dalmore

Anyone here use a folder for light trail riding? I'm not talking about downhill flying - bouncing off bolders and such. But I would like to ride some gravel and hard pack forestry service trails. I think at least one of our regular contributors has stated they felt the Downtube FS would be good for that. Anyone actually done it?

I also like the look of the airnimal rhino but not the price!

Finally there are the full sized folding Mountain Bikes like the Montagues and Dahon's Zero-G - Possible but I'm really liking the small wheeled bikes

Trocadile

I just went on a club ride with my FS this weekend and an optional part of the ride went into a park with unpaved, bridle trails. I think I would have been fine with the stock tires but I was riding slicker Primo Comets and had trouble getting purchase in the mud and while going uphill in the really loose gravel. Still, it did well over dirt, longish grass and most of the gravel and overall I was able to keep up. The suspension worked great and the comfort level was fine - and these were trails that none of the road bikes on the ride wanted any part of.

That being said - if you start getting into deeply rutted tracks or the gravel becomes good size rocks, a 20" tire is going to be inferior to a 26" or bigger, even if you have thick knobbies. In my limited experience, the DT FS has been much better at the rough stuff than other 20" bikes I've ridden, but the bigger the obstacle, the bigger you want your tire to be.

Other that that, my main concern with the DT would be how much abuse the fork can take. The Zoom model I have on mine (I think they've changed for the 2006) is one I've seen on kids' bikes, so I'm not sure the suspension will hold up under too much of the rough stuff. So far, so good, though.

geo8rge

DT's go for $300, which is probably the starting price on decent shocks. You might condiser getting the one wo the shocks, and adding one of the better seat post shocks and gel seat. One you have the bike cruse ebay and craigslist for interestng parts.

maunakea

Take a close look at the Dahon 26" MTB folders.

One day, Dahon will start shipping the Fuego. The Fuego, a separable, should be the best of the lot.

donkeyman

I live on a farm and regularly take my IXFS on gravel and also on some trails that are just hard pack. The bike handles these "minor off road" excursions with ease and is soooo comfortable.

The bike is also excellent in RV campgrounds with gravel roads or hard pack trails.

With that said however I would not use the FS as a mountain bike going completely off road with really rough trails, boulders, etc..the bike might take it but 20" wheels would be a limitation.

It will also be difficult in deep new gravel as any bike would.

The FS is a very comfortable bike on the road and very capable on most gravel or hard pack trails.

FoldsinHalf

While I can't comment specifically about that Downtube bike, it sounds like it's fairly similar to our KHS F20 Westwoods. We carry a pair of these wonderful little machines in our motorhome and they have handled everything anything we've thrown at them including tons of off-road and rough surfaces. They're obviously not meant for serious mtb downhill stuff but I've found them to be surprisingly capable and a whole lot of fun offroad on more moderate terrain. The small wheels give them a nimble nature that makes them really feel alive and there's just enough suspension to take the edge off. In fact I'm just about to head off to do some trail riding this evening but let's see if I can find a few pics to share of the bikes in action before I do...

Dirt and moderate limestone trails at Walnut Creek Park in Austin, TX:










Gravel road to the Spiral Jetty on the Great Salt Lake:




The famous Slickrock Trail in Moab:






A little snow in Reno:




The cobblestone streets and wooden planks of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City:






Cheers,
Carey

DEBCAR RV Travel Website

dalmore

Wow! I'm impressed! And Jealous! Beautiful rides...

BruceMetras

That's exactly what I do with my DT/FS on a very regular basis.. I'm running 20x1.75 Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires for puncture resistance, and I laced up a hub geared rear wheel to keep derailleur bits from snagging debris/objects when on trails..the rest of the bike is box stock and has not had any mechanical issues.. the full suspension bike appears 'over-built' and I expect it will last quite some time..

That is a tasty looking bike!! but as you point out, comes at a bit of a price difference over an FS

I have a Zero-G for the rough stuff and it is significantly more comfortable with big wheels and the Manitou front fork ... it all depends on the terrain you'll be riding.. 20" wheels with big tires can get you an awful lot of places..

Bruce