Folding Bikes - Fitting a folder - newbie FAQ

Okay, I'm getting ready to bite the bullet and order a new folding bike. Not my first bike, but my first folder, and my first bike in a long time. I was showing my spouse a picture of the top contender, and after a remark about how I was "obsessed with this idea of getting a bike", there was some acquiescence, "Well, I guess you're going to do it anyway."

I plan to immediately take it to a LBS and get a basic tune up - brakes, wheels, gears adjusted and tightened properly. I also will ask them for some help getting it fit properly.

I've noticed that most folding bikes, including my top remaining contenders, lower the seat to it's lowest point as part of the folding process, and raise it to riding position when unfolding. Some do this with handlebars too. I tried a friend's folder, and found that it was a bit of a pain getting the seat back to a comfortable height each time. I assume that most of you mark the seatpost in some way to make it quick and easy to find the sweet spot when you unfold. What do you do? Colored tape? Marker pen? Paint?

Any other advice for a new folder owner?

Okay, I'm getting ready to bite the bullet and order a new folding bike. Not my first bike, but my first folder, and my first bike in a long time. I was showing my spouse a picture of the top contender, and after a remark about how I was "obsessed with this idea of getting a bike", there was some acquiescence, "Well, I guess you're going to do it anyway."

I plan to immediately take it to a LBS and get a basic tune up - brakes, wheels, gears adjusted and tightened properly. I also will ask them for some help getting it fit properly.

I've noticed that most folding bikes, including my top remaining contenders, lower the seat to it's lowest point as part of the folding process, and raise it to riding position when unfolding. Some do this with handlebars too. I tried a friend's folder, and found that it was a bit of a pain getting the seat back to a comfortable height each time. I assume that most of you mark the seatpost in some way to make it quick and easy to find the sweet spot when you unfold. What do you do? Colored tape? Marker pen? Paint?

Any other advice for a new folder owner?

I use a permanent marker. Tape interferes with lowering the seatpost. Moreover, if you move it, the glue mucks up the process too.

Some folders have seat posts that are pre-marked. My Dahon has markings along the back of the seatpost.

Luckily fit for me is easy, I just raise everything to the minimum insertion line :)

Some Bike Friday models have folding seat masts that preserve your adjustment.

Kam

I have long legs and long arms so I raise my seat to the maximum hash mark and do the same with the handlebar stem.

You can use a permanent marker to mark the position of the seat and handlebar stem.

I scratched mine with a key, but after a few weeks it's pretty obvious from the dirt marks where it's supposed to go.

Permanent marker it is then - though I may have to experiment to find a marker that is truly permanent on metal - I've found that on plastic CDs many so-called permanent markers rub off. Thanks for the advice so far. Any other advice for the newbie?