Folding Bikes - Totally new to folding bikes - did I make a mistake?

Just got back from riding it down the street and back. Fortunately the pain in my thumb was wiped out by the pain in my butt! (Methinks I will need to get the seat replaced!) And I'm a little wobbly as I haven't done much bike riding for a while (only an adult-sized trike and a stationary bike, both of which are quite different from this).

Oh, who am I kidding - I'm a LOT wobbly! I am definitely going to need a lot of practice before I am anywhere near commuting on this thing. In fact, I may get a different bike (one with more than one gear) for the commuting, and keep this as the toy (as I said earlier).

But overall I'm happy with it - it's exactly what the ad said it was, a folding bike, and I have folded & unfolded it and made sure it fit in the trunk of my car, so now I have a bike in my car and I'm ready to roll!

Just wanted to add - even though it's a simple bike & "it is what it is", I think I will probably wind up selling it (or perhaps giving it to a relative). Mainly because it's single speed and because of the unadjustable handlebars - also I'm just not all that comfortable riding it for long distances, and I really wanted something more comfortable.

Still, I'm not sorry I bought it. It's whetted my appetite for biking (in spite of the balancing fears I discussed in the Women's Forum yesterday) and made me want to go out and get something better. So for that alone, it was well worth the $$.

oh if its ANYTHING (and this should be a sticky in the 'folders' section of the forum) is, PRACTICE riding your folder before u commute. Seems common-sense, right? but a folder has slightly different geometric constraints that need to be sorted and re-learned by your body to make it a less-engaging challenge when surrounded by traffic, people, etc etc.

last thing we want is you to be mid-wobble and then have someone in a car honking at you to startle you.

and yes, the purchase price of the bike is fine enough for you to learn what you can/cannot/and eventually want out of your bike. i went down the same road, albeit, with the help of craigslist. cheers!

It's whetted my appetite for biking Welcome to the dark side. Keep us appraised of the folding bike purchases. :thumb:

Thanks, jur - and btw I loved looking at your photo essays, especially your commute! Gorgeous!!

Hey everyone! Thought I'd update this thread to let you know what happened with my very first folding bike, the Schwinn Hinge.

Turned out it just wasn't the best bike for me overall. Yes, it did fold & fit in my car, a big plus as I really just wanted (and still want!) something to take to the park or the beach without dealing with a bike rack.

However, even with an updated seat it just wasn't comfy enough for me (or as Whoopi Goldberg put it re: another bike, "booty friendly :) ).

All was not lost, however, as my mother-in-law really liked it. So I gave it to her, and bought a (non-folding) Electra Townie Cruiser.

I really like that as far as the ride & comfort. However, again, don't like dealing with the bike rack! So I'm looking at the folding bike market again.

Hoping to find something with the comfort & low step-through of the Townie, but that also folds. (Suggestions welcome!)

Weight & ease of using on buses & subways isn't really an issue for me anymore - 'cause I got downsized last fall! :cry: But on the plus side I've got a wonderful hubby who takes good care of me, and lots of free time to bike! :love:

Here you go step through 24" wheels and folds http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/2009/glide.htm

and bought a (non-folding) Electra Townie Cruiser.



after one mistake, you never learned your lesson (i am not mean just curious) and bought another one. and now that you bought a second bike you wanted to buy another folder which was your first intention when you bought the schwinn. you need to set a criteria on what you really want and we will start from there and help you with what folding bike is best for you.

but you've come to the right forum. there are so many out here that will unselfishly help you - just shout and everyone will listen...

after one mistake, you never learned your lesson (i am not mean just curious) and bought another one. and now that you bought a second bike you wanted to buy another folder which was your first intention when you bought the schwinn. you need to set a criteria on what you really want and we will start from there and help you with what folding bike is best for you.

but you've come to the right forum. there are so many out here that will unselfishly help you - just shout and everyone will listen...

I don't know about mean, but seriously, what are you talking about? I never learned my lesson - what lesson was that?

I bought the Schwinn Hinge out of curiousity and because folding bikes sounded like fun. But since comfort was my primary criteria, and it wasn't comfy enough for me, I gave the folder to my mom-in-law and bought an Electra Townie, which is quite comfy.

Now I'm just interested in seeing if there might be folders out there with similar construction/comfort as the Townie, for convenience, as my life circumstances have changed. How is that a "mistake" or "not learning my lesson"?

(Maybe you misread my other posts and thought I had bought more than just those two bikes ??)

