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

Hi everyone!

I'm new both to this forum and to folding bikes. (In fact, I've only recently taken up biking again, period!)

The past few weeks I've had the idea that it might be neat to have a folding bike in my trunk. On my way to/from work, I drive past a big park with some inviting looking bike trails and sometimes I wish I could just stop, pop out a bike & ride for a little bit. I drive a tiny Toyota, so needless to say, a folding bike sounds pretty good!

To make a long story longer :rolleyes:, I'm an impulse buyer. And yesterday - before I discovered this forum - I ordered a "Schwinn Hinge Folding Bike" from Amazon. It has 2 good customer reviews & was on sale for $169 (free shipping) so I thought that sounded like a pretty good deal for what I was looking for.

But now I'm wondering -- did I make a mistake?? I've found some less-than-salutory comments about Schwinn here in your forum's archives.

It's too late to cancel the order as it's already shipped. And unless the bike is a total disaster, I would still want to keep it in the trunk & ride it from time to time. And I still want to buy a better-quality folding bike later on, for commuting purposes.

So give it to me straight - is it going to be a total disaster which I should return, unopened, if at all possible? Or could it serve as a decent/cheap introduction to folders for this "newbie"?

Thanks for your opinions - appreciated! :thumb:

It's probably not going to be a total disaster. I'm super impulsive and bought a Downtube without much research and didn't really like it, even though they get rave reviews here; I bought a Tikit afterwards (1 week to be precise). I keep the Downtube in my room but don't ride it, and will probably let my friend borrow it over the summer.

If you keep it, you'll be able to ride it and decide what you don't like about it. It'll make the next purchase easier, since you'll know what to look for.

It's probably not going to be a total disaster. I'm super impulsive and bought a Downtube without much research and didn't really like it, even though they get rave reviews here; I bought a Tikit afterwards (1 week to be precise). I keep the Downtube in my room but don't ride it, and will probably let my friend borrow it over the summer.

If you keep it, you'll be able to ride it and decide what you don't like about it. It'll make the next purchase easier, since you'll know what to look for.

That's good to know - thanks!! As MST3K says, maybe I should just relax. :)

The best thing you could have done is ask about it here :thumb: So now we can advise you.

The bike may be just fine for you; one thing that you must realise, is that after that long off the bike, you will very likely prefer an upright riding position. Additionally, one bike won't seem all that different from another wrt to its parts and quality. So from this point of view, it's good that you got a low cost one.

Once you are happy with riding, you may find the saddle is uncomfortable. That can be replaced. Perhaps later you'll find the gears aren't very suitable for your needs. And so on. Eventually, if you keep riding and build some knowledge and experience, it may be time to look for a better quality bike and let this one go on ebay (or just keep it as a backup).

Another very important thing to keep in mind, if the bike is an awful experience (not all that likely though), don't get discouraged and stop riding altogether. There are some absolutely excellent bikes out there for very reasonable cost. One of them will be perfect for you and riding will become a joy to look forward to. :thumb:

Cool, jur! My husband is handy with tools so maybe I will nag him to replace the seat for me (or just take it to a bike shop).

I'll post a review once I get it & ride it! Meantime I'll start educating myself towards the *next* bike!

that bike looks like the folder I learned how to ride on when I was ten.
only it had a coaster brake. a great learning experience, learned how to fix
my own flats and just great fun for a ten year old. can't ask for more when
you're that age. Pre Internet.
sometimes the simple things are the best things.

Yeah, but ... I'm a little older than ten now ! ;-)

Stoogeswoman, I like your name! Woo woo woo!

I think you can refuse to accept the package when it arrives, and then it will be returned to Amazon for refund at no cost to you.

Then you can listen to the experts here and get a better folder that you will enjoy more instead.

Cool, jur! My husband is handy with tools so maybe I will nag him to replace the seat for me (or just take it to a bike shop).

I'll post a review once I get it & ride it! Meantime I'll start educating myself towards the *next* bike!I mentioned the seat as an example only - it may be fine. Soft padded seats are OK for short trips but for longer rides, the pressure over the entire seat area causes lack of blood flow with associated numbness. For longer rides, paradoxically a firmer saddle is best.

It's perfectly fine for riding in the park. Even if you use it and don't like it wouldn't Amazon accept a return anyway? I'd go for it, it's an economical start back into the world of bikes.

