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-   -   New to Forum, New London Commuter New to Foldingbikes but not new to Bikes! (https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-bikes/590614-new-forum-new-london-commuter-new-foldingbikes-but-not-new-bikes.html)

Folding-Bikes 10-08-09 09:23 AM

I ment the seller only has 1 feedback... yeah they retail for a lot, currently bidding at is at £377 :P

Folding-Bikes 10-08-09 03:01 PM

Yay I won! £377 not bad? my max I could spend on a bike was 380 so im happy!


Thank you guys for all your help, you have all been so nice! I cant wait to be a productive member of the forum, thanks again.

SesameCrunch 10-08-09 03:49 PM


Originally Posted by _Triathlete_ (Post 9822775)
Yay I won! £377 not bad? my max I could spend on a bike was 380 so im happy!


Thank you guys for all your help, you have all been so nice! I cant wait to be a productive member of the forum, thanks again.

For a Reach!!!?? That's friggin' incredible! You are one lucky guy.

So now, we'll need the customary pictures, or it didn't happen...

jur 10-08-09 04:21 PM

Bargain for the Reach! :thumb: My wife has one, it is, like the majority of good folding bikes, size medium and you can adjust that both ways that by stem selection. She likes it for the full size riding feel.

the Reach has its idiosyncrasies...

* to fold it, the front wheel has to be popped out. So the lawyer lips have to be filed off 2 places to make it a quick operation: At the fork dropout and at the rear suspension quick release.

* you have to take care not to pinch the front derailer cable while folding - the frame acts like scissors and tends to cut it if it gets caught.

* The folding makes the use of mudguards essentially impossible. So be prepared for getting dirty during wet riding.

* the front suspension of my wife's Reach developed a lot of play, which I eventually had to treat to restore the riding quality.

The rear suspension is adjustable, the suspension unit body can be screwed in and out. This will have an effect on the amount of travel before hitting the endstop. Also, the suspension unit uses the same elastomers as the Birdy bike, so you can dismantle the unit and put in a stiffer elastomer for an increased stiffness. The one that came with the bike is too soft.

The Reach is highly customisable - at their web site you will find details of tri-athletes who won on the road version of the Reach, which has the identical frame with road bike parts installed.

Folding-Bikes 10-09-09 03:01 AM

Its a shopp!!! I emailed the 2 winners of the previous bikes, they had no problems and they happen to have a shop in Cambridge (local to me)! I will go and collect it from them tomorrow and will post pics of opening the package etc!

Jur- Im actually doing the London Tri this summer, how could would it be if I used my folding bike???? I wouldnt need a car I could just bring in the train!! Awesome!

A pitty about the mud guards, thinking of making some clip-on ones(does cheap plastic ones, just make a clip for them)


I Knew about having to take the wheel out, no problems there.

-Will start looking for a stiffer elastomer

Thanks for all your help guys :)

bhkyte 10-09-09 03:22 AM

Easily up degradable bike so you can fit tribars or drops if you want. Then I can not see why this bike would be any less competitive against a £400 road bike.

I cant believe you were considering a £99 Ebay bike!

Good result!

Folding-Bikes 10-09-09 03:39 AM

I know! I wouldnt have being able to ride to the station and back.. just too far

This guy managed to do an ironman with it, not bad... I am def going to try and make it my Tri Bike so I can actually go abroad at a reasonable price, but we will see how the upgrades go.


Now this is what I have found out about the bike:

"The Reach is one of a series of bikes Pacific make under their own name (the others include a handcycle and a special-needs trike) and it’s being imported by CycleCentric in Cambridge. They’ve chosen the flat-bar ‘Reach for the City’ model to test the waters, but may consider bringing in some of the other drop-handlebar versions in future. The bike, complete with rear rack, costs £599, and mudguards cost an extra £20. A bike bag and matching wheelbags are also available for £45."
From: http://www.pacific-cycles.com/review2.asp?catid=6&aid=6

And here is the shop I have bought the bike from: http://www.cyclecentric.com/bikes/results/taxonomy:148

They sell them for a very good price of £450, still very happy I only pay £377! and happy the colour is White/Black


In case someone reads this and wonders why I went for the reach..

