This is my Nova with a rack.
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So is that just any bike rack or a particular one to fit the Nova in a certain way? I think the folding is what is throwing me with regards to buying accessories.

If the Nova has the luggage truss on the front, you can use any Tern accessory. I can't tell from the pictures but I'm sure someone can confirm. Here are some options: as I said, folding bikes ride better wwith a bit of a load on the front, rather than the back.

Yes, I meant it's spec'd above it's price point. LOL!!!

fyi, the Dahon/Tern luggage lug and truss call for the bolt holes 3cm apart.

My rack was specified for 451 wheels which are a bit larger than my 406 ones. I think all racks designed for Dahon and fit 451 wheels will fit Nova but first you have to research about which bags you want, how they going to mount on a rack, which is a rack configuration, prices, and so on. Actually, you have to research everything, about a bike, about parts, about accessories, about tools, and how to work on your bike. Just do one step at the time you will figure.

It says yo can buy a rack for it. I recently was lucky to find a good alu rack in a lokal bikeshop that fitted one of my 20" folders. It was ment for bikes with 20" - 24" wheels. Just keep an eye open, take a look when you can. Start looking before you actually need one to get the best deal.

To avoid you stopping to ride becouse of technical problems I suggest you look at films about bike maintenance on youTube to be prepaired for the day you need to do some adjustments. If you keep looking at such films and look at them as entertainment and learn from them you`ll soon feel more confident. Some peopel newer do bike maintenance but at least you could understand your bike better and know what to ask for in the shop.

Raek, The bike you linked is all steel and weighs in at 38.5 lbs. and usually those are conservative weight estimates they provide.
Let's call it 40 lbs.

I also give a BIG VOTE for the Downtube Nova if that is all your budget permits.
If you can go a bit higher $, check out the Downtube 8FS or the 9 Silver for added features. They are all a lot of bike for the $.
Good value for the dollar.

The Nova weighs 24 lbs. and will fold much more compactly, a HUGE difference when carrying or lifting it into a car/bus/subway or up steps/into your house.

The 26" folding Mtn bike might fold, but i don't think it is what many of us would consider "compact".

Give it some thought before spending your $$.

For better or for worse, I made a purchase - but did not go with the Downtube Nova. I was going to but decided to wait a little, as the additional S&H pushed the overall cost a little too high for me to feel comfy about buying it right now but I did want it so I was just going to wait a few weeks (you may be wondering, "how is she this broke?" newlywed grad student who just had to replace her 16 year old car so I work with what I've got x.x). But this morning I decided to run a search for Downtube on CL and lo and behold, yesterday a Downtube 9NS was posted for $175 - this would save me just over $100, and the man had barely ridden it because he has other bikes. I don't know how I missed it before, maybe it was posted after I had run my initial search for bikes.

In any case, he was kind enough to run through putting it together and taking it apart multiple times with me and helped me determine the best way to load it into my car. It only has minor cosmetic scratches to the paint but, knowing me, that would have happened anyways so I'm not bothered. He was very particular about how his things were cared for and seemed to want to ensure that I could provide the same basic care, at least when assembling, disassembling, and loading it.

I know the "NS" portion of the name means no suspension so I did read a few articles on the pros and cons and it seems that for what I will be primarily riding, it'll be okay. I'll be sticking to roadways and flat bike trails. Notably, even this bike is heavy for me to carry because I'm way out of shape these days so I think adding extra weight, as someone further up pointed out, would have been a bad idea until I'm much stronger.

All in all, I'm ready to read up on maintenance, I'm happy with the price for a barely used bike I wasn't expecting to find, and I'm stubborn so I enjoy a challenge. I'll likely give riding it a shot today after work, I'm meeting up with a friend to walk but I think I'll bring my bike and suggest hitting a trail instead. =)

Congrats on the purchase! let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Yan

RaeK, I also bought my bike "pre-loved" from a good owner. You can get some very nice bikes that way; lots of people buy bikes and then stop using them after a little while. My first suggestion for you is to get to know your bike, by that I mean, the parts and what they do. I found that making the bike all pretty and shiny made me happy and let me touch every component. Get yourself a little car wax and maybe some metal polish and some rags. Clean and polish one component per day (one wheel rim, the cranks, the rear triangle, seat tube, etc.). Look it over for any cracks or chips. Clear nail polish works great to protect the frame if it has scratched paint. At the same time, either read a maintenance book or watch a you tube video on how to service that particular part. You may not ever do it, you may not have the tools or the time or the desire, but you will be able to communicate in a bike shop if needed. Do get yourself a basic set of hex keys so you can check bolt tightness while you clean. Buy some lube and keep the chain in good shape. And just ride. As for lifting it, you may find it is easier to carry when it is NOT folded as long as you find the balance point, then fold when you get upstairs. Congrats!!!

Raek. If your bike doesn't have mudguards for $10 shipped you can get them here. It might take a month a half to get them, though.
High Strength Extended Type Fender 20" and 26" 329109 2016 ? $9.99

RaeK: congratulations on the cl purchase! Nothing wrong with a pre loved Downtube. Enjoy, and please keep us posted!!!

Thanks for the tips linberl and shrooms, I'll definitely do that.

I'm actually going to take it out on a trail this evening and I'm so excited I can't stand it. My friend and I were going to go walking but now that I have a bike, I suggested we ride instead. There's a 16 mile trail that intersects with my city so if she parks her car here, we can hop on and go north until we decide to double back, and it's all concrete. I'll update on how it goes. =)