However for the extra $200 you can get a bike like the Downtube with nice 8 speed hub gears which would double for the park trails and commute:
http://www.downtube.com/product535.html

If you have been away from biking for awhile, you might find any bike to be geared too high. This can usually be changed. If you have any hills, have low 20's for gear-inches in your lowest gear. This is unless you are otherwise very athletic, or you have an expensive ultralight bike.

The Schwinn Hinge bike has no gearing I believe and is single speed. Fine for a flat park but very limited for the average user in other situations.

$169 is fairly cheap. How much does it weigh? Cheap parts might be another problem. See hubs and Bottom Bracket maintenance on parktool.com. The single speed is not the problem you might think, once you get used to it you might prefer it.

I got a pretty cheap bike too--the Kent Ultralite, it cost about the same as yours--and I'm ok with it. I take it on my daily commute, and I ride anywhere between 5-10mi on it per day. Like others said above, now that I have more riding experience, I'm wanting a more expensive bike with better specs, better saddle(!!!!!!!) aero riding position, etc. But as an intro to folding bikes for a student on a budget, cheap folders can't be beat!

Here's the bike she's talking about:

http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-S2278-Hinge-Folding-Bike/dp/B000Y2ZFQ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1212512461&sr=8-1

See comments: Cranks are made of plastic. Say what?

Actually, I wouldn't mind having a cheap folder if it was halfway decent, and could support my weight and fit me, something that I could chain up to the bike rack. I wish my Swift had a luggage rack on it, like that Schwinn. That's one of the things i don't like about the Swift - no place to put a luggage rack, except attached to the seat post, and that has problems.

We probably would have encouraged you to go in a little different direction if you would have talked to us first (Actually, the Schwinn Loop doesn't look like a bad little bike). Having said this, you'll probably be able to use this bike for exactly what you want and you didn't spend an arm & a leg to get it.

Put miles on it. Have fun. Let us know what you think of it. If after a little while you decide you want a different bike that is more 'high end', you know where to come.

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!)

Here's the bike she's talking about:

http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-S2278-Hinge-Folding-Bike/dp/B000Y2ZFQ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1212512461&sr=8-1

See comments: Cranks are made of plastic. Say what?

Yep, that's the one! I'm embarrassed to say I don't really know what the "crank" is, or whether it should be made of plastic or green cheese. :o

By the way, I told my husband about it last night. He's fine with it & said he'd check it over & put on a new seat or whatever I needed, if necessary.

(It's so nice to be married to a guy with lots of tools! :love:)

I will definitely be looking up your 3 stooges website, Stoogewoman!

The cranks are the part of the bike that attaches the pedals to the bottom bracket. This is a most critical part, a part that has to bear your weight when you are pushing hard on the pedals and standing up on the pedals, like when you are accelerating or going uphill. You definitely do not want this part to snap in half, possibly breaking your leg, pelvis, whatever.

Maybe I'm not up to date on the latest Walmart junk bike technology, but i've never heard of plastic cranks before.

Parts of a bicycle:

http://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/bicycleparts.html

(They call it crankarms there)

I suggest you refuse delivery of the package and thus get it returned to Amazon for refund at no cost to yourself (I think), and then pay a little more and buy something much better and safer.

That's one of the things i don't like about the Swift - no place to put a luggage rack, except attached to the seat post, and that has problems.

Werewolf, check out the Delta Megarack Sport (http://www.deltacycle.com/product.php?g=25). It comes with rubber coated clamps (http://www.deltacycle.com/product.php?g=22) that allow attachment to the seat stays on a bike that doesn't have brazed-on rack mounts. I had one on my Swift and it worked well.

Hey, thanks, Itsmoot! Do you need to order that $5.50 rack hardware seperately, besides the rack? I guess so, because the rack looks like it just has regular rack fittings

I suggest you refuse delivery of the package and thus get it returned to Amazon for refund at no cost to yourself (I think), and then pay a little more and buy something much better and safer.

The problem with that is that I'll have to wait till it's been returned & refunded, and then wait again for the "much better & safer" bike to be delivered, during which time I may well have lost interest in the whole thing.

No, I'll accept delivery, treat it for what it is - a fun toy, to be played with cautiously - learn from the experience and save my money for something better.

And after all, I still have to find out if I really *can* ride a bike on a regular basis; I've been getting into pretty good shape via aerobics & a stationary bike, but haven't done much actual riding. So this will get me started.