Anyway, the bike that sparked my interest in the possibility of a comfy folding cruiser is the Citizen Bike Barcelona. Have also looked at the Schwinn Loop.

Since I haven't seen any other folders with that specific type of design (the low step-through & retro-style handlebards), I'm just askin' here. Okay? :)

Pretty most folding bikes are "step through" because of the geometry, so unless you really want the curvy design, any small-wheeled foldie will do. More info on what you want would be helpful, such as how many gears you want, what is the terrain you'll be riding, how much is your budget, etc.

If you really want the curvy design though, the Glide P8 (as linked by Dynocoaster) and Ciao P8 (http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/current/ciao.htm)are good ones.

Anyway, the bike that sparked my interest in the possibility of a comfy folding cruiser is the Citizen Bike Barcelona. :)

you bought your bikes before you asked that's what i meant. mostly the newbies or those that are just starting to ride folders in this forum will ask first before they will buy their bikes. i myself has learned a lot by asking questions in this forum. if i were you i will stay away from barcelona. check out dahons instead.

you bought your bikes before you asked that's what i meant. mostly the newbies or those that are just starting to ride folders in this forum will ask first before they will buy their bikes. i myself has learned a lot by asking questions in this forum. if i were you i will stay away from barcelona. check out dahons instead.

Er ... this forum (particularly this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/../showthread.php?617007-Just-got-the-Citizen-Bike-Barcelona...) by an actual owner) is where I first heard about the Barcelona. Could you please explain why I should follow your advice to stay away from it, rather than listen to someone who actually bought one and reviewed it here in detail?

I also read about the Schwinn Loop here, in this forum (various threads) - again by actual owners.

I'm glad you like your Dahon. I know a lot of people do. I may even wind up with one myself. They're readily available in my LBS. But I would like to see what else is out there before making a decision. OK? :D

nekohime, thanks for the suggestions! I do like the design of the Ciao P8. It's a little more than I am able to spend right now, though.

To answer your sensible questions:

My budget is @ $500, give or take $100.

Terrain I'd be riding: mostly beach and park bike paths - flat terrain.

Gears: More than one.

Also, I'm 5'2", 200 pounds, and have balance issues, which is why I like my Electra Townie design. That Ciao P8 looks very much like what I'm looking for. If I could only raise a little more $$ I would definitely consider it - it's very pretty! I'll certainly put it on my "wish list" in case someone gives me a really generous birthday present - thanks for the suggestion!

P.S. I'm going to start a new thread, as I have some questions about the two Dahons nekohime recommends.

Any crank can break, but generally won't, and these won't be plastic, they'll simply have a thin plastic coating over the metal; not that unusual. Frankly, weight aside, one crank is much like another; if it holds a chainring in position, and lets you attach pedals, you're not going to notice the difference much.

I'm going to make a radical suggestion. Don't buy a new bike. You've got time on your hands and a bike you love, use that. Instead of loading it into the car, climb on to it an cycle out the gate. Get a small backpack (and a lock) and go buy bread and milk. Put a book and head to a coffee shop to read in the sun. Cycle to that park and then head off on the trails. You'll be surprised how far you can go if you're in the right gear. And when you've got the miles under your belt, your fitness and (more importantly) road skills will have improved, so you can go faster and see more.

If your balance issues improve (they will to some extent: practice will make you more balanced on the bike, even if the underlying condition doesn't change), then you may be looking for quite a different bike to supplement your current one.

Oh, and I've just had a look at a Townie: forget the backpack: add a basket, and a floral dress and a straw hat and really enjoy the summer.

The problem with "riding it out the gate" is I live in a very crowded, traffic-intensive neighborhood where I really, really don't feel safe or comfortable riding a bike. I really need to tote it several miles away before I can ride it with what I feel is minimal safety.

(I do sometimes ride it around our neighborhood in the evening, after rush hour, but still prefer to just take it out to the beach, a good 20-30 mile trek.)

It's kind of a catch-22 - I can't ride it till I feel safe; but I can't feel safe till I ride it more!

UPDATE: you know what, though? It's a nice morning, kind of cloudy, not too hot, and rush hour is about over - I think you're right! I have a small package to tote to the Post Office, about 2 miles away - think I will try to bike it! I can do most of the trip on surface streets, if I'm careful it should be OK.

Wish me luck! I'll post again when I get back!! :)

OK, I'm back - hey, that was fun! I actually stayed on the bike the whole time (except one major intersection which makes me nervous even when I'm in a car - walked across that one!).

