26" folding bikes
01-12-05, 04:35 PM
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Looks great, Leo! I'll be sure to sneak the office digital camera home this weekend and take some photos of my Matrix and post them next week.
congrats on all your upgrades.
-J
congrats on all your upgrades.
-J
01-13-05, 03:39 AM
#52
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Velo girl, you might also want to take a look at SKS RaceBlace mudguards. they attach to the seat stay so you don't have to mess around with the drop out. Another option is the SKS XtraDry. Both fenders attach very quickly and can be detached in seconds for sunny day rides.
you can buy them from REI.
you can buy them from REI.
01-13-05, 09:12 AM
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Originally Posted by folder dude
Velo girl, you might also want to take a look at SKS RaceBlace mudguards. they attach to the seat stay so you don't have to mess around with the drop out. Another option is the SKS XtraDry. Both fenders attach very quickly and can be detached in seconds for sunny day rides.
you can buy them from REI.
you can buy them from REI.
Thanks, I'll check them out. Freddies are working fine now, though. I'm always on the lookout for improvements.
01-14-05, 10:28 PM
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The bike looks nice, Leo. How do you like the seatpost and bar ends? I would like some bar ends mostly so I could vary hand positions on longer rides. Again, very nice. I hope to do some upgrades in a couple of months, will definitely post pics as changes are make. Since a few of us have Matrices (is that the plural?) we should keep each other posted on any problems we encounter with the bikes. Mine has been fine so far, the only complaint I have (besides the bike not coming stock with a rigid fork) is that my frame creaks a little bit. I have adjusted the latch, but I still get a creak from the hinge area when I put a decent amount of torque on the pedals. If I'm riding like grandpa, no noise. Otherwise, one creak per revolution-- this must indicate some frame flex, but I can't feel it.
The lube that I mentioned helping my ring-lock is Boeshield T-9 bicycle lube. Befoe I applied in I often had trouble with the ring-lock not easily sliding over the threads. I applied some two or three month ago, and it works like a charm. The ring-lock now slides on and off easily at all times, and it works its way loose less often. Works for other applications as well.
The lube that I mentioned helping my ring-lock is Boeshield T-9 bicycle lube. Befoe I applied in I often had trouble with the ring-lock not easily sliding over the threads. I applied some two or three month ago, and it works like a charm. The ring-lock now slides on and off easily at all times, and it works its way loose less often. Works for other applications as well.
Last edited by Anthony King; 01-17-05 at 02:08 AM.
01-15-05, 12:31 AM
#55
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Thanks, Anthony, for the heads-up on likely latch and ring-lock problems. I have several bikes and they are all like Rhodesian Ridgebacks- no bark, no creak ;-) I'll try the Boeshield T-9 lube in Colorado during Spring Break (early March).
I'm waiting until we get out of snow, slush, ice, and mud to really test the bike on trails in Concord. The Hutchison Python XC tires by all accounts are either very, very good (on dry hardpacked trails) or very, very bad (in mud) .
Maybe we should be the 3M Club - even though none of us is from MN ;-)
Cane Creek bar ends will definitely solve numb hands problems on long rides. Also they enable you to really grip the bar in a 3-D way- great when climbing or cranking into a strong headwind. You can get them at PricePoint (30% discount).
The Cane Creek Thudbuster is a technical marvel. Commuting tonight over snowbanks on my tough Marin Sausalito, I hit a curb that really tested the hybrid's Manitou fork. But the Thudbuster did what it was designed to do. Even if you don't plan on biking through pot holes and the debris we meet in Boston, the Thudbuster neutralizes the vertical chop from less than perfect roads. You may be interested in Cane Creek's new ST version for road bikes. Luckily the diameter of the XL ST post is perfect (no shims needed) for the Matrix-27.2 mm.
https://www.canecreek.com/site/produc...5_thud_st.html
I'm waiting until we get out of snow, slush, ice, and mud to really test the bike on trails in Concord. The Hutchison Python XC tires by all accounts are either very, very good (on dry hardpacked trails) or very, very bad (in mud) .
Maybe we should be the 3M Club - even though none of us is from MN ;-)
Cane Creek bar ends will definitely solve numb hands problems on long rides. Also they enable you to really grip the bar in a 3-D way- great when climbing or cranking into a strong headwind. You can get them at PricePoint (30% discount).
The Cane Creek Thudbuster is a technical marvel. Commuting tonight over snowbanks on my tough Marin Sausalito, I hit a curb that really tested the hybrid's Manitou fork. But the Thudbuster did what it was designed to do. Even if you don't plan on biking through pot holes and the debris we meet in Boston, the Thudbuster neutralizes the vertical chop from less than perfect roads. You may be interested in Cane Creek's new ST version for road bikes. Luckily the diameter of the XL ST post is perfect (no shims needed) for the Matrix-27.2 mm.
https://www.canecreek.com/site/produc...5_thud_st.html
Last edited by Leo C. Driscoll; 01-15-05 at 12:51 AM.
