Hi, my name is Mike. It's been 16 years since my last bike ride.

I am looking at folders. I'm figuring on $600-plus for a budget and have been trying to read up on the current lineup of manufacturers and equipment. I've been to two LBS and have ridden a Dahon Vitesse i7. The other one I've ridden seems to be a little outside of the usual here, a Giant Expressway 1.

I thought the Giant to be generally on par with the Dahon, with a couple of nicer features that I really liked at the price point. It has a 130 BCD crankset, the cables run along the frame exposed where they can, it's setup with brazed fittings to accommodate a front derailleur as examples. I think the tires on the Dahon were nicer. I don't know anymore about the 7-speed hub than what a quick look at Sheldon Brown's page tells me. However, I can't say I'm current on all the nuances here. Giant is clearly not a "big player" in folders (sorry, couldn't resist saying that). However, I'm under the impression that they are a decent brand.

So, I'd like to hear from folks that have seen / heard of / or actually had a Giant Folder, particularly an Expressway. Or any other illumination to cast more light here.