I normally live in the Classic & Vintage section, but my needs this time have me looking for a different level of advice. To put it simply, I'm starting to look for my first folder since that Raleigh Twenty with the three speed Benelux/Huret/Sturmy-Archer setup I used forty years ago to get to and from work in Erie, PA. And things have obviously changed - a lot.

I'm 62 years old, 5'10-1/2", and usually weigh in about 175 lbs. I ride a lot (6700 miles last year) and have a good stable of road bikes at home. Plus . . . . . I keep a 1968 Ranger (rebadged Phillips) 3-speed roadster at my place of employment for lunch time errand running, daily bank runs (I'm the company bookkeeper), and whatever else comes up during the course of the workday. The company (a motorcycle shop) has always been good about me storing one bike or another at the office. However, I've noticed my bike is getting in the way of the service department personnel no matter where I store it, although they've been kind enough not to complain. I figure that a folder kept in my office would be a lot more convenient to everyone concerned.

Daily use is normally about 5-6 miles. It's a 3.85 mile round trip for the daily bank run, terrain isn't flat, but a Sturmey AW geared (I believe) 46/23 works quite well. I'm using the old classic commuter setup with a Pletscher alloy rack over the rear fender with a couple of medium sized saddlebags hanging off them - although at one time I was using a cloth trunk strapped to the rack itself. Anything like that works fine - I do have a briefcase that I can strap like a courier's bag, but have never really been crazy about that alternative.

I'm open to ideas, both new and vintage. I have my own bike shop, and everything in the stable is my work. That Raleigh Twenty was the last time I ever bought a bike complete and rideable out the door (and I unboxed and set it up, as my employer was the local Schwinn/Raleigh dealer). I missed out on a pair of ratty old Dahons at the Westminster swap meet last year that I would have had no problem into putting back into one beautiful riding bike.

I'm open to anyone's preferences into what they think would fill the bill for me. And, occasionally, I wouldn't mind taking the bike on the Amtrak into DC for a Saturday and use it to bounce around museums - although that's a lesser consideration.