pm124

Hi Makeinu--

It depends on how much you want to adjust when you fold it. If you just fold the bars down, they jut into the rear spokes, so rolling is out of the question. But you also have the option of releasing the upper stem QR and rotating the bars so that they are a bit more out of the way. I mostly have to carry the bike, so I don't bother rotating them. When you carry it this way, the bars jut out behind you, so it's quite easy to carry.

Either way, you'll have to play around with it a bit. Once you get the stem loose, it takes two seconds to adjust it, and it can easily be returned to its original position.

For those of you who are used to a thredless type stem, you might not be familiar with the adjustment procedure. You can adjust the stem by loosening the bolt until it juts up 1cm. Then whack it with something that's not going to damage it. This releases pressure on a plug that anchors the stem to the inside of the fork. You should then (with a good deal of wiggling) be able to turn it side-to-side.

When re-tightening it, make sure that the stem is flush against the headset and give tighten the bolt well. It's critical that the stem be fixed into the tube.

makeinu

Has anyone used SKS 20" mudguards on a downtube? I'm trying to decide between these and the planet bike freddie fenders.

I'm afraid the freddie fenders will prevent me from tilting and rolling the bike, but I'm also afraid that the SKS fenders won't provide sufficient coverage. I'd like to ride the bike in pouring rain and still stay dry under my rain cape. Does anyone know the difference between the front and rear freddie fenders? The front one looks like it might be a little shorter...so maybe I should try to use it in the rear?

JosephLMonti

I'd also like to know how to mount a front fender w/ a suspension fork. Anyone try this yet?

EriktheFish

What size fork fits the IX Downtubes?

BigMacFU

I've got Planet Bike Freddy Fender Hardcores on my DT Front Sus. just get the 20" for recumbants, they work great!

JosephLMonti

Sounds good but how did you mount it (where does it attach)? Also, I've got Maxxis Hookworms on my DT...will these be too wide for the fenders (they're 2.0s)? If you've got any pics of your DT w/ the fenders I'd love to see them.

makeinu

Can you still tilt the bike back and roll it with the extra long rear Freddy (let's say tilted enough so that it is balanced enough so you can push it at a jogging pace)? What do you think about putting the front Freddy on the rear of the bike?

SesameCrunch

Here's a selection from Gaerlan: https://www.gaerlan.com/bikeparts/frame/forks/fork.html

You basically need 1 1/8" steerer tube forks built for 20" wheels.

pm124

Hi Yan, I measured it, and you are absolutely right (of course). My BB is *slightly* higher than other bikes, but really it just gives the appearance of being higher with the thing-o hanging off the BB. The feeling of being high up off the ground must also have been subjective.

mcgurme

Hi
I just returned from a trip where we took both our DT FS bikes to Italy and used them for touring. One was carried in exactly the 28" suitcase you mention, the other in a slightly larger 31" hard shell. Both work fine. Packing the bike in the 31" is less work (doesn't require separating the frame into two), but both are doable. This is the fourth round trip I've had the DT FS bike in a 28" suitcase with me.

We've begun posting some pictures of our trip through Tuscany (and the bikes!) on the DT's at here. Note that more pictures will be added soon.

LuckyLyndy

M, can't access your photo site from my work computer, but will try it at home. Can't wait for you to give more details on the Italian trip and how the bikes performed in the steep hills. Was able to see the photos at home. My favorite is your "snack on the road". Have I ever been there.
I just returned from a four day loaded touring trip in Eugene, Oregon with the IX NS. The bike did fine, though I certainly need to tweak it further. First mistake I made was using Maxxis Hookworm tires. The were bulletproof, but they were heavy and had a lot of rolling resistance against the dreaded chip rock asphalt sealed roads. I should have kept the original Kendas on for the trip. My Brooks Champion was great. I wish I had had more time to work with the handlebar situation. I need to extend it, and stretch out my back. I added Serfa bar ends, and those were a great help, but I just ordered some Cat Eye bar ends which seem similar to the Cane Creek ones, and am looking forward to trying those.
The rear rack that the IX NS came with was of no use for me, and I put on a standard rack to use my front panniers in back. I also used the mini rack from Nashbar to place my sleeping bag and air mattress. My Clark Jungle hammock was sandwiched between the seat stem and the rear.
I didn't get my replacement BB before the trip, so I removed the original, greased it properly and put that back in, and I used an old Sugoi Triple crankset. I certainly needed that small ring for the hills, but was frustrated by how many times I had to stop, and manually change from the smaller chainring to the middle.
That is my biggest frustration. I don't know if the solution is to have a SRAM dual drive, or what, but for loaded touring, I need access to a wider gear range.
My friend was enjoying his new Bike Friday Pocket Llama with trailer, and his wife had a traditional Cannondale touring bike. While Peter was trying to figure out how to pack the Bike Friday in the company's parking lot, I had several workers spot my folder and come out and do a critique of the Downtube folder. It was good natured, but a bit snobbish at the same time. I appreaciated one woman's common sense retort, "His bike is one thousand dollars less than the bike you are comparing it to!"
Their whole factory is totally geared up for manufacture of the Ti'kit, the new 16" model. It folds up Brompton like, and rolls. But all I could think about was how the Downtube Mini could be modified to compete with it.
I'll post my morning at the Swift shop in their thread on another day. Wish I had remembered to take my camera, as their shop has to be seen.
Lyndon
Salt Lake City

SesameCrunch

Lyndy and Mcgurme:

Thanks for the ride reports (& great pictures, Mcgurme). It's inspiring for me to see you take the folders on the road. Now I want to go do one! My wife can ride the VIIIH, I can take the little on on the back of my recumbent. That would be fun!

