New Xootr Swift Owner Could Use Some Help!
 

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I went through about the same realization with a Birdy except you didn't mention 'bouncing.' In my humble opinion, the xootr, birdy, brompton, and most similar DaHon's somehow suffer from weird geometry and basic short wheel base and size dynamics; forgetabout total compensation within gearing. BUT!!! Somehow the BikeFriday overcomes this. I don't have one, nor do I own stock, but if I had to do it all over again never Birdy, i had a DaHon, it's ok for the money, rode a brompton, ok. Bike Friday all the way...

I have a sort of extreme situation (I tow a double child trailer up a very steep hill), so I've done more to my Xootr Swift gearing than you necessarily need to. I've got a SRAM Dual Drive and an 11-32 cassette.

I think the stock cassette is 11-28. If you wanted a little better hill gearing, you might just swap it for an 11-32. The SRAM Dual Drive is probably way overkill for you.

I also don't like the stock handlebar (it's so narrow that I find it very difficult to control on that same hill), and I'm in the middle of figuring out what to replace it with. I have a Dimension Arc coming Thursday.

Hope that's useful. (And the ongoing saga of my Swift is here.)

The "wooble" is due to the smaller moment of inertia around the steering axis. Mainly due to the small wheel. You'll first get used, then addicted to that responsiveness.

There's a lot of gasping my lungs out at the top of the hill. (And it probably helps that I have to show off for my kids.)

You might look into clarification of whether the Megarange 11-34 cassette will fit the Swift. I was told it wouldn't, but I think the guy who posts here as "xootr swift" may have one on his. If it does work, it'll help even more on hills.

As for technical chops, I'm only just getting to where I can discuss these things halfway intelligently. Not being able to get up a hill will do wonders for your grounding in applied physics.

I'll just add that if your are just starting out riding regularly, hills will be tough at first. Swapping cassettes will certainly make life easier. But, give it a little time. Your legs aren't used to biking up hills, keep it up and they soon will be. When I first started biking, there wasn't a gear low enough for me. A couple of weeks in and things weren't nearly as bad. After a year of riding the same hilly route I barely notice some of the ascents I thought were murder the first time out. The secret is to not avoid them. The only way to get better going up hills is to ride up hills. It will take a little while, but you'll get there.

That's very true. If you can get up them at all, you'll just keep getting better as you keep doing it.

Still, there are times when a little more mechanical advantage can be nice, too. Especially if you won't be riding consistently.

Swapping only the cassette, to improve the hill-climbing a little, might not be enough. It will depend on the steepness of the hills...although our friend from Glasgow is right, you won't get better at climbing unless you challenge your legs...and lungs.

One Swift owner has installed Rotor cranks, which he says have made it feel as though he's pedaling at two gear positions easier:I don't have the SRAM DualDrive but have ridden a Dahon Mu P24 that had one. With the SRAM DD, the gears are more than adequate for climbing steep hills. At sea-level, the Mu and the Xootr Swift are somewhat similar in ride-feel, IMO, though the (stock-equipped) Swift's riding position leans a little further forward.

The downside and the upside, depending on whom you ask, is that the SRAM DD is both fish and fowl: it is a combination of internal gear hub and derailer/cassette. One poster has described it as "the worst of both worlds" but I'm sure some would call it "the best of both worlds". There is additional weight and there are more things that can break, but there is a desirable redundancy to offset this negative: if the hub gear shifter mechanism should break, you could still shift the chain with the derailer, and you are able to switch the internal hub gears when at a standstill, e.g. at a red-light. So a bike with a DD is more versatile, good for commuting in frequent stop/start mode, and good for taking on tour in the Sierra Nevada.

Regards
T

Never thought of that. Cool.

I only got mine because it was the only way I found to get down to 22ish gear inches. The other things I've been learning about it are free bonus gifts (with purchase).

Let them add the new chain. If you could post a picture of your bike perhaps we could make some more suggestions on its setup. The stock Swift would be much too upright and cramped for me.

A Butt Buddy will give give you approx.two more inches of seat post if needed. www.sidetrak.com.

My first impresseion is: Raise your seatpost!

Speedo

You are WAY too upright and cramped (bar and seat too close together) and your weight is too far back. Here's one website illustrating how you should look on a properly fitted bike. I just picked it from the top of this google list:

http://www.google.com/search?q=corre...ient=firefox-a

A longer handlebar stem and dropped bars, or the Delta Ergo bars i use would help. I'm 6'1", but with a very large upper body. I better check my own cycling profile and see how bad I look!

Shimano megarange freewheel (I assume swift has a freewheel) might be the easiest solution, assuming the derailer does not hang up on the large cog. You could also change the chain ring to a smaller one. You may also have to a add or remove chain links.

