Swift vs. Bike Friday Pocket Rocket
#26
Part-time epistemologist
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
A narrative on bicycle driving.
#27
Part-time epistemologist
Generally, you can get a test ride by either talking to a sales rep (apparently, they can sometimes point you to a local willing to let someone else take their bike for a spin), contacting a local Bike Friday club, or local dealer. There are lot of clubs in the states. I do not think that there are many dealers.
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
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#28
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Cyclescience became BF dealers just after Lynette breezed through here a month or 2 ago. I havent' been to their shop even though it is down the road from where I work. I doubt they have any demo stock except maybe Lynette's tikit which she never got back to me about after I indicated interest and proceeded along the road of hammering out the details. I'm not feeling too positive about it all.
Regarding prices, I understood that BFs here would be same as the US price plus $300 shipping.
Regarding prices, I understood that BFs here would be same as the US price plus $300 shipping.
What really annoys me is, here I am willing to enquire about BFs with a possible purchase in mind for the future and no response for 10 days now. Nobody is that busy that they can't send a short email.
Heck, give me the dealership to BF, Birdy, Swift, Brompton, Dahon and whatever else and I'll promote them, advertise them and answer EVERY enquiry very promptly.
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Jur,
I think it is the custom aspect that makes Bike Fridays a bit harder to see in dealers. The most established BF dealer is Epic Cycles here in Brisbane, but even they don't carry much floor stock apart from a few standard Tikits and the odd trade-in.
I suggest you contact your local dealer (or even Peter Berra direct at Bike Friday) and find out if there are any owners near you who will let you try a test ride.
They ask all new owners if they would be willing to let prospective purchasers go for a test ride - I said yes, but have never been asked (yet).
btw, Lynette's demo Tikit could have been sold a few times over when she was in Brisbane, but she said it was already sold in Sydney - first person to hand over the money got the bike!
I think it is the custom aspect that makes Bike Fridays a bit harder to see in dealers. The most established BF dealer is Epic Cycles here in Brisbane, but even they don't carry much floor stock apart from a few standard Tikits and the odd trade-in.
I suggest you contact your local dealer (or even Peter Berra direct at Bike Friday) and find out if there are any owners near you who will let you try a test ride.
They ask all new owners if they would be willing to let prospective purchasers go for a test ride - I said yes, but have never been asked (yet).
btw, Lynette's demo Tikit could have been sold a few times over when she was in Brisbane, but she said it was already sold in Sydney - first person to hand over the money got the bike!
#31
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#32
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Probably because they have been around for a while and their qualities are well known.
Generally, you can get a test ride by either talking to a sales rep (apparently, they can sometimes point you to a local willing to let someone else take their bike for a spin), contacting a local Bike Friday club, or local dealer. There are lot of clubs in the states. I do not think that there are many dealers.
Generally, you can get a test ride by either talking to a sales rep (apparently, they can sometimes point you to a local willing to let someone else take their bike for a spin), contacting a local Bike Friday club, or local dealer. There are lot of clubs in the states. I do not think that there are many dealers.
No clubs here in AZ. The only Bike Friday I've seen here is owned by the mechanic at the east side Performance shop. I spoke with him once. He didn't offer to let me try his bike, nor would I expect him to, nor did I ask. I myself would be reluctant to let a stranger try out my bike. I had a bad experience once years ago. I had just returned from a 90 mile bike ride to the park where I parked my car, an upscale area north of NY, NY. A middle aged man on a clunker bike asked me if he could try out my bike, and I said OK. He took off as fast as he could, heading straight away, standing on the pedals. I got on his junk bike and caught him and stopped him, but then I wasn't sure what to do. I figured that if I beat up on the SOB or tried to hold him for the police, he might yell for help and people in the park would jump ME, since by outward appearances he looked like a respectable middle aged citizen and I looked like a dirty young wild man, so I just took my bike back from him and tossed his down on the ground. Very strange experience. He probably had a criminal record as long as my arm.