Mcgurme: how was it riding on the roads in Tuscany. They don't have wide shoulders. Did you have any problems?

jasong

Careful here: with BF, you're buying a bike for life. I can't even install an aftermarket bottom bracket on one of my downtubes I bought 1.5 years ago, and the mfctr won't do a thing for me even though it was their error. For a folding bike that's bound to have problems with the little moving pieces, that warranty may tell you how much your time is worth.

LuckyLyndy

I have nothing but the highest regards for the company and employees of Bike Friday.

But let's see...$1200 for a Tikit and $550 for a DT Mini...???

I think both are interesting, but I'm still not convinced that the wheels smaller than 20" are right for loaded touring. Perhaps sport touring?

Lyndon

Polaris43

Crankypants (forum member) is touring Turkey on a DT Mini... we are all looking forward to his full report but his last update indicated he was having a blast. I don't recall he had any complaints about the bike.

SesameCrunch

The Mini is available for $399 on the DT website. Makes the difference even more pronounced.

LuckyLyndy

Yan,
Thanks so much! The replacement hanger was in my mailbox at school this morning! I'll try to put it on this weekend, but I may be heading down to Moab for some desert camping. I got to get that Oregon wet cold
out of my bones.
And no boys, it won't be a DT trip. I'll be taking my mountain hardtail for those rocky trails.
(Of course with a honey B-16 Champion Brooks!)
Lyndon

mcgurme

Hi
No problems with that. Probably that's because I live in the Southeast (North Carolina) and the roads here are just as narrow and lacking of shoulder, and there are more and bigger cars here than in Italy. So I'm used to it (not that I prefer it - a good shoulder is always nice). Bascially, when occasion warranted it, I would just "take the lane" (such as going around a curve), and most Italians dealt fine with that. In fact, they seemed more used to the idea that there might be "slow moving vehicles", since there are lots of bikes, but also those little Piaggio scooter-pickups that can barely do 20 mph going up a steep hill. There were only two or three times when a driver shaved a bit too close for comfort, which for several hundred miles of riding both in and out of cities is not bad (especially compared to here).

I will get more photos up on the site soon - the best pictures came last, when we went over to the island of Giglio.

mcgurme

Hey, did you ever see those pictures of my DT on the Klondike Bluffs trail? The bike did surprisingly well in Moab, all considered!

What kind of hard-tail do you have? I'll be in Moab in May to attempt the Kokopelli trail race, and haven't decided whether to bring my hardtail or full suspension...(not the DT) Well, maybe we should save that discussion for offline, since it's not DT related..

newbie58

Want to use my soon-to-arrive VIII-H for Manhattan grocery shopping (among other things).

Trying to choose between the Transit expandable rack trunk (ca. 900 cu. in.) and the high-mounting Detours Toocan single pannier (ca. 1600 cu. in.).

Would prefer pannier for bigger volume but worry that even the revised rear rack on new VIII-H is too low to prevent heel strike.

Experience? Suggestions? (I've used big, single pannier on my touring bike and don't mind mal-distribution of load; I'm not interested in a quick-release front pack with fewer than 900 cu.in.; and I don't want any pack I have to wear.)

Great forum.

newbie58

Anybody have experience with results of 25t cog/46t chain ring on VIII-H performance?

invisiblehand

The search thread tool seems to be inoperable. Sorry if this has been answered before.

Anyone know the wheelbase of the DT Mini? Thanks.

Polaris43

The stock chainring resulted in way too tall gears for me. I changed it to a 40T and it's much better now.

Other have changed their chainring to a 39T with good results.

DVC45

Hi to all! ' have a few questions....

I have installed a 39T chainring and a Singleator on my VIIH hoping I can switch back and forth between that and the 48T chainring original. So far, it hadn't been great. After many adjustments on both the Singleator and the hub, its still keep on slipping on me, especially when I stand on the pedals. It usually happens on 6th and 2nd gear.
I know it was mentioned along this thread that the internal hub set-up is not for stomping and mashing (no aggresive ridding), but I'm wondering if the Singleator got something to do with it, or am I just experiencing something that's unique to internal hub set up?

makeinu

Is your hub properly aligned?
https://www.sturmey-archer.com/pdfs/XRF8.pdf