What's 'knobbly' mean? Actually, were I to have my bike exactly as I'd like it, it'd be the metallic silver Dahon has painted the main frame, sans anything else. That'd be mad cool.

DG1

A “bodge” is a workable but somewhat inelegant solution to a mechanical problem (at least that’s my interpretation). My stem “bodge” is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16114972@N00/

I have always preferred to be further back in relation to the BB, as I seem to be able to generate more power from this position. I also tend to climb seated on my folders, and being further back on the rails helps. I am not sure how much this compromises my spinning (but I suspect it does), but I usually aim for a cadence of 95rpm on my bikes.

Shorter cranks will def help you spin faster, when I went back to 170mms after using 175mms, I noticed a difference immediately.

>>>>A “bodge” is a workable but somewhat inelegant solution to a mechanical problem (at least that’s my interpretation). My stem “bodge” is here:<<<<

I see that you've a similar sense of compensation towards small-wheeled mirth amongst the general populous as mine. Your bikes are beautiful, especially the Birdy with the custom chainring. We've done this bike industry proud!

Do you have a closer-up of your stem conversion? I can't really see how yours was done.


I've found that I've a need to be forward on all of my bikes, big and small. I don't know why and may be entirely wrong, but it is what it is. It probably goes back to the bike of my teen years, my first 'good' one, being too large for me. I used to ride that bike 40-50 miles a day and learned to fit myself to it. I have a strange, fright sensation, going downhill fast, on a bike that actually fits me. I'm only comfortable at speed, on a bike that has me all stretched out.

DG1

Just - it looks kinda sci-fi with it's sleekness punctuated with all those little expensive details sticking out - the susp hinges, the bar ends. Knobbly like the underside of an Imperial Cruiser you get?

You could probably get the Dahon stickers off with a combination of a hairdryer and some petrol lighter fluid.

I still don't get the knobbly thing. Do you mean 'knubby' or gnubby? I don't think these Dahon logos are stickers. Looks like they're actually part of the powdercoat.

DG1

I think I do, but not to hand. It is only a 1 1/8 Syncros "Cattle Prod" quill stem (a very good piece of top-end kit from the 90s) inserted into the Dahon derived "handlepost" - which I molested with a grinder taking off a few inches!

Yes, I do spend too much money and time kitting out my folders (I am sure folder fanatic would not approve), but I also spend a lot of time riding them, so I consider it money well spent!!! Perhaps I will ask my partner to get me some Pulsion cranks for Xmas - they would go nicely with the carbon fibre chainring...

For the rear shock, the clipless and removable pedals and a few other items that we've been discussing:

http://www.thorusa.com/dahondrivetrain.htm

I'd considered fitting a 1 and 1/8th stem when I did my stem conversion but could'nt find a titanium stem that fit the bill and I had my heart set on a ti stem (I don't know why, but I have to have a ti stem on any of my bikes that's remotely modern). In any event, I'm quite proud of the machinework I did to get the stem to fit. The Pulsion cranks have proven themselves to be a good choice and I recommend them without reservation. They present nicely too.

You may want to ask your partner for some new wheels as well, not that the stock wheels are bad, they're actually excellent; just check out what this guy does with the Birdy:

http://dev.juppo.co.jp/2plus4/FMPro?...scend&-FindAll

DG1

Today's Folding forum brought to you by the letter 'K' ;)

I didn't realise 'knobbly' didn't translate over the pond. It means 'with things protruding outwards'. Best candidate as an example might be 'knobbly knees' - ie bony kneecaps on skinny legs. A tyre might be knobbly or perhaps the outer skin of a grenade. Knobbly. K n o b b l y.

Yes, I added this page to my "favourites" long ago...

He is running 406s with his orange monocoque Birdy which greatly increases the choice of nice wheelsets...If you're interested in replacing yours (as Birdies consume rims fairly quickly), Alex are still making the aesthetically pleasing folex wheelset in the 355 size; it's just not that easy to get hold of them outside of Japan etc.

Were i to replace my Birdy's wheels, I'd be using HED's on it. I just can't say that I like the bike enough to customise it the way I've done my Jet. That said, I'll probably put the HED's on my Jet soon enough. When i do, I'll know that I've gone certifiable. Was thinking of having that guy make me a front derailleur mount for my bike..

DG1

LittlePixel has put HEDs on a Raleigh Twenty and I am surprised that he has not been sectioned under the Mental Health Act!

Gotta see a photo of that!

DG1

And a Stronglight Speedlight crank? Awe-inspiring.,

Ta!
It's actually a Tiagra Crankset with Stronglight 53t ring. I sold the rear HED to some random guy from Japan on eBay. I got them from a nice recumbent lady in Seattle so those wheels have done gone seen the world in a packing crate!. I couldn't really figure a way of making a dished rear HED wheel into a fixed - too many bespoke parts (bladed 406 spokes anyone) and the idea of a Surly Fixxer onto the normal cassette didn't appeal so it had to go. It's nice up front but it's noisey - you get a sort of plasticky creak from the carbon when you're working it up a hill.

But yes - the bike is evidence I should be sectioned under the 'expensive bits on crud frame' act 1983...
;)