01-19-05, 09:21 AM
#56
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PricePoint currently has a sale on Cane Creek Thudbuster and Ergo Control Bar Ends.
https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/116...n-Seatpost.htm
https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/116...n-Seatpost.htm
01-22-05, 11:26 AM
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Originally Posted by howling.fantods
I've been thinking about picking up a folding bike, because of the San Francisco BART's stupid rule that you can bring your bike on any train on any time of the day except during rush hour. BUT, you can bring a folding bike onto the train with you.
They probably mean those little 16' wheel things, like bromptons or bike fridays or whatever. Personally, I don't really want to mess with those, I want to comply with the stupid BART rule without having to make any concessions on ride quality. I couldn't care less how small the bike folds up, so long as when the bart staff tries to prevent me from bringing my bike on the train, i can tell them with a straight face that it's a folding bike, therefore allowed.
I've seen a couple of people riding the trains with 26" folders, which piqued my interest. From doing a little googling, the Dahon Matrix or Montague Paratrooper look like good commuter options for me -- basic mtn bike / city bike type set ups. I haven't found much in the way of user reviews, though.
Anyone got any experience with these? Or know of any other brands I should look at?
They probably mean those little 16' wheel things, like bromptons or bike fridays or whatever. Personally, I don't really want to mess with those, I want to comply with the stupid BART rule without having to make any concessions on ride quality. I couldn't care less how small the bike folds up, so long as when the bart staff tries to prevent me from bringing my bike on the train, i can tell them with a straight face that it's a folding bike, therefore allowed.
I've seen a couple of people riding the trains with 26" folders, which piqued my interest. From doing a little googling, the Dahon Matrix or Montague Paratrooper look like good commuter options for me -- basic mtn bike / city bike type set ups. I haven't found much in the way of user reviews, though.
Anyone got any experience with these? Or know of any other brands I should look at?
04-08-07, 06:17 PM
#58
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Dahon Sales Rep Infestation
> The Matrix is a very durable,dependable bike
Hardly.
After test riding several models as candidates to commute on BART, AC Transit, County Connection, VTA, SamTrans and Muni (both bus and light rail), I concluded that Dahon is chineese junk.
For US$500 bucks or more, nobody'd give them a second look, lacking the folding "feature". The so-called "benefits" of the folding mechanism sound a LOT like the company rep monitors these forums, looking for sales opportunites.
They're sloppy to ride, unstable and basically department-store-grade devices suitable only for a few-block ride to and from the train station.
Don't even THINK about challenging any SF hills on one-na-these POS bikes. Take a look at the SF "Bikers and Walkers" map, and take a gander for ANY of the dark red stripes. Take ANY dahon -- you'll get maybe 500 feet up, and decide "ain't worth FREE'.
Not even if you PAID ME.
Just not the thing to RIDE -- any more than "Huffy's the thing to ride."
Pay the price for a good bike on both ends, or reschedule your commute around the BART restrictions. They've NEVER given me any trouble on the SFO/San Francisco/Millbrae line when inbound, nor the Dublin/Pleasanton outbound.
As a practical matter, compare a lengthy ride on a Dahon against ANY decent bike -- and then ask whether a hinge is worth the $500 premium over a huffy??
Get a cheap target bike on each end, leave it locked at the BART station, and hope it's there when you return the next day. With a Kryptonite NYC "Faggettaboutit" lock, you've a pretty good chance the "junkers" will be parked there on monday morning -- and a huffy rides AT LEAST AS WELL as any Dahon.
Hardly.
After test riding several models as candidates to commute on BART, AC Transit, County Connection, VTA, SamTrans and Muni (both bus and light rail), I concluded that Dahon is chineese junk.
For US$500 bucks or more, nobody'd give them a second look, lacking the folding "feature". The so-called "benefits" of the folding mechanism sound a LOT like the company rep monitors these forums, looking for sales opportunites.
They're sloppy to ride, unstable and basically department-store-grade devices suitable only for a few-block ride to and from the train station.
Don't even THINK about challenging any SF hills on one-na-these POS bikes. Take a look at the SF "Bikers and Walkers" map, and take a gander for ANY of the dark red stripes. Take ANY dahon -- you'll get maybe 500 feet up, and decide "ain't worth FREE'.
Not even if you PAID ME.
Just not the thing to RIDE -- any more than "Huffy's the thing to ride."
Pay the price for a good bike on both ends, or reschedule your commute around the BART restrictions. They've NEVER given me any trouble on the SFO/San Francisco/Millbrae line when inbound, nor the Dublin/Pleasanton outbound.
As a practical matter, compare a lengthy ride on a Dahon against ANY decent bike -- and then ask whether a hinge is worth the $500 premium over a huffy??
Get a cheap target bike on each end, leave it locked at the BART station, and hope it's there when you return the next day. With a Kryptonite NYC "Faggettaboutit" lock, you've a pretty good chance the "junkers" will be parked there on monday morning -- and a huffy rides AT LEAST AS WELL as any Dahon.
04-08-07, 06:59 PM
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Originally Posted by LizardUnit2006
> The Matrix is a very durable,dependable bike
Hardly.
