Folding bikes = the MOST effective theft deterrent?
 

so hijacking the title from the stealth bike thread, i just wanted to sing the praises of my newly back in action folder (it was out of commission for 2 years). i have secure indoor parking for my bike at work, so theft isn't an issue most days and i thus have no qualms commuting on my nice expensive bikes, but some days i don't always head straight home after work.

i have euchre league every monday night and the bar we play at is pretty much on my route home, so it's just easier to stop off during my ride than to go all the way home, then all the way back to the bar. this typically meant surrendering one of my bikes unattended to the thief-laden streets of chicago for 3 long hours. i have good locks, but as we all know even the best lock just means a 4 minute job instead of a 2 minute job for a big city pro thief. every monday night i would come out of the bar hoping and praying my bike would still be there.

but with my folder back in action, i commuted with it yesterday, and when i got to the bar for my euchre league, i simply folded up my little dahon and brought it inside with me. i got lots of comments about how cool my folder is, some people even pointing out how it's the perfect way to prevent bike theft. it was great having the peace of mind of not having to worry if my bike would still be there when i left the bar.

bike thieves suck; folding bikes are the ultimate weapon in combating them.

Yes, I think you are on to something. Hard to steal if it's not there. I'll admit I've never ridden a folding bike or really ever considered having one. But then again n+1 is a universal truth.. hmmmm.

small wheel folders (mine's a 20") do ride differently than a 700c road bike, or even a 26" mtb, but they're also kinda fun in a zippy and nimble sort of way. and for riding in a stop and go urban environment, those little wheels sure do spin up fast, but overall there is a noticeable speed penalty compared to my other bikes, due to riding posture and gearing more than anything else. even with the speed penalty, it's fun to go a little slower on my folder and just enjoy the ride instead of trying to kill it like i always do when i'm on my road bike.

now that i'm back on my folder, i'm re-realizing that not everyday is meant for a new personal best attempt. sometimes a bike ride should just be a bike ride: mellow and cool.

IMHO - a folder has some inherant advantages, true you can take it with you. They are usually harder to lock effectively - either folded or open, so in some ways one almost has to keep an eye on their folder more than a well locked bike. It is easy for a folder to be escorted out of a bar or other location. I have a BF - the 20 in wheels do indeed make it very nimble in traffic.

Yep I agree. Even my Minivelo I can bring inside more if I wanted to. I've brought it into a few stores its not much bigger than a stroller.

On the ride, my Minivelo in my favorite bike to ride. I suppose if I was riding long distance and need some taller gears I would have to do some mods or just ride a different bike, but thats never been the case with the distances I ride.

I think for commuting in traffic, the small 20" has some advantage over the bigger wheels. Except, of course, when the road is heavily potholed.

It's inherently tough, it's nimble and it's quick to accelerate.


My modified DT Nova, is my bike of choice for city commuting.

Biggest drawback with folding bikes is that they require more diligent maintenance, yet are often chosen by people who are quite.... casual riders - to use a polite term

tiny wheels with skinny tires need daily topping off lest you pinch flat or otherwise destroy sidewalls
wierd cable routing prone to go out of adjustment and needing often lubrication
folding hinges and quick releases which need careful tensioning, and will inevitably loosen up and die of metal fatigue...
inherently weak frame designs
etc

+1

Love my 26" Dahon Cadenza especially since I swapped out the cassette for an IGH. Perfect urban bomber that I can hide under my desk at work. The only downside to it is the 230lb max. rider (& luggage) weight limit. At 210-215lbs soaking wet I can surpass that without trying hard. Work related items, wet weather gear, food, it all adds up quite quickly.

i have not found that my 20" tires have needed daily topping off, but perhaps that's because my folder rolls with super tough marathon pluses.



in the 5 years i've owned my folder, i've never relubed any of my cable runs, and all of my cabling has worked just fine




the hinges and QR's definitely need to be looked at from time to time and adjusted for correct tension, but it isn't a huge deal, it takes a little bit of know how, but the LBS where i bought my folder actually gave me a little tutorial about how to properly look after the hinges and other moving parts to keep everything in tip-top shape.



that is valid criticism of many folding bikes, but not really a maintenance issue.

None of these I find true. Maybe the hinge loosening, but I haven't had that happen to mine (yet?).

The only thing I really notice, is folders tend to have so much flex on the handlebar post . But that really depends on the design.

Fixed it for you. They tend to not know what a sidewalk is for, or what a red light is when I see them on my commute, mind you the red light thing is also common with the people who have well worn road bikes, wearing cargo pants with a messenger bag on their back, but that is another topic.

Jim

So what you're really saying is that you're the only one on the road that knows what he's doing... and it doesn't really matter what kind of bike other people are riding, because they're all doing it wrong anyway? :thumb:

Wow! Seriously? :rolleyes:

Not really no, there is a very important reason I made it clear the people on road bikes were not "roadies" in the lycra wearing sense. Nor did I mention the hybrid bike riders I meet who tend to follow traffic signals, nor did I mention women bikers, who tend to also follow the rules of the road for the most part. Shale I continue?

Jim

But folding bike riders and cargo pants wearing cyclist with worn out looking bikes are mostly just ignorant, casual ridders, who rides on the sidewalk and ignores the traffic lights and does not know what they are doing?

You're awesome.
:D

What city you live in?

wait, are you saying that all cyclists on folders are casual riders who don't know what they're doing?

i'm on year 5 of daily bike commuting and pedaled over 7,000 miles last year. i sometimes ride a folder, but i suppose that just makes me a casual rider without a clue as to what i'm doing.

whatever you say, chief. :rolleyes:

Toronto, and I mainly bike through the downtown core (the old Toronto since apparently that part of Toronto is now the downtown to most people).

People say you learn by your mistakes, well when your learning from other people's mistakes you tend to learn by stereotyping a group of people and planing for the worst outcome. Its not the best, and not everyone fits the same mold but it helps over all in life. It allows one to plan for the worst when it comes to how the other person will react so you can plan for it and not get injured.

Yes I'm a pessimistic stereotyper, sue me. :p

Jim

it's not an offense worthy of litigation, but it will incline me to disregard your opinions in the future.