Whoa. This is a helluva thread. The one I started, similar subject (I'm looking for a first bike, pref. hub, multiple gears,) has been far more genial in tone, I'd say. And a lot of you have responded to me in that thread. In any case, I've learned quite a bit reading all this. Sort of. Now I'm not at all sure about Dahon. Yikes. This is all so confusing for us newbies! Or me, anyway. As for the lack of "ladies" in the US. Hey -- I'm a lady! And I like that girly-bike! I hope it doesn't suffer from all the faults that have been described above.