FWIW, after reading some of the reviews & watching the videos, I'm now kinda attracted to the Strida 5.0 (which will take a LONG time to save up for!). But that seems like it would be very suitable for my commuting.

I currently drive @ 13 miles from home to a subway stop. I *could* take the bus but I tried it a couple of times and hated it. However, there's a nice dedicated bikeway that runs alongside the busway for most of the distance. I've often thought (especially as gas pushes towards $5 a gallon) that biking all or part of it would be a nice way to go, once I do get into better shape. And the Strida looks quite easy to transport - much easier than a full-size bike, especially if I wanted to take it with me to work.

The problem with that is that I'll have to wait till it's been returned & refunded, and then wait again for the "much better & safer" bike to be delivered, during which time I may well have lost interest in the whole thing.

No, I'll accept delivery, treat it for what it is - a fun toy, to be played with cautiously - learn from the experience and save my money for something better.

And after all, I still have to find out if I really *can* ride a bike on a regular basis; I've been getting into pretty good shape via aerobics & a stationary bike, but haven't done much actual riding. So this will get me started.

FWIW, after reading some of the reviews & watching the videos, I'm now kinda attracted to the Strida 5.0 (which will take a LONG time to save up for!). But that seems like it would be very suitable for my commuting.

I currently drive @ 13 miles from home to a subway stop. I *could* take the bus but I tried it a couple of times and hated it. However, there's a nice dedicated bikeway that runs alongside the busway for most of the distance. I've often thought (especially as gas pushes towards $5 a gallon) that biking all or part of it would be a nice way to go, once I do get into better shape. And the Strida looks quite easy to transport - much easier than a full-size bike, especially if I wanted to take it with me to work.

A good thing about having a crappy bike, imo, is that you can figure out that "hey, this sucks, next time, THIS is what I'm getting." With my Kent, I figured out that I need a higher gearing for downhill and flats, that I want a better saddle, longer cranks, and a more forward riding position for my next bike purchase.

Of course, for some, crappy bikes turn them off to all bikes.

My first folder was also a 'crappy bike' actually, i really liked it, "City Cruiser" sorta mini-mountain bmx style, with rear shocks. It wasn't something you would find at walmart, but wasn't something at a dedicated local bike shop, either.

the tires were kenda's and could do 55 psi, and it had 6 gears.

i really liked it and it was pretty fast, but i found myself always trying to max the thing out at speed and hopping curbs cuz it was fun and i knew it had a rear suspension! I would bunny hop over debris and ride full-out - ALL THE TIME!

what i didn't like were that the folding pedals were sorta klunky and i had to use 2 hands to fold them. it didn't have any luggage rack. the rear fender wasn't quite long enough in the rain.. but it had a decent saddle. Also I don't think the frame was quite up to my punishing everytime i took it out - i don't think most folders are to be ridden like bmx bikes all the time but this bike was great for the odd errand in snow! cars all around would be in awe!

oh and it also didn't fold down quite as small as i had hoped (no handlebar hinge) and it was kinda klunky to take on the subway ~30+ lbs. just sorta clipped together, but didn't always hold.

now i have a strida-style bike that is compact on the subway, rollable, but i ditched the gears and now don't ride as aggressively.... =( and also swapped out the saddle [honey brown brooks sprung], pedals [mks fd6], grips [brown leather], tires [100psi kenda kwest + schwalbe marathon] and brakes [avid bb7]...... =)!

sadly tho, it doesn't have the knobby tires, so no fun in the snow.....

The plastic cranks give me the heeby jeebies.

Is the plastic crank something that could be replaced or modified, or is it integral to the bike?

Also, is this bike unique in having the crank made from plastic? Do others make them this way? If so, do you have any statistics on how often they break?

Update-just wanted to let you know, werewolf, that I showed this thread, & the specs of the bike, to my husband last night. He is not only a biker but a machinist.

He says he appreciates your concern about the plastic crank, and will look the bike over carefully before I ride it; if the crank doesn't look trustworthy, he'll either make a new one himself, which he's done before for his own bikes; or help me return it for a refund.

So thanks for the concern! Appreciated!

I was looking into that a bit more yesterday. Somebody somewhere said that the cranks were *plastic covered metal*. I don't know, I never heard of such a thing. And yeah, you can replace the cranks, but if they're cheesy, chances are so are a lot of other important parts. I would just buy something better in the first place, but that's me.

