1nterceptor

Needed a compact folding bike. Read some good
things on the net and liked it after a short test ride:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh5V...aIoDLA&index=2

Still Pedaling

I've ridden road and mountain bikes most of my life, and since my wife and I liked to travel around with our bikes, we were getting tired of having to deal with car racks and bikes hanging at the back of the car. Not to mention the fear of them being ripped off whenever we made a stop at restaurants and stores along the way. So I started looking into folding bikes that could easily be hidden in the trunk of the car - out of site, out of mind. We also didn't have to worry about locking the bikes outside of stores and restaurants etc. and having to face the possibility of them not being there when we went back outside. Now we can fold them up and carry them inside wherever we go. They can also be carried on buses, trains, and even planes. Yes they can fit in the overhead luggage compartment on an airplane. We have two folding bikes - a Brompton and a Dahon Curve D3. The best and most versatile bikes I have ever owned.


Brompton


Brompton Folded


Grocery shopping with the Brompton


At the park


Dahon Curve D3


Cheers
Wayne

caloso

I bought my Ridley to replace my Cervelo, which developed a crack.
I bought the Cervelo to replace my Bianchi, which broke in a crash.
I bought the Bianchi to replace my Trek, because celeste is cooler.
I bought the Trek, to replace my Novara, because I got Lance fever.
I bought the Novara because I got a nice tax refund and I wanted to make an investment in my health.

Machka 

It was about the early years ... mainly the Canada part.

In 2009, I moved to Australia and couldn't bring all my bicycles with me.

Sadly, I had to leave my Mongoose mtn bike behind, but happily, Rowan had purchased a GT mtn bike for me here.

Sadly, I also left a couple of the bicycles my father gave me behind as well.

I came over with Machak, while the Giant OCR3 and one of the bicycles my father gave me went into storage to await shipping.

And then Machak was stolen.

So ... since I had always wanted a titanium bicycle, that's the first one we got to fill the void. It's a beautiful bicycle ... titanium, of course, but with green accents. Green fork, green handlebar tape, green Brooks saddle, and even a green Pendle Carradice bag.


Next up was the tandem. I had a tandem in Canada (it was one of the bicycles I left behind) and I've ridden my father's tandem with him ... so I am familiar with them. And this part of the story is about the tandem. Why did we buy a tandem?

On the flight to Australia in 2009, I felt like my left calf cramped ... but I figured that it was a long flight and that I would just walk it off when we landed in Melbourne. 6 weeks later I was still trying to walk the cramp off, only by then it wasn't just a calf cramp, my entire left leg ached from the hip down to the foot. I was also struggling to do anything ... walking short distances had me puffing like a steam engine. I couldn't breathe and my left leg was starting to feel like a dead weight.

Then one evening I was in the bath and propped my feet up on the edge of the tub ... and was startled to discover that my left ankle was about twice the size of the right.

The next day we went to the Dr who rushed me into an ultrasound at a local hospital. The ultrasound tech wouldn't let me leave the hospital ... and I spent the next 2 weeks in hospital being pumped full of medication to removed all the blood clots in my left leg. It was so full of clots, they had shut down the main veins entirely. And I was on Warfarin for the next year.

My fitness level dropped to nothing. I had gone from being a very active long distance cyclist to someone who was struggling to walk around the block. And when I started cycling again, it was like starting from scratch. 6 km felt like a really long way.

But I worked at it and built up my distance and we started doing the short randonneuring events (100 km, 150 km, 200 km) ... but I was having about a 50/50 success rate with them. Where I used to be able to do rides like that with no difficulty at all ... I suddenly found myself in a place where I didn't know whether or not I would be able to finish these rides.

And then at Easter in 2010 Machak was stolen ... and I just about packed in cycling all together.

But, several months later, a friend who runs a bicycle shop in Melbourne offered Rowan and me his tandem to borrow and try. And my enthusiasm and strength began to return. I was enjoying riding again, and we were able to do the short randonneuring events.

In February 2011, we bought our own tandem and quickly started racking up the kilometres.

Since June 2012, our tandem has been in storage for 20 months (8 months while we travelled around the world, and 12 months since we moved to our new location, and have been getting settled), but we're looking forward to being able to use it again this summer.

cyclist2000

I started N+1 because my wife suggested it. I mostly buy frames and build a bike during the winter for fun. The frames that I get are mostly because they are older steel frames but I was curious about carbon so I go a Giant TCR and decided to use somewhat affordable carbon and TI components, its an XL frame and weighs 16 lbs., there aren't any special wheels. I got a folding bike to use when I travel to see my daughter 1600 miles away. I got a touring bike a few years back to do an annual tour.

elephino

This is a really cool thread.

