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!!