To be honest, I didnt really like the Blue/Silver of the Swift.. but it looked like a bike that could take the big boys, the price was just too high for me.
The downtube 9 looks like a good frame but thats about it(and the colour..)

The Mezzo's look amazing, but I cant afford them.. the same with the Dahon Speed Pro.

So the reach with the 451 wheels and a very nice frame is I think a Result, but I will wait and see how it rides!

jur 10-09-09 04:00 AM

It is of course possible to fit mudguards; my wife uses a clip-on on the back, but it has to be removed when folding. No biggie except if you're rushed to get a train or something.

The rear rack makes a handy stand when the bike's folded - it rests on the rack.

bhkyte 10-11-09 12:51 PM

Downtube went for £166, Cheap!

Folding-Bikes 10-11-09 01:42 PM

True! that was very cheap indeed!

Folding-Bikes 10-13-09 03:32 PM

Pacific Reach
 
I finally got my folding bike!

Went to the shop to pick it up, it was wrapped still, now there was a couple of issues..


The pedals were not the folding ones as stated on ebay, they were cheap metal ones, none folding... but I raised the issue and they changed them to some great metallic folding ones(see pictures below).

Also the rack wasnt included.. the RRP is £50 but managed to get it for £20 and I also got 2 tubes for the 451 tires for £10, in total I paid £400 for everything :lol: I know it doesn't add up. the guys were really helpful and they had some great bikes in the shop.


The bike came with a bag, folded in another bag :lol: but the bike has to be completely folded in order to get it in.. that means taking both wheels off.. Im not sure when Im going to do that to be honest!

Anyway enough chat, here are the pictures:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2221/...a51354f4a2.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3531/...0f18b3ae65.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/...c8e21ed7b4.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/...a292d3085a.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2495/...63209964bd.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3479/...cc31a5438b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2654/...59ea5d03ea.jpg


They seem to put one on every time they sell one, Item number: 150380145122.



Cant wait to start modding, first thing to go has to the handlebar, the seat is ugly, but.. its really confy...

I dont want to make it a road bike just yet(maybe in the future).

Any recommendations?

SesameCrunch 10-13-09 03:41 PM

One word:


Niiiiiiiice! :thumb:


BTW, what's so wrong with the handlebars?

Folding-Bikes 10-13-09 04:15 PM

I dont like the feel of it, the angle is just plain weird, I need a longer stem with a little negative angle downwards and a flatbar maybe.

Other things that need doing:
-Front break release(making it easy to undo)
-Sorting out the cables
-Seat+Seat stem
-Stiffer elastometer

jur 10-13-09 04:32 PM

I have some suggestion (good news?) for you - the rack in the last picture is mounted on the rigid point of the main frame. Like that it doesn't fold. If you take the lower brace strut of the rack and move it to the lower mounting point which is located somewhat lower and on the rear triangle part of the frame, the the rack will fold neatly along with the bike. :thumb:

I see the mounting point on your pics right next to the rear suspension quick release.

Folding-Bikes 10-13-09 04:41 PM

Yeah I found them! I took the rack off anyway, not needed for my commuting trips, I will use it for longer distances tho.


Thanks a lot jur, keep ur suggestions comming ;-)

Went for a ride, and its just like a big bike.. or somehow better?

BruceMetras 10-13-09 05:05 PM


Originally Posted by _Triathlete_ (Post 9851916)
I dont like the feel of it, the angle is just plain weird, I need a longer stem with a little negative angle downwards and a flatbar maybe.

Other things that need doing:
-Front break release(making it easy to undo)
-Sorting out the cables
-Seat+Seat stem
-Stiffer elastometer

I went with a carbon flat bar I had laying around.. I couldn't get into the riser bar either..

Tie-wraps are your friend for the cable runs at the bb.. I ran 1 each through the frame holes on either side.. looks like both yours are running on the same side.. don't know if it makes a difference, never tried it that way.

When you replace the elastomer.. lube the heck out of everything with silicone grease or the like.. if not, will likely develop some creaky/squeaky.

Those bikes ride really well.. have fun with it..

