Folding Bikes - I feel like a rock star!

Ok, not exactly :) but I've sure gotten a lot of attention with my folder. It's only been 3 days since I started my commute and I've been approached by probably a dozen people.

It's kinda nice to connect with strangers. Brief, but comforting in a "we're all part of the human family" sorta way.

Or maybe I just never received too much attention as a kid? :p

Bask in it :D
except when you are late for a train !

Lately, I too have been getting a lot of questions and comments about my folder. Most people are very curious and can instantly see the intelligence and practicality in owning a folder but are hesitant about ever getting one for themselves. By reading their faces, I can tell that they are scared of owning something so out of the norm and that it might make them look like a nerd or loser. Switching to a folding bike is basically like changing your religion or more aptly, losing it.

Lately, I too have been getting a lot of questions and comments about my folder. Most people are very curious and can instantly see the intelligence and practicality in owning a folder but are hesitant about ever getting one for themselves. By reading their faces, I can tell that they are scared of owning something so out of the norm and that it might make them look like a nerd or loser. Switching to a folding bike is basically like changing your religion or more aptly, losing it.

I think buying a folder is one of it being so "high price." Most people are conditioned to pay no more than $100 or so US dollars unless it is a high end road or mountain bike and the person in question is more into biking as a "sport" or other such activity. I usually get a glassy eye spaced out look when someone asks me how much the bike costs-and my bikes are the basic no frills models. But with the rising gas prices most everywhere, I expect more interest as time goes on and less of the spaced out look. The most serious buyers simply ask me where the bike was bought.

I think buying a folder is one of it being so "high price." Most people are conditioned to pay no more than $100 or so US dollars unless it is a high end road or mountain bike and the person in question is more into biking as a "sport" or other such activity. I usually get a glassy eye spaced out look when someone asks me how much the bike costs-and my bikes are the basic no frills models. But with the rising gas prices most everywhere, I expect more interest as time goes on and less of the spaced out look. The most serious buyers simply ask me where the bike was bought.

Haha, I get the opposite--some people estimate my cheapie Kent's price at $500 or more. One lady on the train even estimated it at $1000!!! :eek: They're always surprised that I got it for less than $200. Hm, maybe I should try flipping the bike to one of the more interested askers...

I love riding around on folders, and the getting to know other people part is definitely a great perk. When I can afford it, I'm definitely gonna get a better one. After China, I will start saving up for a Dahon Curve or Ciao and bask in the ooohs and aaaahs those models would get. :p

Rather than start a new thread, I'll add a "me too" to this one. I've had my bike only 2 weeks and so many people have approached me and asked me about my Dahon, even on the conversationless train.

What's the craziest thing anyone's said to you about your bike?

When people ask me how much my folder cost, I say "5 tanks of gas, tomorrow it'll be 4.";)

Sotto, that is a great way of putting things... If they can afford to drive for three or four weeks, they can afford the bike.


R-20's : Costs me less than a tank of gas, and doesnt stink when it gets on my shoes!

By reading their faces, I can tell that they are scared of owning something so out of the norm and that it might make them look like a nerd or loser. Switching to a folding bike is basically like changing your religion or more aptly, losing it.

There's definitely something in that. An ex colleague of mine came by when he was in the area and saw my Merc with its 16 inch wheels and laughed. He said, 'Jeez - I bet you look a bit special needs on that.' I refrained from hitting him since he is 6'7" tall, and laughed instead.

I've had my folder for less than a week, and I'm already used to people asking me about it. People will say "cool bike!" out of nowhere. A group of middle school kids started applauding when I rode by (They old me it was for the bike.) My neighbor asked, with a grin, if I can do tricks on it. Two people at work have tried riding it. Folks ask me where they can get one. Yeah, it's kinda cool. I tell people not to get a folding bike if they don't like strangers striking up conversations with them. :)

I bought a folder within weeks of chatting up a guy on a tikit. (Nevermind that we were in front of a Dunkin Donuts). I thought I was crazy because I already had two perfectly good bikes. Of course I've since learned that I'm much less crazy than some... uh, in this regard.

My best day out - one in a pack of 10-12ish boys exclaimed "That bike is sick! Cool!", then a lone roadie passed me going the other way, said "Nice bike" and kinda grinned. Oh sure maybe he was being sarcastic. I prefer to think not.

