Folding Bikes - My Folder Is So Slow...

You would think that now that the bike has been stripped down and rebuilt as a much lighter and fixed gear version of itself that my Phillip's Twenty would be rocket fast.

I just installed new 1.5 Marathons which are faster than my old tyres and yet... I find that I am always being slowed down.

It's all those people that stop me to ask questions or comment on the bike and my personal issue with taking time to explain things to people...when I can.

A guy with a new Dahon chatted me up as I was leaving physio saying this was the coolest folder he had seen and when I stopped downtown one of the couriers (a friend) had to take Forrest for a spin around the block... he came back with the comment that it was awesome and rode just like a "real bike".

:lol:

It is a real bike... and it isn't that slow once I actually get to riding it.

One of the other couriers said the folder was a "novelty"... I told him that it gives up nothing to a comparable fixed gear bike.

I suspect I am not the only person with this problem as we do ride some rather unique looking bikes and most people can't conceive that a small wheeled bike can do anything a big wheel can.

You would think that now that the bike has been stripped down and rebuilt as a much lighter and fixed gear version of itself that my Phillip's Twenty would be rocket fast.

I just installed new 1.5 Marathons which are faster than my old tyres and yet... I find that I am always being slowed down.

Marathons are slow tires. I took them off my Tikit and my NWT. I replaced them with Greenspeed Scorchers which seem much faster for the same level of effort.

hey Vik - you missed the humour in my post but you are from Calgary so I can understand. :)

I like my basic Marathons a great deal... at 90 psi the contact area of the Marathon is the same as my road tyres and they don't like broken glass and construction debris as much as the Schwalbes do.

The "plus" is a heavier beast and many people complain about how slow a tyre it is.

I had the bike spun out this afternoon on the commute so have no complaints with the tyres.

Hey whats up?Hear you have a shop,but couldnt find it,where i was told it would be.lol.What gear inch you running in forest?

69 gear inches... perfect for urban assaults and touring.

Which shop are you looking for ?

Im running 70" on my ss brommie..Your new shop not ebc.Or did you not open yet?

ddez -

My shop is by appointment only...

You aren't an insanely tall guy with a small front (low mounted) pannier on your bike are ya ?

Marathons are slow tires. I took them off my Tikit and my NWT. I replaced them with Greenspeed Scorchers which seem much faster for the same level of effort.

What rims do you have on your NWT? I could not fit the Scorchers on mine. Do the Scorchers come with Kevlar bead (mine is wire)?

Kam

I installed Schwalbe Big Apples on my Raleigh Twenty and they roll fast. Skinny tires could work but they are too harsh in the 20" size. The wide tire works better with a folder.

ddez -

My shop is by appointment only...

You aren't an insanely tall guy with a small front (low mounted) pannier on your bike are ya ?

Tall and insane maybe but not insanely tall.6ft.

Marathons are slow tires.
I hope this isn't true. I just ordered a Dahon Speed P8 and had the shop upgrade (or is it downgrade) from Big Apples to Marathon Racers.

I have the racers on a Mu P8 and find them fast and the bike extremely comfortable, at least compared to any road bike I've had.

Tall and insane maybe but not insanely tall.6ft.

If you see a guy riding this bike it would be me... or a bike thief.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/forreststronglight2.jpg
(These are my old tyres btw)

I was out on my R20 SS the other day running some errands when I met up with a training group from one of the LBS, I know most of the guys and raced with them in the past. They were mildly amused with my bike, but let me tag along until I turned off, then I heard comments like "Spastic" and "Give your kid back his bike".

I smiled, thought about explaining the benefits of small wheels, bigger chainrings and the such like, but on second thought, decided not to waste my time on their ignorance.

What I learnt is that my legendary roadie status has taken a deep nosedive!!

Ive got a 69" gear on my Elswick Hopper Whirlwind single speed. Seems a good useable gear on the hilly countryside.

Those training group guys just show there narrow mindedness.
I'll ride any bike.
And if they hurt me or break down, I will swear at them for a while.
But will get back on them. As there just bikes.
What are the training group people scared of?

What kind of stem/ fork system are you using?

I have people thinking my main small wheeled bike is slow. I usually reply its faster than theirs! Usually this is correct.

Sixty Fiver, I loved your post. It's so true. Our bikes certainly attract their share of attention. I'm guilty of slowing down fellow cyclists when I see another folder. ;)

I was out on my R20 SS the other day running some errands when I met up with a training group from one of the LBS, I know most of the guys and raced with them in the past. They were mildly amused with my bike, but let me tag along until I turned off, then I heard comments like "Spastic" and "Give your kid back his bike".

