Folding Bikes - have you given up full size bikes?

I'm curious as to how many folks pretty much ride folders only. I've been on my full size Bianchi San Jose once in about the last six months, and that was more because I felt like I "should" ride it instead of wanting to.

Sometimes I feel like the awkward kid in school in weird clothes and that I need to get with the cool kids and ride the full size, and it makes me take the Bianchi out again. Then I get on it and think, but this isn't nearly as much fun as my Curve.

That kind of thinking happen to anyone else, or are you all just more secure than me in your individuality?

what are full sized bikes ?

No, not quite. I still have one full size road bike left. It's a 17.3 lb, superfast carbon bike. Can't and won't ever get rid of that one. I need her in order to keep up with the fast group on the weekend rides. Haven't yet found a small-wheeled bike that performs like she does.

I have gotten rid of my other big bikes, though, and even my training bike is a Dahon SmoothHound with drop bars and Capreo drivetrain.

Folders only for me. Once I took out my very light XTR-equipped MTB and hated it. Sold it soon after that.

The Swift is my fast road bike and I easily keep up with the lycra louts, in fact if it's not the racer crowd I leave em in the dust.

Yes - I have a bunch of bikes of various kinds in the shed at the bottom of my garden. They are covered in spider's webs.

I have two bikes in the garage; a tatty R20, and my Merc (which used to sleep in the house).

In the house is my fake Strida. I'm loving that little beauty, and riding it several times a day.

One of the bikes in the shed has only got a few hundred miles on it and cost me over £500. It's a nice bike, but after riding the small wheeled bikes, it feels like a cart horse.

Sometimes I feel like the awkward kid in school in weird clothes and that I need to get with the cool kids and ride the full size

I feel like this sometimes, but I'm not capricious enough to follow through with it.

Full sized bikes just don't have any practical advantage and I don't ride for pleasure.

I've pretty much gone back to 700c. The novelty wore off, I didn't fold my bikes, the financial advantages of touring with a folder narrowed. Full sized bikes are more comfortable, have better gearing, have much more stable handling and are more suited to my riding needs.

Trying to cut down. Getting ridof MTB`s, turning the mixte into a IGH for winter and utility. Can not get rid of the Miyata and the Motobecane mixte but hardly ride them.

Looking for parts to my two folder builds brought me into the basement of the BS today:D. A lot of great stuff down there. I could have spent the night down there. Wery old building, special place. Foud 20" Marathon studded tyres down there. Who could guess?

I've pretty much gone back to 700c. The novelty wore off, I didn't fold my bikes, the financial advantages of touring with a folder narrowed. Full sized bikes are more comfortable, have better gearing, have much more stable handling and are more suited to my riding needs.And of course you are most welcome to stay and chat, even though you are an infidel. :D

And of course you are most welcome to stay and chat, even though you are an infidel. :D
I prefer the term "heathen," thanks :p

Well the truth is that I own, and ride two folders out of the need to stay practical. I live in a small studio apartment on a second floor where the stairwell, and the hall are narrow. I used to own an automobile which I gave up in October 2008, and wanted a bike that I could carry inside the car versus having to use some kind of exterior carrying rack.

If I had my way, I would probably own a full size bike, or maybe even a recumbent, like I used to ride years ago. All that said, the compact folders are fun to ride, and I would probably own one anyway. I did years ago even when I owned a recumbent bicycle.

Regards,
Edward




I'm curious as to how many folks pretty much ride folders only. I've been on my full size Bianchi San Jose once in about the last six months, and that was more because I felt like I "should" ride it instead of wanting to.

Sometimes I feel like the awkward kid in school in weird clothes and that I need to get with the cool kids and ride the full size, and it makes me take the Bianchi out again. Then I get on it and think, but this isn't nearly as much fun as my Curve.

That kind of thinking happen to anyone else, or are you all just more secure than me in your individuality?

I have two other full size bikes, but my folder gets by far the most use. It's the only bike I can use for a commute that involves also taking public transportation. Even when I'm just running errands, the folder is the bike of choice because it can always be taken inside somewhere in the event that bike parking isn't available. The small wheels make it way easier to maneuver in traffic too.