And a CaneCreek ThudBuster ST (33.9mm diameter) has a total length of 609mm (post length 507mm)--so another 4-5 inches beyond the Xootr's 482mm post.


adamnj, did your bike come with the 100mm stem that Xootr swaps in for tall riders? You could get a 150mm stem, and try out different angles. You might ask your LBS if they have an adjustable 150mm stem so you can try out different rise angles.

Regards
T

I don't think your posture is bad per se... the saddle does seem a bit low. But riding position is largely a question of what feels comfortable to you. If upright riding is what you like, then that's fine. (I started out riding as upright as I could get.) Your posture looks fairly close to the classical 45degree arms and body. A longer stem would not be a bad idea.

It is a good idea to be balanced on the saddle: If you raise yourself just the smallest amount off the saddle with cranks horizontal, you musn't have a tendency to fall forwards or backwards - you must be balanced.

Just a comment on riding posture... in the recent Tour de France I looked at this especially... some riders have close to horizontal backs even when riding on the hoods, but others were close to 45deg arms and body. The first link in that google search shows just one possibility, OK for racing, but too low really for more casual riding.

You definitely need a longer stem. I had a 130mm on mine and was happy. (6' 3") Also, if you're desperate for lower gearing, you can do what I didand put on a 53/39 chainring. I would kick it down with my heel , then manually place the chain back on the big ring. I got tired of that, though, hence my move to the Bike Friday with front dérailleur.

Also, did u request the XL seatpost? Really makes a difference.

I have just seen your pics and i have to admit, the bike looks to small for you... i know you are 6'2 but i have seen taller people ride on Dahon with no mod and it was a nicer look..... :innocent:
Anyhow, i really don't know how much you paid for the bike but if you can return during the 30 day trial period i would go for it and get a Mu P8 for $600 shipped or Mu SL for 1150 shipped, the SL is a super light bike and very comfy if you are on the go.... just find a lbs that sells Dahon and take one of these puppies for a spin before you return your bike.... i have nothing against it, i just honestly think that for your size you better buy a more main streamish machine.

TC

The Dahon Mu is a nice bike and I believe it is competition for the Xootr Swift. However, as far as sizing options are concerned, the Swift is the more configurable of the two bikes.

The distance from seatpost to handlebar on the Mu is a maximum of 65 centimeters (according to the Dahon website), whereas on the Swift, if it's outfitted with a 130mm or 150mm stem, that distance can be extended to 70~72 centimeters (based on actual measurements at a fairly short seat height--it would be considerably greater when the seat is raised, though that yields a torso position with greater forward lean unless offset to some degree by stem rise ... or arm-length).

Regards
T

P.S. Also, bar-ends on the Swift would provide yet further choice in terms of riding position, and wouldn't interfere with the fold, inasmuch as the Swift's stem-riser is not part of the fold.

adamnj... honestly, your riding position looks fine. Maybe a little cramped, but you'd have to decide on that as you compare it to riding other bikes. There's of course basics as far as angle goes, but frankly, and this is coming from someone who does a lot of "alignment" of the yoga variety and all that, the conventional "racing" or road riding position (45 degrees with a curvy back) just isn't great either. It all depends on how much riding you'll do. It's not like some guy riding in the position suggested on the first google hit isn't going to feel it too at some point. To me, it looks like you're doing some basic towny riding? Boardwalks? Summer Streets. Maybe get an extended stem and maybe raise the seat, but other than that, just feel it out. All this switch to this change that order this ditch that sell this exchange that just gets confusing...

The bottom line is that no matter how you ride (within a flexible reason) you're going to feel it until you build up strength and can sink into the position that works for you. Take it easy and experiment.

PS- Will you be at the NY Century ride? Big Up to all the folders in the ride. I'll be Xootring with ya!
B

I was told that there's no way to increase the seatpost setback. Does anyone know differently?

Unless I misunderstand the question, the way to increase cockpit is to raise the seat and/or extend the stem. Distance d¹ is less than distance d²:

Assuming your seatpost is already set for pedaling comfort, extending the stem is the practical option.

Regards
T

I'm really just educating myself and looking for options. Thanks for the ongoing info.

The seatpost is set for pedaling comfort, but I discovered my Brooks B17's rails aren't seated correctly in the saddle clamp. The clamp isn't meant to accept the part of the rails where the gap narrows, but that's what ends up clamped when the position feels good. More setback would allow me to keep the saddle right where it already is, but seat it correctly in the clamp.

I also just started experimenting with different handlebar shapes, and anything that curves toward the rider would require a more rearward position for the saddle (or a longer stem, as you suggest).

I have an o-o-o-old Brooks CR3 saddle, but I know nothing about variations, if any, in their rail configurations by model or year. But mine fits onto the Thudbuster ST cradle with no problem.... and I like the ride.

Regards
T