Folding Bikes - My Mini Arrived!

Very excited - built it up right away, and took it for a ride. All bearings were sensibly adjusted, and to my surprise, the hub was 95% on the button too; a couple of shifts skipped a little, but I'm confident it'll be dandy with a tweak. Can someone remind where I can find the instructions for that?

Riding wise, I was pleased to find that it pretty much fit me - with the post all the way out, my thin soled work shoes on, and my arches rather than balls-of-the-foot on the pedals, I was at full extension. I'd like to go 1/4-1/2 inch higher, but it aint the end of the world for commute distances. The gearing, so far, seems perfect, though it'll be interesting to try the lowest gear on the very steep path out of the station. I'm able to push 7th round reasonably easily on a flat road, and 8th, a big step up, feels like it'll be perfect for descents. The stempost felt a little wobbly, which I expected to some extent, but most of that was sorted by tweaking up the hinge bolt a little. I think for someone my size, the Mini is probably a better fit than a Brompton, and I'm really looking forward to giving it a proper trial on a commute. In the meantime, it's also coming on World Naked Bike Ride, but it'll be ridden by a voluptuous young woman, so it should garner some attention! I'm wondering how I might hang a sign on it, without springing for another seatpost rack.

In the near future, I hope you'll be seeing this bike in the national papers, men's magazines, and certainly in the bike press, as my PR campaign can now kick into gear. Pics to come soon!

Did you get the new 2009 model? I'm curious to see how they are. :)

What type of saddle will Lady Downtubediva be using?

Well, I have the impression that the standard saddle may not be quite right for her womanly behind, and I also have a theory that with a sprung Brooks on there, it'd make the height I need. I have a black B66 waiting for me to get round to building my R20, so I'm thinking I'll shove that on there, and perhaps bite the bullet and get a QR rack in too. I'll need to put the saddle back to standard for my press jag, however, so it'll be a temporary change.

Did you get the new 2009 model? I'm curious to see how they are. :)

I deliberately didn't because from what Yan told me, the new stempost means the cockpit is a little shorter, and given that I'm 6'3, and after it's done it's press duty, the Mini will be my personal bike, I thought it better to have the previous stempost. I don't think the difference is huge, but I'm over the size the Mini is really designed for, and it made sense to make every little count!

Congrats, Sammyboy. You'll have lots of fun riding it. It's my favorite all-around folder.

Keep in mind Dr. Jur's Nirvana Suspension mod. It's a very worthwhile, easy improvement, especially for bigger guys.

I may make that mod, but not til the bike has done its press duty. For now, it's standard all the way....

...I also have a theory that with a sprung Brooks on there, it'd make the height I need...

Don't forget, the "butt buddy" could give you the extra leg extension that you seek :thumb:

http://www.sidetrak.com/Catalog/components.html

Yeah, I've actually contacted Sidetrak about offering that through Velo Chocolate. Could definitely be a solution for me - 2 inches is plenty.

Very excited <snip> - In the meantime, it's also coming on World Naked Bike Ride, but it'll be ridden by a voluptuous young woman, so it should garner some attention! <snip> Pics to come soon!Yep don't forget the pics!

Bahahahaha. We'll see whether she features in the "publicity pics" from that day, but they'll have to be "safe for work"

Ok, so I went and put the Brooks on, and it's not quite enough height for me. A Butt Buddy is in my future. However, the bike looks great, and there's a nice QR seatpost rack on the way, so I can hang signs on the bike for World Naked Bike Ride. Here are the pics - sorry for the busy background (my ridiculous bike storage), but it was raining quite hard, and I was trying to stay dry. After I put on the Brooks, it stopped for a moment, so I got one on a better background, but the light was still awful.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/P5280004.jpg
Folded (tiny, but not as small as a Brommie)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/P5280005.jpg
Unfolded
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/P5280006.jpg
And with Brooks

So when is this magnificent beast going to be available to us humble UK punters ? Can Velo chocolate nor conspire with some south seas pirates to high jack a container or two ?

It'll be available in the next couple of weeks, basically as soon as the photography on the new version is done. It'll ship from the States, but we'll have a fixed sterling price, and a good estimate of shipping times, so you'll know what to expect.

... A Butt Buddy is in my future. ...

I got one on my Mini, and I like it. I now ride with the seat post at the full extension mark, which is psychically more comfortable than having it over-extended.

Two suggestions for the makers of the Butt Buddy:

--it would be nice to offer a little more front-back adjustability;
--I really dislike the name.

I know whhat you mean by the name, when I saw " a butt buddy in my future" it made me chuckle.

Yeah, I think if we enter into an agreement to sell it, we might use a different name. Bumchum, possibly.....

Bumchum, possibly.....

Tushcush!

DerriereAmortir

I deliberately didn't because from what Yan told me, the new stempost means the cockpit is a little shorter...Do you have any more inside info of what the shorter post entails? Is it like the original, where the handlebars are clamped directly on the end of the post a la Dahon, without a stem?