Folding Bikes - THANKS to you guys, my life went down...

tube ;)

just got my 9fs earlier today and spent $5 for a bike shop for a quick adjustment. love it. rides well, and fits on my scion xa trunk with section of rear seats down.

thanks to the community for helping me decide on my first folding bike on a budget and looking forward to learning and riding more! :thumb::thumb:

Welcome! Show us a picture or three!

--sam

thanks. i will have pics soon.

a little background on how it happened. just met someone from a car club (my other hobby) who is a cyclist in asia. i started searching for bikes again (used to ride a mtn bike on occassions) and found this site while searching for folding bikes. this and the limited space i have got me interested in folding bikes. with my target of under $500 and after reading almost all the threads here, i decided to go with downtube.

i plan to ride it on parks for now since drivers (and some bikers) here are nuts (los angeles area).

Great!

Based on your title, I was a little worried. I thought you had taken a (bike) fall. Or, major life change that causes you to leave bikes altogether. Glad to hear its a DT:).

sorry for the misleading title. minor change though, the car in the pic will be gone soon. here are some pics.

out of the box
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a176/maxiekittie/9fs.jpg

with scion xa
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a176/maxiekittie/xd1.jpg

folded inside, 60 part seats folded
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a176/maxiekittie/xd2.jpg

closed, not too visible via tint
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a176/maxiekittie/xd3.jpg

looks like i got room to adjust the bike to fold more compact. have to try something out.

Fellow Angelino, nice 2009 1/2 Black model, I have a Orange 9FS in a Mazda3.
Try pointing the front inward, and take out the handle bar, two bungee and can be folded like a Dahon (More compact and laid flat on the trunk W/O the back seats folded down.
Good luck and welcome!

thanks! i was trying a similar one from their site (but not removing the handle bar) but cant get it to fold well. gotta get some bungees or velcro strap soon too.

so i havent ridden the bike since my last post.....not!

so far so good. since then, i got my daughter a bike so we can ride together. ive been riding about 2-3 times a week, which is more than what i was
expecting really. a little summary on my experiences so far:

visited local bike shop for scheduled readjustments, shifting crazy due to a bent part, now everything works well.
bought helmet, bike shorts, tools, etc.
finally got the right seat height after different tries.
solved my numbing thigh/private area problem by taking breaks and standing at times while riding.
recycled some old "head" lights with strap in case i ride at night.
researching the following: sling bag vs bike bag, another park with better paths and people, better lights and mirror, etc...
in addition to browsing for car deals, now somehow browsing for folders.

here's some recent pics, all at whittier narrows.

daughter and i, lovely pregnant wife taking pics.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a176/maxiekittie/P1060049.jpg

princess and the folder.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a176/maxiekittie/eP1060073.jpg

scion gone (my other hobby), bikes fit well on our fx with the 60 part of the seat folded.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a176/maxiekittie/eP1060152.jpg

lastly, thanks to this community again esp the folders section.

Congrats on the purchase. I am looking to pick up a 2nd DT since my gf took the hot pink FS I found on CL. Just can't decide if I want another FS or a Front Suspension...

Hey there! I ride in that park all the time. I know exactly where those pictures were taken!

If I see you I'll say Hello...

Very nice, especially you riding with your daughter. :thumb: :thumb:

Welcome

thanks all! hey alice, i look forward to meeting you there one day. might be riding this friday late morning. anyone know a good socal park ideal for my daughter while in training wheels?

took a week off from biking due to air quality and school opening. will resume the ride soon. time to load and keep my bike in the trunk.

I want one.

thanks all! hey alice, i look forward to meeting you there one day. might be riding this friday late morning. anyone know a good socal park ideal for my daughter while in training wheels?

took a week off from biking due to air quality and school opening. will resume the ride soon. time to load and keep my bike in the trunk.

Have you been to Lacy Park (http://www.ci.san-marino.ca.us/faq.htm#lacy) in San Marino? Beautiful park! They do charge admission on the weekend, though.

Also Live Oak (http://www.ci.temple-city.ca.us/parksrec/Facilities/LOP%20title%20page.asp)in Temple City, Arcadia County Park (http://www.yelp.com/biz/arcadia-county-park-arcadia) in Arcadia.

All three of those parks have nice paths for little kids...

thanks again alice for the park suggestions.

few updates and possible changes here. i have been riding the bike only a few times due to a new future folder owner (newborn son), getting under the weather, and the weather :). i guess my part-teasing about a brompton to my wife worked and now looking into buying one as my xmas gift. im debating to either buy one and likely sell my 9fs, or purchase a 16" (ie citizen tokyo) with updates and keep the 9fs so my wife and i can ride together. (or maybe a brompton and a tokyo :)) as always, im researching here and trying not to rush.

That 9FS is a handsome ride. I'd have trouble parting with it. I wish I'd held out for a 9FS instead of buying the 8FS. I love my Citizen Tokyo and it has held up well during trips to the Jersey Shore, Smokey Mountains and Bermuda this year. :)

I would keep 9FS. I'm still kicking myself for selling mine. If you need a second folder, take a look at the DT NOVA. I like mine a lot. And, yes, don't rush.

after reading more on the citizen discussions here and the replies, it looks like im keeping the 9fs and getting a tokyo and do some upgrades later. wife likes the idea esp after finding out the cost of one :). maybe later on if family sticks with biking then ill go buy a brompton.

p.s. im waiting for citizen to confirm if big apples will fit on the tokyo. feel free to confirm if anyone has done it. thanks.

i went ahead and order a tokyo yesterday. thanks again for all the info and replies. i think i read all the citizen bike threads here. now time to research a comfy saddle and tires.

also, i just got an email from a rep that the tokyo is designed for a 16x1.75 tire so anything larger may not fit. ill do some measuring or even ask my lbs to see if 16x2 will fit.

now time to research a comfy saddle.



Look here http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=27895 if you like Brooks saddle and don't mind using a female version ( I don't). Its heavy though, but very comfy, IMO.

i just received the tokyo today and just finished unpacking. my initial impression is pretty good and that it looks more than what i paid for. ill just try to get the right handlebar and seat height and take it to my lbs tommorrow. also, it looks like this model is different from the ones i see here. more later.

p.s. should i start a new thread and keep this for my downtube or just continue here?

it looks like this model is different from the ones i see here. more later.

p.s. should i start a new thread and keep this for my downtube or just continue here?I'd be interested in seeing pictures to compare with my Tokyo. I think you're right, though - start a new thread for the Tokyo.

I plan to get the 9FS this year to add to my Mini. Mini is a fun ride and makes heads turn.

it looks like i have to let go of my 9fs due to my bad back and other recent things. im keeping my tokyo and most likely get another lighter 16" (looking at curve or brompton). i guess in my case size and any weight off matters now. anyone local and interested, feel free to send me a message. i can also trade with a mini or the other bikes i mentioned.