Folding Bikes - Stupid question- If you could have only one bike.

For Father's day, I helped him clean out the trash from my grandma's place.

Seeing all the crap, old bottles, rotted wood, rotted scraps, and random junk made me rethink about my folderitis and guitaritis (I make most of mine). I'm in the process of reassessing how much I really need stuff and selling stuff off.

I figure that I'll get rid of all the extra stuff and try to keep the essentials. Some of it will be a little complicated...as my dad's fallen in love with giving my Carryme to my sister; mom wants me to keep the first guitar I made, etc. I'm thinking of selling my Swift, possibly the Carryme, a couple of guitars, and hiding my guitar wood somewhere safe.

My question is sorta stupid, but I'll ask anyways:

"If you could have only one bike, folding or otherwise, what would it be and why?"

HP Velotechnik Grasshopper FX

I've only had it a week, yet I am thinking it's possible that I could now part ways with my NWT and Giro 20.

I do have one bike and it is a DualDrive BF NWT. It usually lays in the trunk of my car so I can go to a ride whenever I have a chance.

If I could have *any* bike I want, I would probably take a look at a Moulton or Birdy (never seen one in person. I wonder how they compare to NWT, ride quality wise) and a Rohloff hub.

Kam

likewise, I emptied out my dads garage space and found my 1966 Schwinn 5spd Collegiate. I had repacked the hubs, even the freewheel, replaced the crappy Huret Derailleur with a Suntour in 1971. I've rebuilt a few Schwinn Varsitys with single front chainrings, longer cranks and up right touring bars for kid carrying.

I'd be hard pressed between that bike with aluminum wheels and Surly Cross-Check.

If I could only have one bike it would have to be my Xootr Swift. I have several bikes including an out and out racing machine and a steel framed tourer that have been with me for years. My Swift has been my first choice of ride since I bought it nearly three years ago. It doesn't fold very small - but I don't need a tiny fold. It isn't a long legged tourer - but then neither am I these days. It will not cut the mustard with the local Chain Gang - but I'm no Tom Boonen. It does ride like a "normal" bike. It folds small enough to slip into the back of my car for transportation to distant ride locations. It is fun to ride and has reminded me that cycling is for pleasure. I don't dress up in "cycling gear" to ride it. Cycling is about riding a bike and the Xootr has made me do more of that since I bought it. Suddenly I'm 16 again - but without the raging acne!

If you only do one type of cycling, or a few types with a great deal of overlap (e.g. commuting and touring), then one bike can be sufficient. What that "one bike" will be depends on how you ride.

If you do two or more types of riding that are sufficiently different (e.g. grocery shopping and racing), or if cycling is your only form of transportation, you're going to benefit by having more than one bike.

If you only do one type of cycling, or a few types with a great deal of overlap (e.g. commuting and touring), then one bike can be sufficient. What that "one bike" will be depends on how you ride.

If you do two or more types of riding that are sufficiently different (e.g. grocery shopping and racing), or if cycling is your only form of transportation, you're going to benefit by having more than one bike.


Very true, as I do most types of cycling, tandem, MTB, fast road bunch rides, touring and shopping with a BoB trailer and commuting, so I can't have just one bike.

I can narrow it down to four...no....five bikes, I would like a top end folder with a Rohloff, a MTB with a Rohloff and a top end tandem....I already have a nice roadie, and I have an older steel frame for wet days.

If you do two or more types of riding that are sufficiently different (e.g. grocery shopping and racing), or if cycling is your only form of transportation, you're going to benefit by having more than one bike.

+1

Does the OP own a car? A couple of folders take up less space than even a motorcycle. I don't view my bike collection as "extra stuff", but rather the least amount of stuff I need to easily get around.

I guess if I were facing homelessness then I'd pare down my stuff to just a folder with 406 wheels, my laptop, and some clothes (no more than I could carry), but as long as I have a roof over my head I'd sooner toss my bed than my folders. IMHO a modest collection of mostly folding bikes is one of the essentials.

Thanks for all your comments.

I don't own a car. But in SF, one doesn't really need one.
When I move back home in a month, I'll probably buy my mom's old car.

That being said, as the only bike guy in my family, having a Marin Larkspur, a Xootr Swift, and a Carryme is sort of excessive. I'm thinking of selling my Larkspur and possibly my Carryme (it's great for exploring, but takes 4x more work to use than my Swift).

The Swift I love (especially after changing out the stem, as per BF advice).
It's only that I'd like to find the one bike that's a perfect ride.
The Swift comes close, it just doesn't fold too small.

The only thing is....I'm nor Jur. I don't think that I can justify having three bikes around since I most just walk or take the bus. I do dream of a take anywhere, tackle anything, dreamboat of a ride though. ;)

If I could only have one bike... I think it would either be a custom-fit Bike Friday Season Tikit... or if money were no object, I might try a top of the line Rohloff Birdy.

If money is an issue, I would stick with my Tikit (which I bought used). It does everything I could ever ask of a folding bike.

--sam

Swift Folder 8 speed with drop bars.