SesameCrunch 10-13-09 05:39 PM


Originally Posted by _Triathlete_ (Post 9852063)
Went for a ride, and its just like a big bike.. or somehow better?

We want to hear about your first tri with this bike!

Folding-Bikes 10-14-09 03:01 AM

Thanks for the advice Bruce!

Sesame I like the idea im not going to lie, but.. making a Hybrid is one thing, making it a racing bike is a completely different kettle of fish.

I will put put drop bars on the bike, im too much of a purist, I would have a look at a more "modern" approach of handlebar, maybe an H-Bar?


Any suggestions?


Edit: I think I found it! what you guys think of this handlebar: http://www.flickr.com/photos/janbeeldrijk/2599515941/
or what about : http://www.sbrsports.com/512-471759

are there any like this that are made shorter in lenght?

Folding-Bikes 10-14-09 08:41 AM

Decided im not going to change the stem, just the handlebar
How about this? http://www.shinybikes.com/bikes/deda...w-profile.html

Does anyone know the name of this shape of handlebar:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2493/...91f0e9e681.jpg


Edit: Thanks to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_handlebar Trekking or butterfly bars, I think im going to get one, they look very confortable

SesameCrunch 10-14-09 09:00 AM

Be careful with the butterfly bars. They're great for long trips, but they're heavy and clunky. They also impact the fold/folded size.

BruceMetras 10-14-09 09:58 AM


Originally Posted by SesameCrunch (Post 9855788)
Be careful with the butterfly bars. They're great for long trips, but they're heavy and clunky. They also impact the fold/folded size.

I had butterfly bars on a Chameleon I have (came with them), although comfortable (and really wide), I couldn't get used to how they looked on the bike .. the bars I took off were very adjustable as they split in two so you could get just about any angles you wanted.. with the Reach, whichever handlebar is chosen, it can be removed with the quick release, so handlebar choice really doesn't affect folded size much..

Folding-Bikes 10-15-09 02:23 PM

Yeah ur guys are right, too wide and heavy.


I turned my stem around and its actually soo much better! Im not sure I want to change it any more, a longer stem would mean putting a lot of pressure in the front wheels, that cant be the right way to go?


What are your thoughts on getting some of these: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=21671

The Release clamps are just horrible.. all of them seem to be slightly too short and I have to undo both sides in order to take them off, not so "quick" is it?

I need both wheels and the elastometer one.


I went for a short ride today, I even liked the elastometer.. its not that soft.. I just need too lose a bit of weight..


Going to get a Computer, wonder if theres any trouble setting up Wireless ones with the 451 wheels?

Hope u all enjoying the end of the week!

bhkyte 10-15-09 02:36 PM


Originally Posted by _Triathlete_ (Post 9864452)

The QR fitted to my Mezzo is a Montage "klick" that works very well. Mezzo bike also need to quick release their front wheel to fold,but they have a custom structral mudguard to hold the wheel once its off. Its a very quick system. Swiss and montage are closely related. A Mezzo QR might be just the ticket, but I am not sure about it on a different bike. You could see if a mezzo dealer would let you try.

A wireless computer should be ok with 451. There range tends to be about one metre,so its not till you get to 16inch where they may be a problem. Anyone any feed back on this?

Folding-Bikes 10-15-09 02:59 PM

I went ahead and bought a Wireless Computer with Cadence seems to get good reviews..


Cant find any Montage "klick"? more research has to be done into the perfect QR, also do you undo your break to take the front week? Im getting used to taking it off, but im also thinking of getting front brakes that open up

bhkyte 10-15-09 03:12 PM


Originally Posted by _Triathlete_ (Post 9864679)
Cant find any Montage "klick"? more research has to be done into the perfect QR, also do you undo your break to take the front week? Im getting used to taking it off, but im also thinking of getting front brakes that open up

Sorry, I was away the day they did spelling in school.

Montage "Clix" is the correct name.

The mezzo system is unique in that the wheel,mudguard and brake pivot away from the front fork after the quick release is loosened,so the brake openning does not become an issue. The QR might suit as it is "adjustment lockable" vai a bolt that locks it on the tread. I just don't know if this QR would work as it may be montage and Mezzo specific.


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