I smiled, thought about explaining the benefits of small wheels, bigger chainrings and the such like, but on second thought, decided not to waste my time on their ignorance.

What I learnt is that my legendary roadie status has taken a deep nosedive!!




lotsa ignorance in this world.Wise not to try explain.Theres a old proverb from Book of Proverbs "its not wise to correct a fool in his folly"Every time ive tried ive proven thats true.Lol.But i get far more good comments than smartass ones happily.

Ive got a 69" gear on my Elswick Hopper Whirlwind single speed. Seems a good useable gear on the hilly countryside.

Those training group guys just show there narrow mindedness.
I'll ride any bike.
And if they hurt me or break down, I will swear at them for a while.
But will get back on them. As there just bikes.
What are the training group people scared of?

Anything out of the ordinary?

Makes me understand the trials Graham O'Bree went through.

I've had an Olympic cycling Gold medalist who lives here check my bike out, he was quite complimentary about it, also a British pro rider staying locally understood the dynamics of SWBs....I guess the local crew need to GET OVER THEMSELVES.

ddez

Very true, I do surprise them when I speak of 100 miles rides, 6 day tours etc....

Anything out of the ordinary?

Makes me understand the trials Graham O'Bree went through.

I've had an Olympic cycling Gold medalist who lives here check my bike out, he was quite complimentary about it, also a British pro rider staying locally understood the dynamics of SWBs....I guess the local crew need to GET OVER THEMSELVES.

ddez

Very true, I do surprise them when I speak of 100 miles rides, 6 day tours etc....
Guess they have never heard of Moultons and what there about re:records etc.I believe i read somewhere they are not allowed in Tour de France.Wonder if that was due to their performance?

From what I've read on the Moulton website their bikes were winning track and road races with such consistancy that the governing cycling authority decided to ban them by making up some petty rules which allowed only diamond framed bikes to compete.

Apparently the famous TDF British rider, Tom Simpson test rode a Moulton and was so impressed that he stated, " If I wasn't already contracted to a team I would join a Moulton team next week".

People resist change because they are creatures of habit, they find security in the norm, anything "different" will be ridiculed by most without thoughtful consideration.

Me? I am different, always have been, I just "get it", and I'm fascinated by it....works for me.

I hope this isn't true. I just ordered a Dahon Speed P8 and had the shop upgrade (or is it downgrade) from Big Apples to Marathon Racers.

I have the racers on a Mu P8 and find them fast and the bike extremely comfortable, at least compared to any road bike I've had.

Standard Marathons are heavy sluggish touring tires. Marathon Racers, as the name suggests, are lighter faster bits of rubber!

I had a Dahon test bike with Marathon Racers on it and liked them.

Marathon Racers are only available 20 x 1.5 and they don't have as much puncture protection. Where I ride I really need the cushioning of wider tires and the greater protection of standard tires.

I would go with the Big Apples but I am not sure they fit on stock twenty forks. The roads where I live are in bad shape.

The 50" Big Apple will fit the frame. The larger size won't. They roll fast and are smooth on bad roads. They have their own built-in suspension.

I own both 40mm-406 Scorchers and 50mm-406 Big Apples...the Scorchers are as comfortable as the BA if not more so and roll faster.

Went for a ride today and met up with a guy on a Fisher mtb and we rode south together... he was pretty intrigued by the folder and said he was amazed something with small wheels could roll out so fast.

He was admittedly... not in the same shape I am and could not keep up with me on the climbs.

The bike is really set up to cruise all day in the high 20's and low 30's and the marathons are a perfect tyre for this kind of riding... at 80 psi the ride is rather plush.

I have some difficulty maintaining anything much over 20 kph steadily with my 70 gear inchs,but then im 63 years old and have emphysema so i settle for that.Also have to walk some hills in river valley.Wasnt always so.Lungs give out before legs do.Im pretty much spinning as fast as i can flat out on level ground with no wind at 35 for short bursts.Pretty much why i ride alone,most want to go faster im sure.

I have some difficulty maintaining anything much over 20 kph steadily with my 70 gear inchs,but then im 63 years old and have emphysema so i settle for that.Also have to walk some hills in river valley.Wasnt always so.Lungs give out before legs do.Im pretty much spinning as fast as i can flat out on level ground with no wind at 35 for short bursts.Pretty much why i ride alone,most want to go faster im sure.

But you are still out there riding and having fun, well done!!

Stevegor If you dont use it you lose it they say,i dont want to find out.Lol.

Stevegor If you dont use it you lose it they say,i dont want to find out.Lol.

So very true..........Now where did I leave that brain of mine.....I left it here somewhere? Haven't used it for a LONG time :D