After test riding several models as candidates to commute on BART, AC Transit, County Connection, VTA, SamTrans and Muni (both bus and light rail), I concluded that Dahon is chineese junk.
For US$500 bucks or more, nobody'd give them a second look, lacking the folding "feature". The so-called "benefits" of the folding mechanism sound a LOT like the company rep monitors these forums, looking for sales opportunites.
They're sloppy to ride, unstable and basically department-store-grade devices suitable only for a few-block ride to and from the train station.
Don't even THINK about challenging any SF hills on one-na-these POS bikes. Take a look at the SF "Bikers and Walkers" map, and take a gander for ANY of the dark red stripes. Take ANY dahon -- you'll get maybe 500 feet up, and decide "ain't worth FREE'.
Not even if you PAID ME.
Just not the thing to RIDE -- any more than "Huffy's the thing to ride."
Pay the price for a good bike on both ends, or reschedule your commute around the BART restrictions. They've NEVER given me any trouble on the SFO/San Francisco/Millbrae line when inbound, nor the Dublin/Pleasanton outbound.
As a practical matter, compare a lengthy ride on a Dahon against ANY decent bike -- and then ask whether a hinge is worth the $500 premium over a huffy??
Get a cheap target bike on each end, leave it locked at the BART station, and hope it's there when you return the next day. With a Kryptonite NYC "Faggettaboutit" lock, you've a pretty good chance the "junkers" will be parked there on monday morning -- and a huffy rides AT LEAST AS WELL as any Dahon.
Hardly.
After test riding several models as candidates to commute on BART, AC Transit, County Connection, VTA, SamTrans and Muni (both bus and light rail), I concluded that Dahon is chineese junk.
For US$500 bucks or more, nobody'd give them a second look, lacking the folding "feature". The so-called "benefits" of the folding mechanism sound a LOT like the company rep monitors these forums, looking for sales opportunites.
They're sloppy to ride, unstable and basically department-store-grade devices suitable only for a few-block ride to and from the train station.
Don't even THINK about challenging any SF hills on one-na-these POS bikes. Take a look at the SF "Bikers and Walkers" map, and take a gander for ANY of the dark red stripes. Take ANY dahon -- you'll get maybe 500 feet up, and decide "ain't worth FREE'.
Not even if you PAID ME.
Just not the thing to RIDE -- any more than "Huffy's the thing to ride."
Pay the price for a good bike on both ends, or reschedule your commute around the BART restrictions. They've NEVER given me any trouble on the SFO/San Francisco/Millbrae line when inbound, nor the Dublin/Pleasanton outbound.
As a practical matter, compare a lengthy ride on a Dahon against ANY decent bike -- and then ask whether a hinge is worth the $500 premium over a huffy??
Get a cheap target bike on each end, leave it locked at the BART station, and hope it's there when you return the next day. With a Kryptonite NYC "Faggettaboutit" lock, you've a pretty good chance the "junkers" will be parked there on monday morning -- and a huffy rides AT LEAST AS WELL as any Dahon.
Buying two bikes and locking them at stations is a nice idea, but it only works if you only travel between two destinations. Unfortunately, almost everybody (except for, perhaps, you) travels between multiple destinations. So what are you going to do? Leave a bike at every BART station?
Since I bought my folding bikes I can travel anywhere within about a 300 mile radius of my home faster than I could in a car. In fact, I can probably travel anywhere in the world faster than I could by using a car (since I can also take my folding bike on planes, so I don't have to worry about parking or renting).
In my opinion folding bikes are the perfect transportation solution. For shorter trips when bikes are quickest, easiest way to travel I can ride the bike, then for longer trips I can ride a train or bus, and finally for really long trips I can fly. Most importantly I can mix all different kinds of trips together on the go. No traffic, no parking, no worrying about what I'm going to do at the other end. I can go anywhere, anytime and I don't have to backtrack to pickup my bike/car/etc. The way I see it a folding bike is almost as good as a magic broomstick.
Last edited by makeinu; 04-09-07 at 06:54 AM.
04-09-07, 12:47 AM
#60
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Lizardunit dug up a three year old thread about dahon 26" folders just to talk some *****?...oops, sorry...I meant- just to state his opinion? Why not just start a whole new thread about what crap dahon folding bikes are? LOL
....sounds like lizardunit has THE BOOK.
Dahon makes good quality bikes from the test rides I have gone on...but then again, I don't have the book, so I probably don't know anything.
....sounds like lizardunit has THE BOOK.
Dahon makes good quality bikes from the test rides I have gone on...but then again, I don't have the book, so I probably don't know anything.
Last edited by Donkey Hodie; 04-10-07 at 01:30 AM.
12-22-09, 07:43 PM
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Have you guys been using the El Bolso bag with the 26" Dahon bikes on the BART trains? I don't know if people get mad when dirty bikes touch up against their clothes, but then again from what I have been reading the bike doesn't fill so well in the bag.
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gracejoo86
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06-22-14 06:53 AM
