Folding Bikes - Giatex "Stretching" Bikes?

I followed a link in a thread about Target bikes (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=73494) here, and I discovered that Target is selling (http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_23/601-1902480-9963354?%5Fencoding=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B0002KQ818) "stretching" bikes by a Taiwanese company called Giatex (http://www.giatex.com).

I had done a good bit of research before getting my Dahon, and thought I had heard of most folders. This is a new one on me. Don't know if I'd ever buy one, but it is an interesting method of folding (collapsing, really).

Anyone own one? Ride one? See one in-person?

flexible flyer would be the real name for them
add heavy to it as well

seatpost /crank with pedals rotates on the round tube .... its an awful bike
just rode it on flat surface and got scared ....

brakemeister

I think collapsing is the operative word. Imagine what would happen if somehow you jam on your front brake, only to have the bike shrink in size underneath you, as the rear catches up with the now stopped front. It would be like one of those train wrecks on looney tunes, where the thing folds all up into a pile...

hehe

Actually, it doesn't collapse unless you want it to, since it is held tightly by two quick release clamps.

http://ca.geocities.com/spirope/foldingbike.htm


I think collapsing is the operative word. Imagine what would happen if somehow you jam on your front brake, only to have the bike shrink in size underneath you, as the rear catches up with the now stopped front. It would be like one of those train wrecks on looney tunes, where the thing folds all up into a pile...

hehe

I bought one in about six months ago and I'm quite happy with it. I've riden it on several trips of 10 to 20 miles, and it is quite comfortable for that distance, although like any other 16 inch bike it is slower than a full sized one. The crank it comes with is kind of small, and replacing it with one from a road bike (52 teeth) is recommended.

As far as I know, it is the only 16 inch bike on the market with a 6 speed derailleur, which I think is much better than the 3 speed hubs that come on Dahons and Bromptons. (It comes with a derailleur guard, which is a necessity considering how close the derailleur is to the ground.)

More info and pictures at: http://ca.geocities.com/spirope/foldingbike.htm



I followed a link in a thread about Target bikes (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=73494) here, and I discovered that Target is selling (http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_23/601-1902480-9963354?%5Fencoding=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B0002KQ818) "stretching" bikes by a Taiwanese company called Giatex (http://www.giatex.com).

I had done a good bit of research before getting my Dahon, and thought I had heard of most folders. This is a new one on me. Don't know if I'd ever buy one, but it is an interesting method of folding (collapsing, really).

Anyone own one? Ride one? See one in-person?

you have one for sale I read on your page ... than it indeed makes sense to praise them ...

otherwise ???
whats the weight :-)

brakemeister

No that is not true yeah bikes has a 16 inch bike with a 6 speed freewheel.

I'm not praising it because I have one for sale. I have two of them. I liked the first one I bought so well that I bought one for my daughter also, but she doesn't really need it.

It weighs 25 pounds as it comes, which is not super light, but it's not difficult for someone with average strength to carry it up and down stairs. For some reason, on the company's website, it says 27 pounds, which is not correct. I have made mine about half a pound lighter by upgrading the seatpost and the pedals (although I didn't do it primarily to save weight). I could also lighten it further by changing the rear derailleur, which is the cheap steel kind, but I haven't bothered to do that yet.

It's not perfect, and I wouldn't want to ride 10 miles to work every day, but for those times when you need a very compact bike, it's good value.

I followed a link in a thread about Target bikes (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=73494) here, and I discovered that Target is selling (http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_23/601-1902480-9963354?%5Fencoding=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B0002KQ818) "stretching" bikes by a Taiwanese company called Giatex (http://www.giatex.com).

I had done a good bit of research before getting my Dahon, and thought I had heard of most folders. This is a new one on me. Don't know if I'd ever buy one, but it is an interesting method of folding (collapsing, really).

Anyone own one? Ride one? See one in-person?

I test rode a "telescoping" type bike a year ago. I actually liked it. I believe it was a 16" wheel model and had 6 speeds.

It was being displayed at an airshow and I believe they wanted about $350 Canadian for it. (bright yellow frame - other colours available) Rode it around the show for about 15 minutes... pavement, grass, taxiway, runway...oh my.

Seemed like a nice ride. Could have been the Giatex. (looked like it...but it's been a year)
Knowing what I know now, I'd love to take it for a spin again.

C

guess you don't need to worry about getting the right top tube length.