I've only had one derisive comment on a folder:

It was a guy on a fixie who was going in the opposite direction and made an obviously forced obnoxious laugh at my Downtube VIIIH (presumably because of the wheel size?). It's hard to understand what he was laughing at since I think the VIIIH is rather cool looking and my wheels were within a few inches of his. God only knows what he would have done if I were riding my Carryme; Most people don't say anything and just start snapping pictures.

I get at least one comment or question every day on my bike... usually multiple comments or questions. Lucky me, I'm the gregarious and open type. :)

The question that is asked most often is, "how much does that bike cost?" followed by "what kind of bike is that?" followed by ""Does that thing fit in your pocket?"

The comment most often uttered in my general direction is... "Cool Bike!"

--sam

then a lone roadie passed me going the other way, said "Nice bike" and kinda grinned. Oh sure maybe he was being sarcastic. I prefer to think not.

I give folders a shout-out when I'm on my road bike. Don't assume it was sarcasm just because it was a roadie.

I give folders a shout-out when I'm on my road bike. Don't assume it was sarcasm just because it was a roadie.

+1, I do the same.

My Birdy gets me tons of attention everywhere I go. It's generally nice, except when I'm in a hurry.

I'm also not sure how to answer the "how much did it cost?" question. I just tell people there is a large range of folding bikes available at different price points. I guess I'm a little nervous about someone scoping it out to decide if it's worth stealing.

+1, I do the same.

My Birdy gets me tons of attention everywhere I go. It's generally nice, except when I'm in a hurry.

I'm also not sure how to answer the "how much did it cost?" question. I just tell people there is a large range of folding bikes available at different price points. I guess I'm a little nervous about someone scoping it out to decide if it's worth stealing.

I generally just answer the question. I'll try your answer, though, it's a good one.

I do the same thing regarding cost. I tell people there is a range of prices for folding bikes. Mine happens to cost X, but there are cheaper ones and more expensive ones... just like any bicycle.

--sam

The only negative comment I've received was from my laugh-a-minute brother, who told me that I looked like a trained bear while on a folder. I told him to be careful as one never knows when a wild animal will go on a rampage. :p


I feel like a rock star!
That's the way I always think of you, Eugene. :thumb:

If someone I don't really know asks the price of my BF out of idle curiousity, I'll tend to say something like, "Well, this one is pretty expensive because it was custom made, but you can get folders for around the cost of normal bikes." If they seem like they are asking the question because they've been considering a folder, I may go into exhaustive detail (i.e., "I also went for a custom color - stealth black - even though there was a $50 upcharge...")

I'm ok with saying the price of my bike since it's cheap anyway. If I get a more expensive one though (soon my preciouuuuusssss... sooooooon), I'll probably say what ms. incredible says, or say something like "well, it depends on the model, but you can look it up online"

I'm ok with saying the price of my bike since it's cheap anyway. If I get a more expensive one though (soon my preciouuuuusssss... sooooooon), I'll probably say what ms. incredible says, or say something like "well, it depends on the model, but you can look it up online"

If people ask me what folders cost, I'll have to clarify if they mean the bikes or the addiction.....:D

When people ask me how much my folder cost, I say "5 tanks of gas, tomorrow it'll be 4.";)
I like it! We should have our own currency conversion. For Americans $80USD = ƒ1TOG (ƒ for folder pricing in "tank of gas" units). So my folder costs ƒ7 ($560).

I think the "tank of gas" pricing is very good.

I have to agree with what Folder Fanatic said earlier, peoples eyes just glass over when you tell them what a quality folder costs. The average person has no idea what a quality folder costs - such as her Brompton or our Fridays. They can relate to the $129.00 my single speed Dahon cost, but likely not to the $135.00 I paid for the Thudbuster seat post that adorns that bike.

The problem is that most folks see regular bikes at WalMart for $49.00-$79.00 or in sporting goods store ads for $159.00-$359.00 They never see the Bicycling Magazines with the ads and test reports on a plethora of bikes from $3,000-$12,000.

My wife handles it pretty well - she says there is a wide range of prices depending on what meets one's needs.

It can be dangerous to talk about bikes and money at the same time. I was recently talking to my father late at night over the phone, and telling him about my shiny new $7K hospital bill. Then somehow shortly after we got on the subjects of bikes. The next day I got 3 different phone calls from family members asking me why on Earth I spent $7K on a bike.

I don't get the rock star thing so much though. I don't live in an area where I commute on the bike. I mainly got a folder to keep in the trunk when I'm traveling, but most of the time it stays assembled and ready to ride in the garage, so no one sees it folded up. My last bike was a recumbent, and you can imagine what riding that around people is like. Everyone wanted to know everything about it when I rolled by. It always got a smile out of people. On my folding bike though, I feel like I'm in an invisible bubble. No one ever pays me any attention as I ride by.