Next time I'll wear shorts under my skirt, though - got a few unexpected (and unwanted) compliments as I was riding into the wind! ;)

Thanks for the "challenge", jefmcg! :D

OK, I'm back - hey, that was fun! I actually stayed on the bike the whole time (except one major intersection which makes me nervous even when I'm in a car - walked across that one!).

Next time I'll wear shorts under my skirt, though - got a few unexpected (and unwanted) compliments as I was riding into the wind! ;)

Thanks for the "challenge", jefmcg! :D

All-right now you are biking. There is something very satisfying about doing something useful on a bike. If you continue like this you will find you can go most places safely using side streets and bike lanes etc during the day when everyone is working. I live in Kansas City a fairly big place and over the years I have found there is very few places I can't get to pretty safely.

Keep it up

Allen

OK, I'm back - hey, that was fun! I actually stayed on the bike the whole time (except one major intersection which makes me nervous even when I'm in a car - walked across that one!).

Next time I'll wear shorts under my skirt, though - got a few unexpected (and unwanted) compliments as I was riding into the wind! ;)

Thanks for the "challenge", jefmcg! :D

Wow! I'm so proud of you!

(I'll post more later, have to go to work now)

Yeah, it sounds like I will get pretty much what I wanted - a nice cheap bike to play around with till I can save up for something better.

So thanks for all your comments & advice! As I said, I will post a review once I've used it for a while. (I got the "free super saver" shipping so it won't be here for a couple of weeks.)

Woo woo to you too, werewolf! (if you like the Stooges, google "Stooges Woman" (2 words) and my website should be the first one to pop up - lots of good stooges stuff!)

When my father bought me my first folding bicycle-a Dahon Boardwalk S1 single speed-I did not know anything about folding bikes and a very limited knowledge about bikes in general-beyond the major differences between a department store one and a bike shop one. The simple Dahon opened up a whole new world of alternative transportation options for people like me with-ahem-limited funds & income. If you have an opportunity to do so, I would always choose this Dahon model over anything else in the "cheap" price range to start with. I upgraded and "dressed" up mine over the years. Now that I am ready to part with it, the parts can and will follow to my newest bike. And you are lucky to be married to a man that is comfortable with anything mechanical to help you out during this getting-to-know-your-bike period. Don't worry whatever happens you are sure to be surprised at this same world opening up for you.

Don't miss my Website series to help you along (see below):

Hey Baboo - I grew up in Kansas City, MO and was just back there recently to visit my 98-year-old grandpa!

He lives near Ward Parkway Mall - know where that is?

Also, guess what he wants for Christmas? A BIKE!!!

And not one of those "old people bikes" (his words!) - he wants a red racing bike, like he had when he was a kid!

I totally sympathize, but I don't think my parents are going to be too thrilled to hear about this! :D

folderfanatic, I just saw a Dahon Boardwalk S1 on my local Craigslist for $180 and was considering going over to look at it - do you think that's a reasonable price, assuming it's in good condition?

(and p.s. - sorry about your cat! :( )

(also just saw a Dahon Ciao for $550 - now *that* looks promising! Have sent an email requesting more info!)

Were we having a discussion about the best saddle?

Nice looking bike though!

Hey Baboo - I grew up in Kansas City, MO and was just back there recently to visit my 98-year-old grandpa!

He lives near Ward Parkway Mall - know where that is?

Also, guess what he wants for Christmas? A BIKE!!!

And not one of those "old people bikes" (his words!) - he wants a red racing bike, like he had when he was a kid!

I totally sympathize, but I don't think my parents are going to be too thrilled to hear about this! :D

Good for grandpa, sure I know where Ward Parkway mall is actually been there on my bike, and I live in Shawnee.

My name Baboo was given to me by my grandchildren so I am kinda in my second childhood.

My favorite bike is always my last-born, currently I have 4 of them. The last being a Bike Friday NWT, custom built for me. I just love this little folder and ride
it almost exclusively.

Good luck with your riding.

Allen

This may be a bit counter intuitive, but the softer saddle is not always the most comfortable. I learned this the hard way when I replaced a relatively firm saddle, with a soft gel saddle. The soft gel saddle was almost unrideable. I ended up replacing that with another firm saddle and was happy.