I am riding my 29er with drop bars and studs for the winter. The Swift is hanging on my office wall awaiting bare pavement. This is also an S&S coupled bike and is the one I take to places with under improved roads.

I ride smaller wheeled folding bikes exclusively now. Not by choice, but by pressures of the following:

1. No storage anywhere safe from thieves or outside elements except indoors.

2. Lack of space for a full size bike. I can scrounge out space for one full size bike, but the last one I had just sat there over a year before I donated to charity.

3. Bikes are my sole transportation option. Public transit has limited appeal to me. Around here it is considered to be rather terrible.

4. Folding bikes force me to slow down. Especially at night. I feel that this keeps me safer.

5. I very rarely ride with groups of other cyclists. So I really have little interest keeping up with anyone on any bike type.

The folder. It got me back into biking. OR perhaps, when I was ready to return to biking, the folder fit my needs. I still have an MTB. My wife rode it yesterday. Been 2 years since I rode the MTB. Only had my folder since Nov '08. Love it. Just got back from the bar with it, where it sat beside me :)

No. In fact, my folding bike is the less convenient of the two bikes I keep here at school!

I keep a mountain bike locked up outside my dorm. It's winterized and has big fat knobby tires and Crank Brothers' Mallet C pedals, which allow me to use normal or clipless shoes. It's been almost totally theft-proofed with the use of Pitlock skewers, epoxied allen bolts, a good U-Lock and seriously ugly paint and components. All I do is run downstairs, hop on, and ride. Bike parking on my campus and in the larger city is plentiful. Although the fat tires, wide gearing and low seat aren't "optimum" for city/road riding, the bike allows me to throw on some clipless shoes and ride "real" mountain bike trails without any adjustments.

My folder, on the other hand, has to be extricated from the back of my dorm room, unfolded, and adjusted (seat height set, handlebars checked). Then I have to wrestle it into the elevator and through the locking double front storm doors. Then, since everything is quick release for easy folding, I can't feel comfortable locking it outside for more than a few minutes-- just not secure. It's a xootr swift, too big to fit comfortably under a table in a restaurant.

Full-sized, non-folding bikes are, to me, a better answer when:
--You want to ride off-road
--Bike parking is available
--You're tight on space to the point when even a folder is a hassle to store

I know that I could get a folding full-sized bike like the dahon Cadenza, but once you're storing it outside, it doesn't really matter.

Why do I keep a folder, then?
--To travel
--Because, as my road bike, it gets to have nicer components because I keep it indoors.
--Because it doesn't get beaten up by the weather
--Because it's cute

etc.
I guess what I'm saying is that folders aren't always the most convenient option, and that conversely, full-sized bikes don't always perform the best-- If they have to stay outside, they generally get beat up.

Still ride both folders and full sized bikes. Anything that's like touring; many days out, carry loads, etcetera the folder gets the nod. Weekends away where we have to pack the car with stuff, the folder gets the nod. Local rides, the 700c is it. Commuting it's the mountain bike or the Tikit.

Speedo

I still ride the Bianchi Pista SS for the unique ride quality it has.
I still ride the Specialized FSR-XC MTB for the unique ride quality it has.
I still ride the Optima Baron lowracer for the unique ride quality it has.
I also ride the Strida folder for the.... you get the idea by now?

I've pretty much gone back to 700c. The novelty wore off, I didn't fold my bikes, the financial advantages of touring with a folder narrowed. Full sized bikes are more comfortable, have better gearing, have much more stable handling and are more suited to my riding needs.
Well, just hang around here awhile longer so we can all work together to foster your recidivism.

I gave up large-wheeled bikes long ago. The first move was to a recumbent with 20" wheels - compact enough to fit on normal bike racks. I use that just for long rides and touring now.

Also have a Dahon Mu P8 that I use daily for short-haul commuting. Funny that I ended up on 20" wheels on both. And now considering buying a BF Tikit - going even smaller.

On the rare occasions when I hop on a "normal" bike, the wheels feel (and look) ridiculously oversized, like "dude, what's with the clown bike?" :)

have to use the folder because I am riding the train/bus

I use the 700c wheel hybrid to carry my daughter.
around 7km the farthest

I still have the Trek 720 touring bike I got in 1983, and it's still a wonderful bike; and I have a couple other classic bikes with large wheels so no, I haven't given up on them. If I lost all the bikes I have now, and were starting over... I might not get any with large wheels... but then again, I might.