Anyway, when I was in Calif. I took the opportunity to find the Bike Friday shop, but even in CA they are hard to find and open only limited hours. The place in Oceanside is a hole in the wall that mainly seems to deal in heavyweight electric bikes and trikes. They only had two BF's, the Tikit and the Pocket Rocket. The lady who ran the place was very friendly, but not very knowledgeable (she told me that the Pocket Rocket doesn't fold, but if you're willing to spend a half hour or so you can take it apart). She said she used to also have a Birdy in stock (that's another one I'd like to try), but she couldn't figure out how to fold it, so she sent it back to Seattle.
Before I started this thread I searched the forum for Pocket Rocket threads, but they were few and far between.
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Also a few other options: they have a 30 day guarantee or similar, so you could theoretically use that as your trial with the company. Also look at eBay auctions. You could buy and sell again if you don't like it, and probably won't lose any money in the process as they retain or gain money over time.
Many people in the forums here have learned that the only way to well evaluate something like these folders is to buy and try, and sell if necessary.
#34
Drops small screws
As it is now, I just feel like I have to keep part of my brain focused on balancing my upper body. I'd rather be totally concentrated on the sheer effort of getting up the hill, not on whether I'm going to fall over while I'm doing it.
#35
Part-time epistemologist
I myself would be reluctant to let a stranger try out my bike. I had a bad experience once years ago. I had just returned from a 90 mile bike ride to the park where I parked my car, an upscale area north of NY, NY. A middle aged man on a clunker bike asked me if he could try out my bike, and I said OK. He took off as fast as he could, heading straight away, standing on the pedals. I got on his junk bike and caught him and stopped him, but then I wasn't sure what to do. I figured that if I beat up on the SOB or tried to hold him for the police, he might yell for help and people in the park would jump ME, since by outward appearances he looked like a respectable middle aged citizen and I looked like a dirty young wild man, so I just took my bike back from him and tossed his down on the ground. Very strange experience. He probably had a criminal record as long as my arm.
Perhaps you can try the YAK group. There might be an informal BF group in the area. You will also get good answers to your questions there. Yet another reason why there is less discussion here about Bike Fridays.
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
A narrative on bicycle driving.
#36
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Anyway, perhaps you should take a stab at mustache bars or north road bars (I like them flipped over). Nitto makes silver/chrome versions that are exquisite. Although I think you will have to get new brake levers to fit the road bars. Although I seem to recall someone making a mustache bar with MTB tube diameter. Note that the memory is fuzzy and I also seem to recall that it appears to be of poor quality.
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"Anyway, perhaps you should take a stab at mustache bars or north road bars..."
Or my Delta Ergo bars...
https://www.rei.com/product/738808
Or my Delta Ergo bars...
https://www.rei.com/product/738808
#38
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Invisible - Yeah, I caught him and then I didn't know what to do with him - like once when I was a little kid and I decided to sell some of my junk on the street, and I made a lasso to catch any bullies who might come by and snatch my merchandise, cowboy style...only I never planned out what I might do with an angry bully at the end of a lasso. Luckily I never had to put this poorly planned operation into effect.
What's a YAK group?
What's a YAK group?
#39
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Noteon -
"Commute: Washington Heights to Wall Street"
Do you commute daily from Washington Heights to Wall St by bike? What's your route? Inwood was my old turf, just north of you!
"Commute: Washington Heights to Wall Street"
Do you commute daily from Washington Heights to Wall St by bike? What's your route? Inwood was my old turf, just north of you!
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Yesterday I lowered my bars and I believe it made my Swift more stable. perhaps some of the skittishness that I mentioned was just because the bars were too high and I was too upright. If I want to permanently keep the bars lowered, I'll saw off the top of the handlebar tube.
#41
Drops small screws
Without kids
With kids: Sidewalks over to the 182nd St. Bridge, then that same route as far as 26th. Then sidewalks over to 6th Ave. Leave the trailer and kids at preschool, then ride a suddenly much faster bike over to the East Side greenway and down to Wall Street. You may have seen me mention the hill I have to get up while towing them home; it's the one that starts at the Little Red Lighthouse.
Last edited by noteon; 08-04-08 at 09:12 AM.
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Noteon - The map you posted shows you going down the West Side Highway. How can you do that? There's no place for bikes on it.
#43
Drops small screws
I may also have been sloppy with the mouse wherever you happen to be looking.
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HH Greenway? Wow, that must be something new! I moved away from NY at the end of 1996.