Well, I do want to buy something better, now that I know better. But I'll give this one a shot and get used to riding again in the meantime.

Please let us know the real deal.
the bike does not look bad to me. are there better?, of course and everyone
has that choice.
the bike is probably in the same category as the Citizen bikes. cheap but usable
for it's purpose. (short trips, RV's, boats etc)

Don't upgrade anything just yet. Get used to the bike and then see if there is anything that really bugs you. But unless the cranks break off, I wouldn't touch them. It is more economical to buy a better quality bike than to try and bring a cheapie up to scratch.

It is an excellent idea to start off on a cheapie, as long as it doen't put you off cycling altogether.

Hey, thanks, Itsmoot! Do you need to order that $5.50 rack hardware seperately, besides the rack? I guess so, because the rack looks like it just has regular rack fittings

Mine had a couple different sizes of those clamps in the package with the rack. But that was was a few years ago so you might want to inquire before ordering one.

While volunteering at a bicycle coop, I ran across some department store bikes with plastic covered steel cranks.

Stooges, the folder you purchased isn't crappy it's simply a basic single speed and perfect for getting back into riding and using in the park.

Don't over-analuse too much enjoy the bike and when the time comes, follow Jur and Nekohime's advice.

Thanks, mulleady, I was starting to get kinda freaked out!

My husband tells me he's seen metal cranks break too - has broken a few himself. He thinks it has more to do with how much pressure you put on it. For my kind of riding (leisurely & slow!) it probably won't be an issue.

But I do appreciate the concerns!

I mentioned the seat as an example only - it may be fine. Soft padded seats are OK for short trips but for longer rides, the pressure over the entire seat area causes lack of blood flow with associated numbness. For longer rides, paradoxically a firmer saddle is best.

I have a bike with a firm saddle, it gets uncomfortable very quickly. I would go for the soft saddle because it feels better to sit on, and the firmer one feels bad on the *you know whats*

While volunteering at a bicycle coop, I ran across some department store bikes with plastic covered steel cranks.


And they say bicycle technology hasn't really improved in the past hundred years!

;-)

Speaking of bike coops, I was looking around the Bicas coop yesterday to see what they got for sale. Very depressing. I have never seen so much crap busted up rusted up decrepid pieces of junk that never were introduced to a lubricant of any kind. Even when I was a kid, even when i rode a bike that i left locked up on the street in NYC, i'd like it to look ugly, ok. The uglier the better. But I'd always keep the mechanics well lubed and adjusted and running sweetly.

I disagree with the two posts preceding my own.

:eek:
I disagree with the two posts preceding my own.

So does that mean you like squiching the family jewels with a hard seat?:eek:

I have a bike with a firm saddle, it gets uncomfortable very quickly. I would go for the soft saddle because it feels better to sit on, and the firmer one feels bad on the *you know whats*

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.

Just got it - and my first reaction is YEOOWWWWW!! because I pinched my thumb in the kickstand.

Will post more once I stop the bleeding. :crash:

I guess that kind of makes sence, but wouldn't the boney part hurt after about an hour of riding? I had a bike with a hard seat but it had a pad over it. I really liked how it felt and I could peddle fine.

UPDATE: OK, my thumb has stopped bleeding (though it's still oozing, uck) so here's a little more info:

My husband is out riding it up & down the street right now. He went over it & tightened a few things & loosened some others. Re: the crank, he says that shouldn't be a problem unless I try to do wheelies, which I won't because I'm still just struggling to re-learn how to ride! But he says the only criticism he would make is that the handlebars are welded into position so they can't be adjusted.

Other than that, he likes it & says it's a nice little bike, though it steers a little differently than his full-sized mountain bike, so I'll definitely have to practice on it (and watch where I put my thumb!).

Stooges: Sorry to hear about your thumb. Unfortunately, it seems most new mechanical gadgets have to give their new owners a bite hello. Keeping this in mind has rendered me a little more cautious and with fewer scars. I think you're gonna love your new folder after your thumb feels a little better. Find a nice smooth flat place to ride, and just toodle around and enjoy the fresh air.

Oh, and plus one on the Brooks B17 standard saddle. As others have noted, soft ones bind, are often hot (you sweat more), and press in too many places at once. With the Brooks, you get frequent pressure relief because you slide around a tiny bit when riding, and you have more limited points of contact. My Brooks saddle was the first and best upgrade I did to my Dahon Curve D3.