Originally Posted by
Daily Commute
What kind of bike works best for commuting? How should I equip it (including lighting)? What should I carry with me? What should I wear? How should I wash up at work? Have I missed any important questions?
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Hello there.
I recently purchased a folding Downtube VIII FS (full suspension) with 20" wheels and I have to say it is excellent.
It has 8 spd gears on a twist grip changer (easy to use and convenient), it folds in around 14 seconds for me, comes with it's own carry bag with a bell and reflectors and is quick for the type of bike it is.
I have only done about 40 miles on it so far, but it is great.
It rides like a normal bike with next to no noise. It turns many heads, as I have not yet seen another one of these bikes in Leeds, where i live in the UK.
It fits easily in the back of my car (Ford Focus Estate), with room for a pushchair and my child's bicycle, with no need to put the back seats down.
The bike is well built and the welds on the Aluminium frame are perfectly neat and appear robust.
You would have to pay in excess of £400-500 for an equivalent quality Dahon.
I paid £200 for last year's model, from Downtube itself, via e-bay. I like it that much I am buying the 16" minis for my wife and child (if i can get them at a reasonable price - £288 inc VAT and UK Rip off excise inc is the cheapest so far).
The bike I have already was from stock that Downtube have in the UK, but they don't seem to have the Mini in the UK yet, so around £135 is for shipping and excise from the US to the UK (the bike itself costs the equivalent of £147 in the uk when converted from US dollars).
If you are in the states, you're sorted, cos you don't have to pay the rip off costs of excise i have to.
This bike is Highly recommended.
1)There is a carry handle come bike protector welded to the bottom bracket, which was bent towards the left hand side pedal shaft when i got it. It was brand new and well packaged when i got it, so i can only think it's just a QA mishap when being produced. It was rectified by being carefully bent out of the way and is now spot on (although some paint came off at the stress points, the welds and area it was bent). I intend to touch it up with some car paint.
2) I can't get the gears to shift cleanly to the smallest sprocket, although the rest shift quickly and smoothly (a delay of a couple of secs with some clicking noises made).
I will take it to a bike mechanic to see if they can tweak it, as this is likely to be my error rather than the bike.
3) The paint chips easily when you fold it where the forks come into contact with the front of the frame (Yan, could these bikes be powder coated and laquered instead?).
I am gonna touch this up too and I have bought some translucent gaffer tape which i will cut into some neat squares to put on the vulnerable areas.
That's it!
Rubber2405