jur

You know the majority of the downsides of using a chain goes away if you wax the chain instead. And in my experience there are no downsides to wax. It makes the advantages of belt drive much smaller.

linberl

I'm definitely thinking of that...I use a wax based lube and it's not too messy. Old crock pots are cheap I've watched a few videos. Seems like getting the right "mix" of wax and additive is the hardest part. And I've got a lovely master link tool that could use some exercise.

12boy

On the assumption that toilet pedestal rings are beeswax (at least they used to be) I used some canning paraffin with it to lube chains. The toilet pedestal wax is very very sticky and the wax doesn't fall off the chain. Not exactly an appetizing thought, but on the other hand the wax was around 3 bucks. I really do prefer wax to oil for chains, and if you have a number of bikes you can do one chain after another in the melted wax.

tdonline

I highly commend you for this choice.

If only because this is what I've considered and I am happy for you to go first

Joe Remi

Ok, I may think you're crazy (me too!), but 8-speeds are great! As with my eRiv, you may only need the top few gears with the ShareRoller, but it can't hurt to have climbing gears when the need arises. Like when the battery quits! ;-)

linberl

Lol, okay, and I've realized there is a point where you HAVE to just stop looking and overthinking it. It will be around $1600 with the upgraded parts. $400 to save around 2 lbs, but I will notice 2 more pounds holding in a grocery line, so it's worth it. Will start out with my brooks seat and my nitto allrounder bars but probably will move to a lighter seat - terry has a 30 day trial so I might do that - my brooks is pretty comfortable now but a saddle with a cutout might be a wee tad bit more comfy. And there's no way I am breaking in a new brooks!
Gonna see if there's a brompton frame handle that will fit around the pakiT - will make it easier and more comfy to carry when I don't have the Travoy. I have a nice yellow camelback cover with elastic that should fit around the chainring, crank, and rear der quickly for when I want it covered (probably getting removable pedals).
Bonus from the 8 speeds is I don't know when Jeff will get around to shipping the Sharerollers, so in the meantime, I'm easily able to ride everywhere =).
Thanks for putting up with my musings and being the voices of reason here. On the bright side, at least I didn't go on and on about color!!!

linberl

I'll happily be your guinea pig =). will let you know I get on with it once it's here.

Joe Remi

Oof, color. My first Brompton was the standard flat black, and I swore I would get some bright multicolored combo on my next one. After hemming and hawing and finally sorta deciding on grey with lime green extremities...I got Stardust Black. Which is technically brighter than flat black. No really!

linberl

Roflmao!!! Really, it's almost like an insult to have to decide on color after deciding on model and components. Fortunately, I tend to pick my local team colors. The last 2 bikes have been SF Giants orange and black. After
this rather uninspiring season, however, I think I'm going yellow (gold) and blue for the Warriors

Black and lime is cool. I thought about that for my Pakit with the lime green cables, but it's so little actual painted
frame that it doesn't create enough contrast. And I am totally off putting accessories on my bike. Went from having all kinds of crap on it to wearing a sling bag with no stuff but a bell. I'd spend 5 minutes evertime I went in somewhere stripping all the gadgets likely to be stolen. :-( Now I just hop off and done.

Joe Remi

You might want to give these folks a call after you get your Pakit. They make a lovely lifter handle for Brompton, and may be able to do one for your frame, too. I hadn't planned on getting one for my Brommie 'cause I don't carry-and-commute every day, but even the few times a month I lug the folded package around seems kinda awkward. I'm putting my order in.

https://walnutstudiolo.com/

linberl

Ahh, why oh why did you send me to that website????!!!!! Pretty, must have pretty things...

I was considering something like this,
which also has a shoulder strap option: https://www.offyerbike.com/oys/0dip5...rmup9dvk0li48d
and comes in colors that match. Should fit tube fine with adjustable tabs.

Joe Remi

That works, too! I prefer the leather look and it's about 20 bucks cheaper, but it doesn't have the shoulder strap thingy you want.

linberl

There's a leather strap on ETSY that is made in London and is only $25...has buckles so it would be adjustable to my pakiT tube. Second choice. I like that the Off Yer Bike also works as a "frame protector" and I think the longer length will make it easier for wimpy me to balance it.
You've got me looking at some of the stuff on that site as gifts for the holidays - nice nice items!

linberl

Anyone in the Bay Area with a pakiT??? Warm Planet doesn't have one to test, and BF isn't responding to requests to find one locally I can ride. I really really am excited about ordering now, but I've not been on a 16" wheel bike and feel like it is imperative I try it before I plunk down my money. I'm small but I could get a sense of the wheels on any size....I'll bring you a six pack =).

