Need Ideas for First Folding Bike?
 

Trying to figure out the right bike for my first folding bike. I am not using this for commuting. I live in hot flat South Florda so I will be using ist for exercise. To take to the park around town and I m thinking of throwing it into a bag and taking iton some of my vacations for extra exercise and around town. I think the idea of a folding bike is a cool one due to space and I can trow it in the trunk.

Maybe take it to London on one of my vacations. Appreciate any tips. I live about 10 mins from the Citizen folding bike company. However they sell online only. They seem to show a nice product but I have not seen anyone here mentioning if they have one or if it is a good bike. I know nothing about fixing a bike but my Godson is an expert and repairs BMX bikes as he is a pro bmx rider. I am 5 11 and weigh 190 right now. Working hard to get the weight down and hope to drop 15 lbs by the end of the year if not sooner!

Appreciate any ideas or suggestions.

This is the Citizen Bike
http://www.citizenbike.com/catalog.a...1&product_id=7

Robert

Never seen nor ridden one. You can probably get a pretty idea of reading through similarly labeled threads in the forum. There have been several in the past two months.

If your godson is a BMX mechanic, he likely won't know much about folders, and might laugh at the idea.

Although you don't envision commuting with it, you will still need one with a small fold if you want to take it on planes. So that takes out the 20" wheel models.

For everything else you mention, 20" wheels seem to be ideal. Throwing in the trunk --> no problem. Packing on planes --> problem.

I like the Dahons. Good quality, fair price. There are others that are better quality, but then you have to grab your ankles for the price. There are others that are priced lower, but then there are design problems and quality problems.

Admittedly, I have never tried a Downtube, which also seem to be pretty popular here. (and a contender with Dahon for the price) Dahons run from about $200 to $2000, depending on how fancy of a bike you want. Above about $400, you get less and less for your money.

Uh, you can definitely pack a 20" folder. I've done it many times, as have numerous other people. It takes a little more work than, say, a 16" folder. However it will be much more pleasant to do longer rides on 20" than 16" wheels.

The Citizen thing doesn't look so hot. I'd stick with something more established, e.g. Dahon, Downtube, Swift, Bike Friday etc.

Thanks for the info. My Godson takes his BMX bike apart and throws everything in a hockey style duffle bag that fits all max size requirements for the airline. He does not tell them its a bike and has not had any issues. Hoewever he can get frames for FREE should there be damage.

Rob