Folding Bikes - The Guardian say I'm attractive!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2011/oct/21/folding-bikes-victoria-line-va

(Really it's the Guardian talking about places that ban folders in London)

What kind of tensioner roller is in the picture? Mine is black plastic.

I like Bromptonista.:D

I'm a weird man.

What kind of tensioner roller is in the picture? Mine is black plastic.

They were aluminium. . . the thing that stops the chain coming off the tensioner arm, that is.

the AW3/BSR hub bikes use the alloy disk, and a fixed pair of 10t pulleys
(so, sealed bearing upgradable, fwiw)

so black suggests.. the 2&6 speed, which make the pulley and guards
in the same piece,
Unique, the flanges get pushed sideways to make the gear change..

the AW3/BSR hub bikes use the alloy disk, and a fixed pair of 10t pulleys
(so, sealed bearing upgradable, fwiw)

so black suggests.. the 2&6 speed, which make the pulley and guards
in the same piece,
Unique, the flanges get pushed sideways to make the gear change..

Ok, his explains it, thanks. I thought that this is some fancy after market upgrade. My 6sp B has only few hundred miles on it but I wonder how long those plastic derailleur/tensioner parts will last. Especially when riding on dusty trails. Do they require maintenance? Should I take them apart once in a while to clean/grease?

I think they are like the original 3 speed pulley the plastic itself is the bushing.

well there is a metal tube around the bolt,
Campag used a bronze bushing inside the pulley that slid around a similar tube ,
it around the bolt.. simple so it won't fail ..

they just use a longer bolt and move sideways, [longer sleeve tube],
to line up with either cog.

as with most bike parts, clean and lightly oiled, given the plastic is self lubricating ,
to some extent, so keep grit out of there and it should be fine.

nothing wrong with putting a spare pulley set in the parts stash..
particularly given it is the lever that directly pushes
on the 2 flange edges molded in as part of the pulley.

Thanks fietsbob, next time I will clean the bike I will take it apart and see what's going on there. I have that plastic friendly silicon grease. Always assumed that they have real bearing. Plastic on plastic, kind of disappointing.

Wow, you guys are really gearheads. Article about the social and practical aspects of folding bikes, and you start geeking about the tensioner!

Yeah, well I only click on this thread to see how really cute you looked...to my disappointment there was no pic so I guess you did get me on that one. Who cares about a folder when it comes to a cute lass. Oh well, I guess I'll just go ride my Tobukaeru 7spd up and down my hill.:D

For $250 and free shipping this little bike is worth its weight in gold. I ride it more than my Wahoo 29er now only because I can take it indoors everywhere I go. Plus I like the lime green color I don't have to wear a hi-visibility vest. I've had it for a month it seems to handle anything I can throw at it bumps/ruts/holes and even some curves on the drives. I live on a hill and I have no worries going up or down on it although at first it seem a bit squeakily but it only took a few miles to get the handle on the steering its a bit sharp.

... Oh well, I guess I'll just go ride my Tobukaeru 7spd up and down my hill.:D

Pretty bike!. Green is the latest hit in this forum. Looks very Dahonish, any relation?

Pretty bike!. Green is the latest hit in this forum. Looks very Dahonish, any relation?Must be aimed at the female market.

* ducks and runs *

Yeah my folder also has a black tensioner and thanks for making me go check that out so I could get my hands dirty. :rolleyes:

Seriously though this little bike is a dream to ride. Yesterday, I went to buy some veggies and a few customers said "what a cool bike", and they said they pass me on the road and the bike caught their eye on how fun it look.

But today for my regular exercise run I used my Trek Wahoo which is also fun.