This afternoon (Friday 01/02/2015), I was finally able to go on a nice ride in the neighborhood. Today is a week since I got the bike. I snapped some photos and they're posted here.

















Now on to comments about the bike while riding today. It is an absolute blast to ride. At the leisurely speeds I am used to (10-12 mph), even the low gearing on the SR Swift were adequate.

The 16 inch wheels coupled with the 48/14-28 gearing, results in a range of 23.1 to 46.1 according to Sheldon Brown's Gear Calculator. The stock setup works quite well, as I said, for the "pedestrian" cruising speeds I like. If I were to use this bike on open road rides, then I would probably upgrade to get a higher end ratio but for now, I am keeping the bike stock.

If there is one thing I am going to change very soon are the stock handle bar grips. I am going to get a set up "ergo" types. The ones on the bike look like they belong on a kid's bike. The right grip, the shorter one that is next to the seven speed shifter, tends to slip outwards a bit, and every few minutes, I have to twist it back towards the shifter. Not a big deal.

But again, I make the observation how stable this little bike feels. I was expecting a bit of twitchy or quicker steering due to the small wheels but instead, it feels planted like a larger bike. I have owned, and ridden a number of 20 inch folders that didn't feel as stable. I think part of the reason is because the Swift has a lower CG because its mass (frame) sits lower to the ground. And there must be something about the steering geometry. Just a theory.

Tomorrow is another day to ride and enjoy.

Happy trails,
Edward