Although I am not riding an off-the-peg Trek F200 folder, I thought a few preliminary observations about the bike might be of (limited) interest.

The Bontranger Select wheels are light and the Marathon Slick (35-406) tyres provide a robust and aesthetically pleasing platform for everyday riding. That said, I have ordered Continental Contact Sports (28-406/max PSI:105) as they should have less rolling resistance, and if the promotional blurb is to be believed, better puncture resistance!

The frame feels very stiff, with minimal frame-flex. The oversized hydro-formed tubing with its central frame latch (tall and well machined) binds the bike with a reassuring “clunk”. What’s more, I was happy to get out of the saddle on a slight gradient – something I am loath to do on my Birdy. The wheelbase is a mm or so shy of 1050mm.

The ride is certainly harsher than my Birdy, but this is only to be expected, as it does not have front or rear suspension. However, the bike rides well and is not twitchy. I am considering fitting a Meks (or possibly Action Tec) suspension fork with disc mounts in order to preserve the Bontranger rims, soften up the front-end and improve braking modulation. This will probably not please fixed purists (who prefer a sleek, pared down, Zen-like riding experience...), but as this is a bespoke fixed folder, I like the idea of being an attention-seeking iconoclast, even if I am derided for it!

The bike folds easily and is intuitive (unlike a Birdy), but like most 20” bikes, the folded package is relatively large compared to a Brompton, but generally on par with 20” Dahons.

I am 6’ 2” and the seat-post is already at the minimum insertion mark. Therefore if you have an inseam longer than 34” – you might have to source a longer seat-post. I have not measured the post’s diameter, but I think it corresponds to Dahon’s proprietary seat-posts.

Finally, I would not have considered this bike as my 2nd folder due to its limited saddle to handlebar reach, but with the quill stem modification and 70 gear inches it is an excellent urban commuter.