I love my big bikes as much as my Tikit & NWT. I'm not giving up on any of them...:love::thumb:

Nope.

I think one is better off with a full-sized bike for a no-holds-barred fast bike. And I still like my fat-tire road bike for commuting at night.

There are a couple of mountain bikes in my shed... one of them a Scott was an expensive bike when new. I took it out once last year for a quick ride down the avenue. I ought to get some new tyres on it and use it on the Wirral Way (route of the old railway) it will fit in the back of my big 4x4..... but you know what, I’m far more temped to go out and buy a folding mountain bike. :thumb:

I just love the practicalities of folders, my Dahon MU SL is quick and light and I have a lightweight Brompton on order and this will be even more compact.:)

There are a couple of mountain bikes in my shed... one of them a Scott was an expensive bike when new. I took it out once last year for a quick ride down the avenue. I ought to get some new tyres on it and use it on the Wirral Way (route of the old railway) it will fit in the back of my big 4x4..... but you know what, I’m far more temped to go out and buy a folding mountain bike. :thumb:

I just love the practicalities of folders, my Dahon MU SL is quick and light and I have a lightweight Brompton on order and this will be even more compact.:)

I've got a Scott Aspen. It's only done about 500 miles in three years, mostly from the first year I had it. Last summer I washed it down and blew the tyres up and took it out for a ride across town, but after a hundred yards, I took it back home and went on my Merc instead. That Scott cost about £535 if I remember rightly. Now I just ride the Strida knock off. :)

Like to ride them both..each are fun in their own way.

Variety is entertaining, kinda like blonds and brunettes, does it really matter?

Folders only for me. Once I took out my very light XTR-equipped MTB and hated it. Sold it soon after that.

The Swift is my fast road bike and I easily keep up with the lycra louts, in fact if it's not the racer crowd I leave em in the dust.

There are racer crowds and there are :speedy: RACER CROWDS :speedy:, Jur..........

Ah - stevegor is back.
:giver:

We have chosen to ride folders only, due to easier transport, storage and increased maneuverability.

HOWEVER, as you can see from my signature, I am currently following the saying: "When in Rome do as the Romans do." Here at the beach, everybody rides a Cruiser of some sort. So.......I have purchased a Matte Black Electra Cruiser (Single-Speed w/Coaster Brake) for my daily rides to the local store and to get a newspaper in the morning.

It's "cool", but a definite slug. When we sell this place in a few years, we will advertise the Cruiser for $300K+ with a Beach Condo thrown in for FREE.

For rides along the beach, and elsewhere, we use our Fridays. We did a 17 mile ride on Sunday and enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather.

We have chosen to ride folders only, due to easier transport, storage and increased maneuverability.

HOWEVER, as you can see from my signature, I am currently following the saying: "When in Rome do as the Romans do." Here at the beach, everybody rides a Cruiser of some sort. So.......I have purchased a Matte Black Electra Cruiser (Single-Speed w/Coaster Brake) for my daily rides to the local store and to get a newspaper in the morning.

It's "cool", but a definite slug. When we sell this place in a few years, we will advertise the Cruiser for $300K+ with a Beach Condo thrown in for FREE.

For rides along the beach, and elsewhere, we use our Fridays. We did a 17 mile ride on Sunday and enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather.

85F in January is just. not. right. :lol:

As for me, folders only, but I think I want a mixte after I get a replacement folder for my stolen piccolo.

My 06 Specialized Hardrock with XT parts and slicks gets ridden once a week on weekends. It is a nice change but I still prefer riding my folders too.

85F in January is just. not. right. :lol:

As for me, folders only, but I think I want a mixte after I get a replacement folder for my stolen piccolo.

It's definitely also been warm in the W.Covina area, where you are....lol

Hey, I had to look up the definition of a "Mixte" - guess older folks like me can still learn!

