First Official Folding Bike Thread!! :) Name Your Bike!
#502
Celebrate Diversity!
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Chicago or Orlando
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I'm slowly getting used to it. I rode to the pub last night though and didn't have any troubles either there or on the way back. I'm taking it on the train tomorrow.
#503
Small wheels ARE better!
Join Date: Sep 2006
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My humble 06 Dahon Speed 8 - Brooks B17, Dahon Touring rack, MKS pedals, Blackburn rear bag.
A surprisingly comfortable tourer I truly enjoy riding! Been to Laos, Thailand, Malaysia & Indonesia.
Last edited by OldiesONfoldies; 06-09-08 at 09:55 PM.
#504
Small wheels ARE better!
Join Date: Sep 2006
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My other "tourer" Pacific Carry Me microbike - superbly compact and easy to take along for my travels and "light" exploring...
#505
Senior Member
I've got a Dahon Boardwalk 7 speed model. It's my first folding bike, and I love it. It rides way better than I thought a bike with such small wheels (20") would, and it's really fun to ride and commute on.
I've got a few additions back home in Canada that I'll be bringing with me back to China after my summer vacation, such as clipless pedals and a pair of panniers, that'll make the bike even better.
I've got a few additions back home in Canada that I'll be bringing with me back to China after my summer vacation, such as clipless pedals and a pair of panniers, that'll make the bike even better.
#507
Oldschooler
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 6
Bikes: LeMond "Buenos Aires" road bike, KHS mtn bike, "Birdy" folder, vintage Bridgestone folder - "Picnica", "Skoot" folder, vintage Huffy (when they were good) "Daisy Daisy" tandem, vintage highwheeler replica, various antique bikes and unicycles
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What kind of folding bike?
My fav is my "Birdy" from Germany (one of their earlier models from the late '90s). This model has 7 speeds, is very light, and a very fast fold - I love this bike! I'm also kind of enamored with my "Picnica", which is a vintage Bridgestone from Japan, and the lesser known, but very clever "Skoot," from England (these latter two are sadly NLA)
#508
Still moving forward.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: S.F. Peninsula
Posts: 177
Bikes: BF NWT
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My fav is my "Birdy" from Germany (one of their earlier models from the late '90s). This model has 7 speeds, is very light, and a very fast fold - I love this bike! I'm also kind of enamored with my "Picnica", which is a vintage Bridgestone from Japan, and the lesser known, but very clever "Skoot," from England (these latter two are sadly NLA)
#509
Oldschooler
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 6
Bikes: LeMond "Buenos Aires" road bike, KHS mtn bike, "Birdy" folder, vintage Bridgestone folder - "Picnica", "Skoot" folder, vintage Huffy (when they were good) "Daisy Daisy" tandem, vintage highwheeler replica, various antique bikes and unicycles
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NLA folders
Oddly, I don't have any pictures of my Picnica,so I'll have to take some. In the meantime, I do have a pic of the Skoot (attached). If you're not familiar with this bike, it was actually a very clever attempt to to make a convenient and clean folder that could be "disguised" as a suitcase. The "main" wheels fold up inside the body of the case, the three piece foldable handlebars go back and down, the quick release cranks come off and are stashed in the case under the seat, and the seat sinks into the case as well. You then pull a canvas "lid" over the top of the case, and you can then pull it along like a suitcase. The idea was that with this design, nobody could deny access into a store or on a bus because it doesn't even look like a folder. It kind of has that "James Bond" appeal to it - or the "transformers" - depending on which decade you spent in your formative years. BTW, although this bike may look kind of funky, it was designed by someone from the aerospace industry, so a lot of thought went into it, the components were designed and machined with tight precision, and the case itself is made from a high density polymer material, so it's actually lighter and stronger than plastic or even a lot of fiberglass shells. For further strength, the actual frame is more like a minimalist shell. Very clever indeed. And - it's a lot of fun to ride! Ancillary benefits: there is a built-in pump that's housed inside the shell. And, when the bike is in the unfolded mode with the wheels extended, you can slip a briefcase into the center of the frame - out of view and out of the way. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions.