A good example of a comfortable hard saddle is a Brooks leather saddle. Even broken in they feel as hard as a board, yet they are very comfortable to ride. They are firm, so that when you sit on them, you rest on the two boney parts of your butt, and your you know whats aren't squished. Despite being hard, the broken in saddle has some give, and so absorbs some of the impact on the boney part of your butt.

Speedo

(edit) I should add a capital YMMV. Finding the right saddle is the most difficult thing a cyclist has to do. I just wanted to point out that the softer = comfortable rule isn't something you can rely on with a saddle. (/edit)



Mister Speedo fielded question one. A soft saddle that a novice would think would be more comfortable will likely lead to numbness and chafing and inefficient peddling. As he says, this is counterintuitive. The other post that I disagree with is cranks breaking due to pressure put on them. Any crank, no matter how cheap, should be built to cope with much more than the maximum possible pressure that could ever be expected to be placed upon them.

Gentlemen (I assume),

Since Stoogewoman is obviously female (like me), perhaps I can chime in a bit. The best saddle (in general) for women is not a rock hard tiny shrimpy little number intended for mostly men. The best one has a little more width in the back (but not a tractor type), firm with a tiny amount of give (like a good pair of walking shoes), shorter nose, and perhaps some suspension in the form of springs (I use 2 rear ones). These are usually called "Cruiser" saddles popular before the 10 speed craze of the early 1970s and still sold on "cruiser" or "beach" bikes-and used on all my folding bikes like the one below. Younger women might get by with a "man's saddle" for a time. I know I did when I was younger and used bent over racing type bikes. But as I aged, I changed my riding position (upright), my torso-ahem-changed, and my general reach did not. So there you are.

Terry manufactures anatomically correct saddles and they fit great. IMHO.

folder-fanatic - Oh yes. I have a cruiser saddle on my trike and it feels great now. But the first few days going from a tractor seat to a saddle was murder. What type of saddle is on your folder though? I'm currently using a Sefras E-Gel HSS saddle.

Something tells me I may have to change the saddle on the folder but I'll give it a try for a while first.

dynocoaster - I'm looking up the Terry saddles also.

P.S. I made the mistake of seeing a horror movie close to bedtime and now like a little kid I can't get to sleep. But now after writing a few post, I'm getting sleepy. Thank God!!!

Ditto to folder-fanatic, you are so right! In spite of my "built-in padding" I do need a little extra!

folder-fanatic - Oh yes. I have a cruiser saddle on my trike and it feels great now. But the first few days going from a tractor seat to a saddle was murder. What type of saddle is on your folder though? I'm currently using a Sefras E-Gel HSS saddle.

Something tells me I may have to change the saddle on the folder but I'll give it a try for a while first.

dynocoaster - I'm looking up the Terry saddles also.

P.S. I made the mistake of seeing a horror movie close to bedtime and now like a little kid I can't get to sleep. But now after writing a few post, I'm getting sleepy. Thank God!!!

I use both those popular brands here in Southern California that cater to the cruisin' beach crowd, Nirve & Electra. My Brompton has the Nirve (http://www.nirve.com/) saddle and the Twenty will inherit my Electra (https://www.electrabike.com/home.php) saddle from the Piccolo. I hope Nekohime does not mind me stating that she tried my Brompton and bought her own saddle from Electra based on my Brompton's one I think. Both brands are very similar to each other as far as built, styles, general "feel," and durability goes. Just click on the above links to go directly to the online stores for a complete list of styles and ideas.


Ditto to folder-fanatic, you are so right! In spite of my "built-in padding" I do need a little extra!

Everyone is different. But the needs of your own body will dictate what you need in a saddle. It is still a very personal choice that may not reflect how much you pay for the saddle or especially what the other cyclists use. When I bought the Electra saddle from one of my bike shops, the mechanic was surprised at my selection. He thought it would not be comfortable for me (far from it as I still use it after 4 years).

Hey everyone, thought I'd update this. Since I started the thread, I've had to give up my folding bikes altogether. After a bad fall, I developed sciatica and the folding bike was just too uncomfortable.

In fact, I had to give up riding bikes altogether for several months. However, a couple of months ago I got back on the Electra Townie (non-folding) and have been able to ride for 10 or 15 minutes at a time.

If I could find a folder that was as comfortable as the Townie I'd be there. Any suggestions?

Oh, and my 98-year-old grandpa that I referred to earlier passed away in March, at age 99. He never did get that bike, though I would like to believe there was one waiting for him on the other side. :)

I'd think that you would be particularly sensitive to any changes from the Townie. Obviously something like a Bike Friday could be custom sized but I'd probably not even think about another bike until your health improves more. YMMV.