1. I bought the KHS (used) for commuting because it came with a rack and fenders and I was too frightened of Doing Bike Things to add my own. Just sold it to someone who wanted it for the same reason.
2. I bought the Specialized Vita because after two years of year-round commuting I knew what I wanted in a commuter. And because Santa Claus said, "Pick out a nice bike; here's your price limit."
3. I bought the Cannondale Six13 because when is a post-1990 road bike in my price range IN MY SIZE going to show up on Craigslist again? (Alternately: because my Vita gave me the distance/road cycling bug.)
4. I just bought an old Bianchi Nyala "project bike" to turn into my winter commuter/potential tourer, because I am no longer afraid of Doing Bike Things.

flatlander_48

When I got back into cycling after about a 30 year hiatus, I bout a mountain bike in 2001. However, I rode almost entirely on country roads and just about everything I did to it favored road rather than trail riding. At the beginning of 2004 I accepted a long term ex-patriate assignment in Taiwan. I didn't take the mountain with me and after a couple of months, I bought a Giant TCR 2 road bike. I would come home very 2 to 3 months for a couple of weeks. It was hard to travel with the Giant. The alternative was to leave it in Taiwan and ride the mountain bike while I was at home, but I didn't like that one either.

The solution was the Ritchey BreakAway listed below. I liked Tom Ritchey's solution and it was lighter and less expensive than the S&S BTC's. However, originally the bikes were sold built up with 9sp Ultegra. After riding 9sp 105 for 18 months, 9sp Ultegra did not have much appeal. So, I discovered GVHBikes as they had BreakAway frames and forks. I decided on 10sp Centaur and called the shop. Unfortunately it was a few days after Gary Hobbs had passed away. Tom, who had worked for Hobbs was taking over the business, but he said they would be closed for another week or so to get all of the financial things turned over. So, I called back when he reopened and we went from there. He told me what measurements to take and from there we hit upon frame size, handlebar width, etc. So, he built it up with 53/39 double set up.

That worked well for where I was in Taiwan: a lot of flat and some low hills. However, I went riding with a local club and they liked doing routes that had short steep climbs. My cadence would get so slow that I was worried about falling over while clipped in. On my next trip home, I saw that GVH had a sale on Campagnolo parts to get ready for the next model year. He also a triple crank and suitable derailleurs, so I changed to a Centaur/Chorus 10sp triple set up (53/42/30, I think). That was great. Still had the same top end, but a much lower bottom for those short steep climbs.

The bike stayed this way until the Fall of 2011. I got a chance to ride one of the Campagnolo Super Record EPS equiped Pinarello Dogmas test bikes. I really like the EPS as it was very unobtrusive. So, I figured the only way I could do that was to do it in steps. So, I upgraded to 11sp Chorus with a compact double. So, to go with EPS, I would only need the shifters, the electronics and the derailleurs. So far I haven't gone on to EPS yet, but the dream is still alive! Anyway, this configuration is listed below...

BreakAway with original 10sp Centaur double set up:

oot

Started riding my 1993 Avanti Illusion hybrid again for fitness after several years of casual riding.With increased mileage found the rigid fork jarring my sternum(had bi-pass op 9 years ago).Checked out LBS and was offered a deal I couldn't refuse.2014 stock was in so I was offered a 2013 Giant Roam 2 for NZ$599 which was 25% off.

Jim from Boston

I had a Schwinn Suburban five-speed I bought around 1970 when I started my adult cycling lifestyle, because I had a very basic knowledge of cycling, and Schwinn was a brand name. Then in about 1972 I wanted a “really nice bike," so my then-girlfriend-now-wife and I bought Merciers with Reynolds 531 double-butted tubing and sew-up tires, though we were really cycle-tourists, but did use them on a cross-country tour.

Eventually the BB on the Mercier wore out and I bought a classic Bridgestone RB-1 in the 1980’s, not because I knew what a fine bike it was, but because it fit. When I started to take up year-round cycle commuting in the 1990’s my trusted bike shop sold me a used Cannondale mountain bike as a beater, still running strong. They persistently asked me when I am getting a new road bike, though they kept the Bridgestone in fine shape. Unfortunately it was totalled in an accident.

I have previously posted to this thread on the Living Car Free Forum, ”Do you tell strangers how much your bike costs?”

I find that these two bikes easily satisfy my needs, but N+1 might be a folding bike for travel.

Panza

One of the better stories here. You've definitely come a long way with your bikes! Sounds like you've been searching for a comfortable bike for ages. Pics were definitely worthwhile too! Great how the digital age makes photos accessible eh : )

Panza

I never even realized that truckers kept bikes in there or is this mainly a you thing. You really do learn something new all the time. I've never been in the back of a truck to see the sleeper area.

JBHoren

I bought my Bianchi Volpe on eBay, in May 2010, while living in Fairbanks, AK. I did so, for two reasons:

• It's a sturdy bike, and I weighed close to 300lbs at the time.
• The roads in Fairbanks were awful, and it could take 700x38 tires.

The price was right -- shipping was costly -- and when I left Fairbanks and returned to South Florida, it came with me... still riding it, daily.

jimmuller 

A friend pointed me to this thread. For a moment I thought I was back in the C&V where I usually hang out

I bought my UO-8 back in 1972 because I'd ridden bikes most of my life and wanted something with real gears. It was what I could afford. I've upgraded the components and still ride it. Here is a reversion picture though now it has a new saddle and its upgraded crank again:


I bought the Gran Sport frame around 1980 because it was offered for $10 due to an insignificant TT dent and scratches. It promised to be a better rider than the UO-8. It is much better but with some similarities because they were from the same era. It is smooth, comfortable, easy to ride a long time.


