Fifty Plus (50+) - Bought a folding bike - Dahon Speed D7

I work on a large industrial site, and often have to go between building. Sometimes multiple times per day. It can take 10-15 minutes of walking, or 3-5 minutes of driving to cover the distance. I hate the idea of driving, but sometimes cannot spare the time required to do the walk. And then there are the lunchtime walks that I enjoy, yet wish I were biking.

So in a quest to ride more when the weather gets better, I just took delivery of a folder. I'll keep it in my car parked within a minute or so of my office, and am looking to secure an indoor spot in the lobby of one of the distant buildings (for theft security). A few people know my plan, and I am hoping to start a trend. A small 'green' move, plus better heath and enjoyment for me.

There are quite a few people in my office who bring their bikes to work and go for recreational rides at lunchtime. I often bring my road bike and leave it in the back of my car. I'll change clothes, go for a ride, and put it back in my car before I go back to my office. Some keep their bikes in their offices. I do when I ride my bike to work in the summer.

Ted

Good application for a D7. They fold up very nicely, too.

Sounds like a good plan to me. I've read good things about the Dahons.

When I was with the press I sometime did stories at Dow Chem (or was it DuPont?) down the road. They had a bunch of bikes all over so anyone could hop on one and get across the plant. Always seemed pretty cool to me.

Pics?

I posted my experiences with the new bike over in the Folding forum, titled "What a Blast". I won't repeat the whole thread, but a nice break in winter weather this past week afforded me the opportunity for a 30-40 minute lunchtime ride around the Hudson Valley Research Park on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, and a bonus ride on Saturday at Bear Mountain State Park with my daughter.

Riding at work - what an attitude changer! I smiled for hours thereafter.

Did it feel different?

Great idea! Working at a university, with a parking spot a mile from my office and meeting sites spread out over several miles, I do something similar with my folder. I think of my car as the mother ship and the bike as the lunar module.

I tried keeping a bike in my car for a while, but the walk to the car and back was an obstacle that discouraged me. Now I keep a $50 beater bike chained in a bike rack 365 days a year. It has been there for 13 months so far with no vandalism or problem of any kind.

Took me a minute to picture it........then I got it. An executive on wheels.

This is tongue-in-cheek of course.

Did it feel different?

Sorry, but I don't think I understand your question. Were you referring to biking at work vs. biking with my 5 year old? If so, very different. Both a lot of fun, but in very different ways!