bendembroski

I know this is preaching to choir here.

For those out there that are contemplating the merits of folding bikes, I offer you another example:

Today I decided that the #2 kid was big & strong enough to go for his first ride in the trailer with his big sister. The trailer hadn't been used for the past 7 months. We took a short (approx 1 mile) ride up to the local Supermarket for provisions.

All went well, the kid taking to trailering like a champ. Then just as I was loading the trailer...

BANG!

hisssssssss.

The stem on one of the tubes on the trailer decided to disintegrate.

You'd think I'd have a spare tube with me. (Nope)

You'd think the supermarket would sell BMX size innertubes. (Nope)

You'd think that I could just lock up the trailer, fold the bike, and call a taxi to shuttle me, the offspring, the groceries, and the folded bike bike home. (Yup!)

If I had a full size bike, I can just imagine the conversation I'd have to have with the cab driver. As it was, he didn't bat an eye at the folded Swift. What could have been a major hassle was converted to a minor irritation thanks to the wonder of the folding bike! Hooray!

bhkyte

I often meet up with people and then plans change. Need to go for a drink, go to shops, get a lift. ect Folders just give you the freedom.

Bacciagalupe

If you had a full-sized bike, you could've popped off the front wheel and stowed the whole shebang in the trunk of the taxi.

Or, since it sounds like you had a lock, you could've locked your bike up, taxi'd home, drop off the groceries and child, and deal with it.

Folders are convenient, but I'm not really blown away by this particular scenario. A little ingenuity goes a long way in the face of adversity...

jur

Hey Bacci, you don't have a folder, stop trawling this forum and spoiling our fun!

buelito

i guess i'm sort of surprised you didn't have a spare tube for the folder... that would fit the trailer That's how I thought the story was going to end... not folded up in a cab!

train safe-

bendembroski

Yup. I *should* have had a tube with me. To be honest, I was suprised when I opened my saddle bag to find it not there. Then I remembered that I gave my last tube to a kid a couple of weeks ago who was stranded with a flat & forgot to replace it. Doh!

And yes, I certainly could have dealt with the situation if I had a full size bike, but it would have a much bigger hassle. Wrestling a 3 year old and a nine month old, a disassembled bike, and groceries into the back of a mini-cab (think volkswagen Passat) would not have been fun. If I had left the bike with the trailer, returning to repair the flat would have meant another cab ride to the LBS, and then another back to the trailer. The significant other was out of town with car. So, in this case having the folder made my life much easier.

Once again, I'm convinced that for pure utility and versatility it's hard to beat a folder, even with the compromises they bring along for the ride.

In the end though the real point is this... Always carry a spare tube!

bhkyte

If you use a folder why bother carrring a spare tube unless you are pleasure cycling or in the middle of no where. Just get a buss,taxi ect. Many Taxi don like to carry bikes even with QR wheels. Why carry a lock if you can take the bike every where with you and also eliminate vandismism risk. Non folders dont quite get it sometimes.

bdi121

Amen !

Bacciagalupe

If he had a spare tube or patch kit, he could have fixed the flat in ~15 minutes instead of dealing with taxis and so forth.


You can't always take your folder indoors with you.

Plus, he had a trailer. I don't see how he could have taken all that into the store with him.

bendembroski

Yup. Actually, in this case I did have a patch kit. Only problem is they don't work so good mending explded stems.

FWIW, I tend to lock my folder up fairly frequently instead of carrying it about in shops, etc. For me, it's a convenience thing. I don't like having to lug my bike around if I don't have to. If it's going to un-used for more than a couple of hours it tends to come in with me.

bhkyte

Really??

Let think about that, cases where I have been asked not to bring my folded bike indoors. Yep NONE.

jefmcg

I had a good example of the joys of folding. Crashed my bike, destroyed the front wheel. Folded bike, and limped to a bus, and took it to the bike shop near work. Got to work less than 1/2 hour late. If it had been a full size bike, I'd have left it locked to a street sign in east London (perhaps the one that the widow in this murder puts fresh flowers on each week) and crossed my fingers it would be there when I got back. Or walked it (still limping) to the same store.

I don't think a cabby would take a full size bike in peak hour.