countries.

If you ever wander out to the San Francisco area, please let me know. I live along the ocean in Half Moon Bay, about 20 miles south of SF. Nice place, lots of nice riding here. Come and have a cup of tea!

..


PS - .... I see the merc lost her rear mudguard. I just bought a pair of them as spares. The old front one has a mark on it where water has got in through a rivet hole.

Hi EvilV. Where did you buy the mudguards?

I looked on the Sheeaune site, but saw none.

Thanks.

I'm just buying a next to new hand built Pashley Moulton. I'll be setting off to pick it up 300 miles away in a couple of hours. I should be packing not idling here! This one has a retail price of £1450, but I'm paying somewhat less. The guy works at the factory and bought this for his grilfriend. Because there's a two month waiting list he had to wait, and she dumped him. He's had it ten days and it has done only 20 miles. He already has a new one of his own, so this one has to go.

:)

Nice. I guess you are going to swap out the drop bar for a flat bar.

Is it a separable?

-G

Whaaat?! Dump a guy who has a Moulton made for you?! Sheez, she should have married him! Heck, I'd marry him! ;)

It just brings me a lot of comfort to know that I'm not the only one who has this "Folder Accumulation Syndrome"... Going to get my 6th tmrw - none other than the whacky Pacific "Carry Me" for travelling on crowded buses/trains :)

OnF

Hi EvilV. Where did you buy the mudguards?

I looked on the Sheeaune site, but saw none.

Thanks.

Hi John. I just emailed her an order and she told me the price. I neded a new gear changer widget because the cable was badly frayed. The whole changer and new cable was £6.75 or something like that. I didn't know you had a Merc.... or am I turning senile.

Nice. I guess you are going to swap out the drop bar for a flat bar.

Is it a separable?

-G

I've grown to like the drop bar well enough. I guess the change of bars would mean expensive brake and gear lever changes. All the parts on this thing are expensive Campy stuff. That's where the high price comes from, so I'll stick with it as it is. The stem is adjustable, so I have lifted it up and I find it quite comfortable now.

Yes, it's a seperable one. Comes apart quite nicely, but not as nicely as it rides. The suspension is a dream.

No, EvilV, you're not going senile :-)

I haven't got a Merc, but I've been looking for mudguards for a 305, & a 406 wheel, for my recumbent which I'm riding regularly again now. I remembered you posting some good prices for Merc's tyres, etc., so thought they'd have mudguards listed.

Have you by chance got a picture of them, to give me an idea if they'd fit please?

If you ever wander out to the San Francisco area, please let me know. I live along the ocean in Half Moon Bay, about 20 miles south of SF. Nice place, lots of nice riding here. Come and have a cup of tea!

SC, thanks for the invite. Likewise, if you ever get to the Islands, send me a PM. You'll like the Maunakea bike. Were I to live in the Bay Area, it would be in HMB. It's sort of like the North Shore of Oahu vs. the urban area on the other side of a mountain range.

Were I to live in the Bay Area, it would be in HMB. It's sort of like the North Shore of Oahu vs. the urban area on the other side of a mountain range.
+ dense fog
+ frigid ocean

:)

+ dense fog
+ frigid ocean

:)

Not after global warming arrives...:D

No, EvilV, you're not going senile :-)

I haven't got a Merc, but I've been looking for mudguards for a 305, & a 406 wheel, for my recumbent which I'm riding regularly again now. I remembered you posting some good prices for Merc's tyres, etc., so thought they'd have mudguards listed.

Have you by chance got a picture of them, to give me an idea if they'd fit please?

Sorry john, I don't have any pictures over and above the merc pictures I've posted in the past. The spares are all up in the loft just now and I'm not going up there just now to photograph them. LOL - I know you aren't asking me too so don't be offended by that remark.

Anita's ebay shop has pictures but they aren't great and the ebay shop has a terrible picture of the front mudgaurd.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Front-mudguard_W0QQitemZ260110619603QQihZ016QQcategoryZ33503QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting


Here are some pictures of the merc with the mudguards visible. You know the wheel size so that might help. The front one has funny offset wire struts. They don't come down equally on both sides, and the rear one is held up at the rear on the rack. The front part of the rear one mounts to the frame so you would need to rig up your own wires somehow to mount it.

Pgotos here:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=2409608&postcount=68

Anita's ebay shop has pictures but they aren't great and the ebay shop has a terrible picture of the front mudgaurd.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Front-mudguard_W0QQitemZ260110619603QQihZ016QQcategoryZ33503QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting


Here are some pictures of the merc with the mudguards visible. You know the wheel size so that might help. The front one has funny offset wire struts. They don't come down equally on both sides, and the rear one is held up at the rear on the rack. The front part of the rear one mounts to the frame so you would need to rig up your own wires somehow to mount it.

Pgotos here:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=2409608&postcount=68

Agreed on those pic's, EvilV - hardly worth her publishing them.

From your description, it maybe isn't a good option actually, so I'll keep looking. Zefal make some for "kid's bikes" so I'll see what they're like.

So is the Sheeaune site affiliated with Anita, or one & the same?

Agreed on those pic's, EvilV - hardly worth her publishing them.

From your description, it maybe isn't a good option actually, so I'll keep looking. Zefal make some for "kid's bikes" so I'll see what they're like.

So is the Sheeaune site affiliated with Anita, or one & the same?

Its the same business. She and her husband run it I think john.

How are you doing?