Sorry you've had a rough time. The loss of a grandparent is always sad, but 99 years! Dammit, it's hard to complain.

The sciatica is a different thing: no one should have to deal with that.

I can't improve on invisiblehand. Stick with your lovely townie for now, and then when you are ready, there will be a lot of road testing to find the right folder.

Around London I don't see many with that geometry. But then, maybe an old Raleigh 20 might just feel right.

The Citizen Barcelona reminds me of a Townie. (Or is that what you had in the first place?)

Hey everyone, thought I'd update this. Since I started the thread, I've had to give up my folding bikes altogether. After a bad fall, I developed sciatica and the folding bike was just too uncomfortable.

In fact, I had to give up riding bikes altogether for several months. However, a couple of months ago I got back on the Electra Townie (non-folding) and have been able to ride for 10 or 15 minutes at a time.

If I could find a folder that was as comfortable as the Townie I'd be there. Any suggestions?

Oh, and my 98-year-old grandpa that I referred to earlier passed away in March, at age 99. He never did get that bike, though I would like to believe there was one waiting for him on the other side. :)

I am sure that there is a nice special folding bike for your grandfather over there. I am sorry for your loss.

O.k., now to the folding bikes. To give you an idea on, not just folding bikes-any bike for that matter, should be ones that can be adjusted to your special or ever changing needs as mine seem to be.

Choices of bikes/trikes: All my folding bikes have these features in common. I always select these type of bikes/trikes for my own use. I have found them to be very comfortable and safe for all sorts of riding and use.

My back has been giving me trouble for many years. I have Scoliosis all my life like many women (and even some men) have. Plus I injured my lower back at work when I was in my mid-twenties. So.....I do have to select bikes (and trikes) that take care of my back. My previous folding bikes (Dahon Boardwalk at 20 inch wheel size and the Piccolo at 16 inch wheel) plus my present ancient Raleigh Twenty (wheel size 406) and Brompton (wheel size 349) are all feature a lower step over frame that allows me not to climb over or swing a leg over something to get on the bike. The lower frame does permit me to get off the bike in case I have to rapidly and/or unexpectedly dismount. The smaller in diameter wheels offer a nice lower center of gravity-making the bike even safer and less inclined to tumble over.


Sorry you've had a rough time. The loss of a grandparent is always sad, but 99 years! Dammit, it's hard to complain.

The sciatica is a different thing: no one should have to deal with that.

I can't improve on invisiblehand. Stick with your lovely townie for now, and then when you are ready, there will be a lot of road testing to find the right folder.

Around London I don't see many with that geometry. But then, maybe an old Raleigh 20 might just feel right.

If you like to return to using a folding/separating bike, Look into purchasing an ancient 1970s to mid-1980s Raleigh Twenty as suggested above if you can locate one on Craigslist, on these forums, or elsewhere. I like the solid feel and stability of these bikes-but they are rather heavy compared to modern folding ones. Or if you really want stability over all else (plus 20" wheels, and easy to mount/climb on), look into adult tricycles. I am in the market for one just like my other folders. This bike can too fold down into a smaller package, and has the added feature of not have to worry about keeping your balance all the time-or keeping a leg down when completely stopped. Here is my choice when I can afford to finance it: http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/adulttrikes.html (http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/adulttrikes.html)

Believe it or not, I actually HAD one of those adult trikes! But I wound up giving it away to an elderly man whose wife posted a plea on Craigslist for one, after his had been stolen.

So I made some new friends but lost a trike!

But I really didn't mind because I went to see them in person, and enjoyed seeing him able to ride again. :)

Slightly OT but there is a wonderful elderly lady in our part of the Valley who I see just about every day on the bike trails, riding her adult trike. She is very frail and looks like a good wind would blow her away, but she pedals that thing with a BIG SMILE on her face, and looks really happy! It always inspires me to see her! :love:

'sfunny, the first thing that popped in my head when I saw yer moniker was Iggy Pop...

PS - Many things come to mind regarding the San Fernando Valley, but 'achingly beautiful' doesn't spring to mind. Topanga Canyon and Malibu Canyon are close, and so are the beaches. I do know of a really good Italian restaurant in Simi. Lived in Tarzana as a kid, and worked/lived in Studio city and Sherman Oaks.

Best claim to fame was "Valley Girl" by Zappa.

Ommagod! Totaly tubular