It's kind of nice. :)

.....
I'm also not sure how to answer the "how much did it cost?" question. .... I guess I'm a little nervous about someone scoping it out to decide if it's worth stealing.

Yes, that's a good point. You could always say "Oh, it was a present" (maybe truthfully to yourself) thus avoiding answering that directly.



EvilV

I hope your kickstart leg is mending well?

In the UK, conformism is pretty much the norm, & many people who could benefit from a folding bicycle never will, because such bicycles don't fit the "normal" pattern.

Likewise with cars, one finds whole neighbourhoods with a particular "class" of car, & nothing less would fit in. It's all very sad.

In the UK, conformism is pretty much the norm, & many people who could benefit from a folding bicycle never will, because such bicycles don't fit the "normal" pattern.

Likewise with cars, one finds whole neighbourhoods with a particular "class" of car, & nothing less would fit in. It's all very sad.

Good observation and sadly SO true.
The press have a lot to answer for - pointing out differences to 'the norm', usually in a negative way. Then picked up by TV, and radio - even the BBC seem to be staffed by ex-tabloid journos - why let a well researched, balanced story get in the way of a bit of negative sensationalism.

When people ask me how much my folder cost, I say "5 tanks of gas, tomorrow it'll be 4.";)


Ain't it the truth! My pickup truck holds 25 gallons @ $4 = $100. $100 used to be a lot of money. Just a few fillups = the nicest bike that will last a lifetime and cost nothing to run and provide tremendous enjoyment and practicality and health benefits besides.

The only negative comment I've received was from my laugh-a-minute brother, who told me that I looked like a trained bear while on a folder. I told him to be careful as one never knows when a wild animal will go on a rampage. :p


...


I think I actually do look like a trained (trained?) bear on my folder, because I am a big guy on this thing with little wheels and it's an unusual sight - and yes, I do tend to become dangerous and rampaging, particularly when my trainer forgets to feed me on time...or when there's a full moon.

When he sees me rolling into work with my Brompton, my co-worker sings the circus tune that is typically in the background when animals ride an unicycle.

When he sees me rolling into work with my Brompton, my co-worker sings the circus tune that is typically in the background when animals ride an unicycle.

My wife does the same thing. We've taken to calling my Brompton a "clown bike."

It is delightful to watch how the faces of little children light up when they see my bike. Once there was a baby in a pram who shouted ‘baby bike!’ when she/he saw my bike pass by.

When people ask me how much my folder cost, I say "5 tanks of gas, tomorrow it'll be 4.";) Great response, although mine comes out to more like 16 tanks of gas. :lol: But I've got a small car so a big SUV will probably make it 5! It's crazy over here in SoCal... I still see a lot of Hummers on the roads here and I imagine they're paying over $100 per fill up. :twitchy:

My dahon helios gets, "That thing is from 007?"

18 more months and the craze will be over.

Well, I have been thankful for the decline in viewer comments while riding the folder since I mostly ride recumbents, during which the refrains of "sick bike" and "cool bike" never cease.

Yes. It is an unexpected sensation. Just a couple weeks ago. I used by bike to complete some errands. I was entering a store and locking up my bikes. Two kids about 14 , for once did not hassle me. They seemed interested in my bike. I was wearing a Credit Agricoe jersey. They asked if I were a professional cyclist. Me , about 20 lbs overweight. Age 14. They have some growing to do. Here , instead of harassment, more often than not, kids treat cyclists as 'rock stars.'

Nobody has ever commented on my bike. Do you think it's my duelling scars frightening them off?

--

Sue

When people ask me how much my folder cost, I say "5 tanks of gas, tomorrow it'll be 4.";)

I am going to borrow this next time I get asked how much it costs. Hmm, let's see, 6-10 tanks of gas, depending on how big your car is. ;)

I tell people it cost less than half of one year's gym membership, with better views, and fewer people sweating on you ;)

Given that folding bikes have been around for over 20 years, why do people think there is a craze over them now?

Nobody has ever commented on my bike. Do you think it's my duelling scars frightening them off?

Nope. It's the facial tattoos. ;)

Given that folding bikes have been around for over 20 years, why do people think there is a craze over them now?

Increasing gas prices and traffic make alternate commuting options more attractive now, and the longer distances that people are generally commuting (because of housing prices) means that multimodal commutes (mixed public transit / bike) are more often becoming good options.