Originally Posted by
violini
Back in the 70 and 80's when people talked about computers, it was always IBM and we paid a fortune for the machine. Where is IBM today? The name is still around but no longer making personal computers. Nowadays one could go to Walmart to buy a cheapo and has immense more power than those old IBM machine. Same goes for the folding bikes. With advancement in manufacturing and materials, better and more affordable folding bikes will be available.
Perhaps, Perhaps not. I have been around bicycles since the mid 1960s. I witnessed the decline of the "basic bicycle"-the one that most people buy. It is now either buy a bike that's good (and expensive), or buy a unpronounceable unrecognizable cheapo brand from some unpronounceable (plus forgettable) country. It is not a major problem as people in North America lose interest in most any new hobby or activity so fast and push the bicycle(s) far back into some dark recess of their storage area and simply forget about it/them.
Originally Posted by
Purpleorchid
I learned my lesson already in the photography world with tripods...just because it's cheap(er), doesn't mean it's good. Spend the money once on a good quality product and be done with it. Going the cheap route will make you end up paying more in the end anyway because if you're serious about photography, you will end up buying the better tripod and also have bought all the cheaper versions (that broke/vibrated too much) along the way in your lesson.
For my Brompton situation, I had never heard of it...I was just drawn to a small folded thing I saw in a website picture of a LBS store. It looked like a bike and I had to find out what it was. I researched, found out it was a Brompton, then read all the info I could on it and the other competition. In the end settled on a Brompton b/c it was a handmade piece of machinery (hard to find those these days unless you spend your life savings on an exotic hand built car) and I couldn't get over the design.
Congratulations.
You have avoided the major pitfalls of serious cycling with your wise choices.
Originally Posted by
Foldable Two
Note: We started with inexpensive 2005 Dahon Boardwalks (both a D7 & S1 for me). They were good bikes, folded better than the Fridays, but not as comfortable, capable, or as easily upgraded parts wise.
Lou
Good observations on your part. I noticed as well that sometimes one simply grows out of his/her purchases or earlier choices. Or is pointed into another direction entirely.