I bought the TH-8 tandem frame and some of its original parts and built it up so my wife and I could ride together.


I picked up the Brava frame on ebay because I enjoyed building up the tandem and wanted another project. I also wanted something different from the GS and the UO-8. It is very different and it gets a lot of use.


A friend gave me the Masi frame when he saw me building the Bianchi. I rewarded him with a NOS Campy chainring.


Someone gave me the Bertin frame when I purchased some wheels as part of the Masi build-up. It's not a great bike but it is orange and looks cool.


I picked up the Centurion because of its funky color and because it was offered cheap due to bad scratches and an insignificant TT dent. It's a great rider, equipped differently from the other bikes.


I picked up the Motobecane frame and its wheels on ebay because it seemed to be an unrecognized diamond. It turned out to be exactly that and is the only bike in my basement which can talk to the Masi on equal terms.


There is one more project in the works, an early 70's Motobecane Le Champion, disassembled but complete with all original components and wearing a bad rattle-can paint job. It may see the light of day next year.

Jim from Boston

Beautiful collection Jim, and excellent photos. I live in a 1500 sq ft condo with wife and daughter, and am reluctantly allowed two bikes and no workshop, so I have to be satisfied with N=2.

The Peugot UO8 was the alternative choice to the Merciers back in 1972.

chaadster

I bought this bike, a Mercier Nano, because I was enjoying the small wheeled experience of my Dahon Mariner so much, but yet craved a more solid platform to power off of than the folding Dahon. I also wanted something funky and unusual.

The availability of minivelos was (and remains) pretty limited here, and since I didn't even know if I'd like this kind of bike, I was not interested in spending too much, ergo, I chose the Mercier. It turned out to be a piece of junk, which I expected, actually, and after dumping more than the new purchase price back into the bike replacing brakes, stem, tires, seat post, crank, chainrings, levers, bar tape, pedals, quick releases, cables, seat and bottom bracket, I wound up with a decent little scoot.

cyccommute 

Jeeze, man! Be careful. You could turn someone to stone with that bike! I had one that I converted to a fixie when I dabbled in that several years ago. With the exception of the Klein Attitude with the green to white to pink fade paint job (Pink with green!!!!??), it's the ugliest bike on the planet

RR3

A Raleigh Chopper to jump the swimming pool and do wheelies.....my only "free" bike, Santa brought it.

A Miyata 912 to see how far I could ride in a day

A Dawes Super Galaxy to tour bits and pieces of the world and replace the broken drop out on the Miyata

A Klein Performance to replace the broken Dawes. Remains a good touring bike with the right tiere despite beating you up

A Vitus Carbone 9 to race and do Doubles and Randos. Broke this one too.

A Kestral 200SCI to race and rando on. Still have it for sloppy rides.

A BikeFriday to travel and tour on

A Rodriques tandem

A specialized stumpjumper for snow and mud

A Cross bike because it could take decent tires and fenders

Oh, I forget the Masi Criterium with Campy NR.....because it was THE bike. Still have it somewhere. How could I forget 56x44 and the 13-18 straight block.

Custom made Zinn Magnesium because of vibration absorbtion and proper fit.

I have to find it but one of my favorite pictures is after I climbed a very difficult dirt and gravel Col in France or Switzeerland, I lifted my fully loaded touring bike up over my head which is framed by a blue skied snow covered Mt. Blanc adn in the end, that is why I bought that particular bike. That smile.

rydabent

I had a mountain bike, and a touring bike. But I had for a long time noticed recumbents. Finally in 2005 the LBS had a last years Tailwind and I bought it. I immediately become fully bent. In 2008 the Tailwind was sold and I bought a new Stratus. In 2011 I bought a tadpole Cruiser trike. I now have the best of both worlds, and ride them about 50-50. The pain of riding a DF bike is long gone!

jimmuller 

He! Them's Miami Vice colors, son. Some would say be careful what you criticize!

In any case, the MBTA thought it was a good color combination long about the same time that bike was built (1987).

fietsbob

To get places I wanted to go.

cyccommute 

That makes the colors even worse! They're ugly bus colors! Please stop. I can feel my joints turning to stone

jimmuller 

That's not a bus! That's a commuter train! Much better than a bus.
No pic this time. You can open your eyes.

hillyman

Some do. Probably not a lot. I've seen some mount on a rack behind truck. Some if they have 2 bunks will keep them on top bunk. I've had some nice bike rides to places I would never be able to see traveling all 48 states.

Jim from Boston

Hey! I resemble that remark!

The MBTA Commuter Rail is probably one of the best in the country, as American commuter rail goes. The buses are yellow and black.

chaadster

Wow, that's awesome! Perfect match!!