Folding Bikes - Good option for poor college kids?

I posted about this in the classic forum but now I want YOUR advice.

My boyfriend's Trek 1420 was stolen in the spring. He is miserable because he always wants to ride his bike... and every time, he is reminded that it was stolen.

So, could I get him a foldybike? It's obviously not on-par, but... it would be easier for him to travel with and much cheaper for me. He only uses his bike to ride around campus and to ride to CVS which is around 2 miles away.

I figure he can get himself a nice new road bike after school's finished... and I can bribe him to move to san francisco with me to ride it year round.

What about this one? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B002EOBYOQ/sr=8-1/qid=1261076382/ref=dp_image_text_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=3375251&s=sporting-goods&qid=1261076382&sr=8-1

Or, someone link me to one to get him! He's 5'10"

You can ask Tom

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?547268-The-NY-Times-wrote-an-article-about-my-hobby

Kam

Google Downtube Nova. Good Luck on your final decision.

You mean well, and that's a BIG plus. But the bike you thought of is not just on par: it's so far below par your boyfriend will unquestionably perceive it as an insult. It's like saying "okay, so your BMW was stolen. Maybe you can use this 1975 GMC Gremlin."

There are great folding bikes, ones which well surpass his 1420, but at the prices you're talking ($170) there's nothing that won't be insulting. Ask yourself: if he rides to the CVS, or to campus each day, will he really have an opportunity to fold the bike? It seems to me that these are primarily bike-locking scenarios. Also, at 5'10" that bike will fit him poorly.

Get him a used road bike. San Francisco has many of those, check Craigslist and do your homework on them. He will be much happier.

You mean well, and that's a BIG plus. But the bike you thought of is not just on par: it's so far below par your boyfriend will unquestionably perceive it as an insult. It's like saying "okay, so your BMW was stolen. Maybe you can use this 1975 GMC Gremlin."

There are great folding bikes, ones which well surpass his 1420, but at the prices you're talking ($170) there's nothing that won't be insulting. Ask yourself: if he rides to the CVS, or to campus each day, will he really have an opportunity to fold the bike? It seems to me that these are primarily bike-locking scenarios. Also, at 5'10" that bike will fit him poorly.

Get him a used road bike. San Francisco has many of those, check Craigslist and do your homework on them. He will be much happier.


Good advice here!

I will have some super hot specials in Jan for some boardwalks and early MAriners...both are way low on the totem pole. Great bikes for the purpose but not to replace an expensive roadbike either. I tend to agree with Feija on this one ..good advice

thor

Here's one I can recommend instead of that folding bike. http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bik/1522019962.html
' hope its still available. This one too. http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bik/1522151095.html