Tern Joe C21 Opinions?
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Tern Joe C21 Opinions?
Hi all, I just made a post on the general biking forum yesterday asking about a few bikes in general, and thought I would ask over here for a bit of clarification on the folder I'm considering. Does anyone have any experience with the Tern Joe C21? I can't seem to find any reviews online, and a search of this forum didn't really turn much up either.
I'll primarily be using the bike to commute to and from school and around town a bit (I have a car, but want to get away from using it for short distances). The ride to my lab at school is only about a mile and a half, and Norman, OK isn't a very spread-out city, so a lot of stuff I could get to within just a couple of miles either way. I also would want to use it to get some general exercise in, riding around backroads and longer distances like that (not offroading, just not on main streets). I'm 6' tall and about 210lbs (the Tern says it can handle 254).
The reasons I'm considering a folding bike are because it would be convenient to ride to my lab and just fold it up and keep it in my office throughout the day (I tend to start and end days there) rather than having to find a bike rack and chain it up, and because standard bikes would require a rack for my or my wife's cars, and even 2 26" folders could fit into the trunk of either.
Outside of that, I'm looking at standard bikes such as a Trek 7.1/7.2 or 7100 or a couple of road/cyclocross bikes on Bikes Direct (although local support from a bike shop would be preferable, or so I'm told). I'd like to keep things as close to $500 as possible since I'm a poor starving graduate student, and that's already quite a bit to plop down at once.
Thanks for your time, any help is appreciated.
I'll primarily be using the bike to commute to and from school and around town a bit (I have a car, but want to get away from using it for short distances). The ride to my lab at school is only about a mile and a half, and Norman, OK isn't a very spread-out city, so a lot of stuff I could get to within just a couple of miles either way. I also would want to use it to get some general exercise in, riding around backroads and longer distances like that (not offroading, just not on main streets). I'm 6' tall and about 210lbs (the Tern says it can handle 254).
The reasons I'm considering a folding bike are because it would be convenient to ride to my lab and just fold it up and keep it in my office throughout the day (I tend to start and end days there) rather than having to find a bike rack and chain it up, and because standard bikes would require a rack for my or my wife's cars, and even 2 26" folders could fit into the trunk of either.
Outside of that, I'm looking at standard bikes such as a Trek 7.1/7.2 or 7100 or a couple of road/cyclocross bikes on Bikes Direct (although local support from a bike shop would be preferable, or so I'm told). I'd like to keep things as close to $500 as possible since I'm a poor starving graduate student, and that's already quite a bit to plop down at once.
Thanks for your time, any help is appreciated.
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Hi, Hank is a regular here and this is his store in Norman
https://www.alsbicycles.com/norman/
I would call him and see if he has a demo.
https://www.alsbicycles.com/norman/
I would call him and see if he has a demo.
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Thanks! Good to know. I've seen their website before when I was looking around, I know they've got Tern in-store.
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check with Hank he is one of the good guys fer sure ...
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Everyone - Thanks for the kind words! I have sent the OP a private message.
-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA
-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA
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Hi Hank,
Thanks for the information! I tried to reply to your PM, but I guess I don't have enough posts to do that. When it's closer to time to purchase (grad students don't get paid during the summer, but I'm hoping it'll be time very soon), I'll be sure to check you guys out first.
Thanks for the information! I tried to reply to your PM, but I guess I don't have enough posts to do that. When it's closer to time to purchase (grad students don't get paid during the summer, but I'm hoping it'll be time very soon), I'll be sure to check you guys out first.
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You don't see much written about the Joe, because most people just get full size bikes at that tire size.
I think most people stick to 20" or 16" tires when it comes to folders, but at your height I'm not sure if you'll fit them.
Unless you're going off roading, you might want to look at a 20" tire because it will be a much smaller fold.
A 20" tire can handle most gravel trails just fine.
Just see if they can be big enough for you as the seatpost and handlebar can only go so high on the smaller tired bikes.
I think most people stick to 20" or 16" tires when it comes to folders, but at your height I'm not sure if you'll fit them.
Unless you're going off roading, you might want to look at a 20" tire because it will be a much smaller fold.
A 20" tire can handle most gravel trails just fine.
Just see if they can be big enough for you as the seatpost and handlebar can only go so high on the smaller tired bikes.