I like my Swift more than pretty much any other bike I've ridden (granted, I haven't ridden too many $5000+ bikes). It's just more fun, and it's nice to confuse the overpaid Muni drivers when I fold my bike and lug it in. The only thing, is that I still miss drop bars and suspension. Once I add those on (both doable), it'll be soooo nice.

Hey, I had to look up the definition of a "Mixte" - guess older folks like me can still learn!

Did you find this one? http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=227038&highlight=mixte

They are great looking bikes, real eye candy. I think they were designed by Singer and Herse in the 193?`s to make a light stylish bike for riding around Paris.

.......Variety. I would get bored riding just one format. Soooo I have 2 Folders Bike Friday Air Glide and NWT, Full sized Road Bike Lemond Zurich, Recumbent Catrike 700 Tadpole Trike.:thumb:

The foldie is exclusively for when I'm going on a train or when I'll need to toss it in the car quickly. I have a 700c road bike (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilfein/3207971589/) for touring and a Trek Pure on order. (Just got a call from the shop yesterday, it's there waiting for me!)

Did you find this one? http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=227038&highlight=mixte

They are great looking bikes, real eye candy. I think they were designed by Singer and Herse in the 193?`s to make a light stylish bike for riding around Paris.

Yep, Parisian design! I was lusting over a very beautiful vintage powder blue mixte with white saddle and bar tape...aaaaaaah, how I wish I bought it then.:( It looked a LOT like this one, but with drop bars:

http://van6.netfirms.com/PERSPIC/KimBike/DSC00009small.JPG
:love:

But enough of this blasphemy. I'm on the hunt for my next foldie.

.......Variety. I would get bored riding just one format. Soooo I have 2 Folders Bike Friday Air Glide and NWT, Full sized Road Bike Lemond Zurich, Recumbent Catrike 700 Tadpole Trike.:thumb:

Niiiiice stable! :thumb:

Oh! Just took a look at craigslist and look what I found!

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/1003990424.html

Univega mixte, my size, and in the color I was lusting over! No drops or chain, but that can easily be remedied. Hmmmm....

of course not. I think if I could have only one bike for traveling it would probably be a 700C Cross-Check or similar style 700c bike with couplers but the 20" wheeled Fridays I have are great for packing and storing on a boat below decks. Keeping a rustable metal on deck just doesn't make sense. I've become accustomed to being able to step off on/through without swinging my leg over the saddle which feels very civilized with or without a load on the bike. The 700c wheels are better riding for high speed IMHO, but not enough to keep me from enjoying the ride. Actually the 20"x2.0 Big Apples are fantastic for cushion, low rolling resistance and quick acceleration. I haven't developed a preference for smaller tires than 1.5" on the 20" wheels. Amtrak didn't require me to box the bike so it was nice to carry it on board bagged and put it on the big luggage section at the end of each car.

Oh! Just took a look at craigslist and look what I found!

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/1003990424.html

Univega mixte, my size, and in the color I was lusting over! No drops or chain, but that can easily be remedied. Hmmmm....

Grab if you can! You`ll regret it later if you do not. Looks almost new (un used)! I am making plans for some changes for my Mixte for this summer. I am thinking IGH to make it more of a utility / around town bike (grab and ride).

Soon somebody is going to tell us we are off topic again.. :D

Grab if you can! You`ll regret it later if you do not. Looks almost new (un used)! I am making plans for some changes for my Mixte for this summer. I am thinking IGH to make it more of a utility / around town bike (grab and ride).

Soon somebody is going to tell us we are off topic again.. :D

If I can haggle it down to $100 or less, I'll totally grab it. I think I have some old textbooks I can sell... I'm gonna hafta ask my friends to help with the mods though, as I'm a total n00b at anything more about bikes aside from the absolute basics.

Ok, back on topic though. Yes, if I get this mixte, I will no longer be a folder-only rider, as it will be folder for public transportation commute, mixte for long rides/pootling around local area.

If I can haggle it down to $100 or less, I'll totally grab it. I think I have some old textbooks I can sell... I'm gonna hafta ask my friends to help with the mods though, as I'm a total n00b at anything more about bikes aside from the absolute basics.


Ironic, i could drown in free dumpster bikes and others must buy. There is plenty info on bike repairs on the net, BF and other placees.

EDIT: I sent you a PM