1nterceptor

Most Brompton shops probably sell at least a few B'tons a month. Most of them have demo bikes.
My dealer(BFold of NYC) has 3. Don't know how much Bike Friday dealers sell a month; I think most
buyers order straight from BF's site. When BF asked my dealer if he wanted to buy the demo pakiT
he had on loan; he said no. So it's on the way back to the manufacturer. Maybe you can ask your
local shop to "borrow" it for a while? The size is Medium/55; just happened to be the right size for me:

Joe Remi

I doubt there's very many Pakits in the whole country yet. Huckleberry Bicycles in San Francisco and Berkeley each have a demo Brompton you can ride (I got my M6L from Jonas at the Berkeley shop). I wouldn't recommend this if you were 100% sold on the Pakit, but you've never ridden a 16"-wheel bike of any sort, which tells me a Brompton ride would be a good idea before plunking down your money. If you don't end up buying a bike, you can always spend a few bucks in the shop on your way out.

tmesis

I have a Pakit that I recently received, but I'm afraid I'm on the other side of the country. I'll post some pictures soon.

linberl

In response to both of your great suggestions - I'd screw it up, lol. I am the least "crafty" person ever. fortunately, i know my limitations NOW and don't waste money on projects I'll never do

linberl

I rode a brompton a few blocks when last I was looking for a bike and ended up with my BF. The fit was so bad for me I didn't notice the ride quality...short arms, bad knees, bad back. Not good on a one-size-fits-all bike without LOTS of modifications. Since I know the BF can fit me perfectly as my NWT does, I won't risk a change even if brommies are cute as can be. Plus they weigh too much.
But - do you think it would give me a good sense of the ride of the pakiT? or would a 16" dahon maybe be a better frame of reference?
BF does have a guarantee so I can send it back if I hate it but then I'm out shipping fees for nothing.

linberl

Kickstarter shows 6 packiTs in S.F. Maybe one of them reads this forum???

Joe Remi

Ah, you've already tried a Brompton. No, I don't see much point in doing it again unless it was a really old short-wheelbase model.

fietsbob

the frame on Brompton, now, are rather long, It's like a virtual 24" top tube, But typically people set the saddle fairly forward,
(Their SAP gets it even closer)

It does after all have the seat post passing behind the BB , not directly above/into it like regular bikes..

then the M bar gets adjusted to be a little closer to you ,

I suspect you did not even try to adjust it that little bit , but I was not there to watch..




.....

linberl

The shop tried to make it work for me. I have a strange body due to some injuries. The adjustments for reach put my knees in the wrong position on the crank. Shop said smaller cranks would help but they are extra. I can't ride upright due to my back, I need a 50-60 degree bend and the M bar was too high. S bar was too low but again shop said I could get a riser bar replacement on the M stem with cable length adjustment - again at extra cost. And none of the fit options were guaranteed to work so I could have been out a fair amount and still not comfortable. I had my fit info from my professional fit and I'm pretty good at knowing what feels right now. Yes - it could have probably been made to fit, but why buy a bike that doesn't fit and spend more to make it fit??? BF was the right solution for me.

fietsbob

suggested before H bar with a low rise MTB handlebar can get between the low S and the high M..

but anyhow get on the train from Emeryville to Eugene on Amtrack , is an overnight run, leaves about 5 in the after noon.

then arrives at about 4pm the next day .. then they can see you, and you can discuss with them them in person ,

your special fit requirements ..

and it's a good trip .. I used to live in Eugene in the 70's, my Parents were in Napa, so Amtrak was the way to go ..




.....

linberl

Steve just got back to me and he's sent emails to a couple local owners so hopefully I won't have to make the trip. With Bike Friday I don't have any special fit requirements - I already have one and it is dialed in perfectly and they can replicate that on any bike. My bike has been to the mothership but I have not. It's funny - BF/Brompton is like Apple/PC or iPhone/Android. You're either in one camp or the other usually. Looks like you have bridged them =).