#510
Newbie
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1
Bikes: Brompton, Citizen Bike
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I have a apple green Brompton that I modified with an ergonomic, seat-bone only saddle. I use it every day to bike to work. I haven't bought a tank of gas in two months. With increasing transit ridership due to high gas prices, folders are the best strategy to avoid competition for bike racks.
#512
half way commuter
After almost 3 years, my 16" Hasa F2 has a new company, Dahon MU P8. Now I have an option between 16 and 20" folder. Better gearing in Dahon is a plus that allows me to cut almost 2 minutes of my 30 min. commuting time, and compact Hasa is a plus if I have to fold and put it on my wife's car. So I keep both of them,.....
#513
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 155
Bikes: Brompton T6, Koga Miyata Distance, Airnimal Joey
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My bike is a Brompton
After an accident I had to remove the mudguards. Thought of placing new ones, but I think I like it this way...
#514
Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Canadia
Posts: 34
Bikes: Two red, one black, one blue
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I bought this Dahon today. Can anyone help me identify it better than a Dahon V? The bicycle is in for some attempted repairs of the headset as it's super loose and wobbly. As well, the handlebar quick release is broken and the handle bar anchor (for lack of better words, the chrome inverted "V" holding the handle bars in place) is far from secure-fitting. Is the anchor only supposed to have one bearing in it?
Last edited by babo; 07-08-08 at 09:11 PM.
#515
late member
Join Date: Dec 2005
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I think it's a Dahon III. Join the Dahon forum and there's a thread about this bike where you can get answeres to specific questions.
https://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php...opic=5139&st=0
https://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php...opic=5139&st=0
#520
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Forrest the fixed gear folder.. now equipped with a cartridge bb and Stronglight crank.
#521
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Gambrills, MD
Posts: 119
Bikes: K2 Zed 4.0, Cannondale Synapse Alloy 2, Bike Friday Tikit
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Two new Bromptons
Below: My girlfriend giving her Brompton an inspection.
Below: My Brompton!
Last edited by iamstuffed; 02-16-10 at 12:30 AM.
#522
Raleigh20 PugFixie, Merc
They look so nice in Ivory. Ivory and Orange are deffo the best paint colours on a Brompton - Congrats - I hope the twins enjoy living with you!
__________________
My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
#523
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Toronto
Posts: 411
Bikes: 1976 20" folding Triumph Trafficmaster
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Meet Sterling the Flying Mule, a 1976 Triumph Trafficmaster (made by Raleigh and seemingly identical to the Twenties of the same vintage). I got her from a Craigslist ad in April when there were fears of public transit going on strike. The story I got was that she was made in England, and came here with her original owner who then put her in storage. She has spent most of her existence in a time capsule.
In this picture, everything is original (with the exception of the computer and seat cover, and the safety gear that I had to add to make her street-legal). Unfortunately, the pretty whitewalls are no more, as they split after a few months on the road. If I could find replicas I'd consider using them, but on the other hand I think I'm addicted to the BMX tires that were the only thing I could find in 20 x 1 3/8". I've also had to replace a brake cable, and the brake shoes will be next as they're worn down and I want something better for wet weather.
Otherwise, the only damage on her is cosmetic (pitting in the chrome on the rear rim, chain guard bent outwards a bit, paint damage from folding). I'm not as interested in restoring or keeping her historically accurate as I am in having a good rideable bike that I can carry up the stairs into the office and stash beside my desk. English bikes are made to last a hundred years, so she's far from the end of a useful existence.
#524
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Brought it home from the (bike) hospital today... I will let it's new mom name it.
#525
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Northeast Georgia
Posts: 51
Bikes: Trek Lime, Cayne Rambler
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that's a beautiful bike.
3 weeks ago, I got my first folder, a Cayne Rambler. I didn't know folding bikes even existed until the gas crisis. I started researching user friendly bikes and kept seeing ads... My bike shop didn't even know much about them. I was their first sale. I'm sort of proud of that.
3 weeks ago, I got my first folder, a Cayne Rambler. I didn't know folding bikes even existed until the gas crisis. I started researching user friendly bikes and kept seeing ads... My bike shop didn't even know much about them. I was their first sale. I'm sort of proud of that.