Many years ago, when I raced in Central Park, I'd first cycle all the way down to the park from Inwood. Later on I'd sometimes walk from Dyckman Street downtown to by the Pt Authority bus terminal where I worked, and I'd walk along the river as much as I could, which was very strange walk, especially the northern part between Dyckman and the GW bridge - very quiet, long-abandoned boat docks and recreational areas, quite remote, hard to believe I was in Manhattan. Not recommended unless you are armed to the teeth because you never know what you might run into, tho, luckily, I never encountered trouble down there.
Many years ago, when I raced in Central Park, I'd first cycle all the way down to the park from Inwood. Later on I'd sometimes walk from Dyckman Street downtown to by the Pt Authority bus terminal where I worked, and I'd walk along the river as much as I could, which was very strange walk, especially the northern part between Dyckman and the GW bridge - very quiet, long-abandoned boat docks and recreational areas, quite remote, hard to believe I was in Manhattan. Not recommended unless you are armed to the teeth because you never know what you might run into, tho, luckily, I never encountered trouble down there.
#45
Part-time epistemologist
Invisible - Yeah, I caught him and then I didn't know what to do with him - like once when I was a little kid and I decided to sell some of my junk on the street, and I made a lasso to catch any bullies who might come by and snatch my merchandise, cowboy style...only I never planned out what I might do with an angry bully at the end of a lasso. Luckily I never had to put this poorly planned operation into effect.
What's a YAK group?
What's a YAK group?
https://store.bikefriday.com/mailman/listinfo/yak
You will see Alex W. there as well as others who have not identified themselves here. Although figuring out who is who is straightforward.
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
A narrative on bicycle driving.
#46
Drops small screws
There are a couple of iffy stretches, most significantly the one just above 162nd, which has no lights and is on the general portion of greenway where you're most likely to encounter skeevy people.
It's fine during the day, but coming back at night you can't help but realize (as you manually swivel your headlight this way and that to illuminate all the hiding places) that this is the perfect place for an ambush.
Other than that, it's a generally good route.
And to bring this threadjacking back around: I ride my SWIFT, which is not a BIKE FRIDAY, on it almost every day!
It's fine during the day, but coming back at night you can't help but realize (as you manually swivel your headlight this way and that to illuminate all the hiding places) that this is the perfect place for an ambush.
Other than that, it's a generally good route.
And to bring this threadjacking back around: I ride my SWIFT, which is not a BIKE FRIDAY, on it almost every day!
#47
Part-time epistemologist
"Anyway, perhaps you should take a stab at mustache bars or north road bars..."
Or my Delta Ergo bars...
https://www.rei.com/product/738808
Or my Delta Ergo bars...
https://www.rei.com/product/738808
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
A narrative on bicycle driving.
#48
Drops small screws
I got tired of not being sure what to get and just went and ordered these. Thanks for the pointer.
#49
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Yak is the Bike Friday forums. It's in email format, and it's best to get the daily digest version. Lots of good info and enthusiasm. https://store.bikefriday.com/mailman/listinfo/yak
I bought my bike directly from BF and had no problems at all with them. They were very helpful and timely.
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There are a couple of iffy stretches, most significantly the one just above 162nd, which has no lights and is on the general portion of greenway where you're most likely to encounter skeevy people.
It's fine during the day, but coming back at night you can't help but realize (as you manually swivel your headlight this way and that to illuminate all the hiding places) that this is the perfect place for an ambush.
Other than that, it's a generally good route.
And to bring this threadjacking back around: I ride my SWIFT, which is not a BIKE FRIDAY, on it almost every day!
It's fine during the day, but coming back at night you can't help but realize (as you manually swivel your headlight this way and that to illuminate all the hiding places) that this is the perfect place for an ambush.
Other than that, it's a generally good route.
And to bring this threadjacking back around: I ride my SWIFT, which is not a BIKE FRIDAY, on it almost every day!
I fought hard in city council meetings to get the Prince Street bike lane in, and now there is a bikeway all the way from my house in Chinatown to my work at 168th St.
New York City is now laced with bike lanes everywhere and parking spaces are being removed to make way for them. The city has become a paradise for bicyclists. I don't agree with all of Bloomberg's ideas, but bike policy gets 5 stars.
There are still some mistakes. The Ocean Parkway greenway in Brooklyn is dangerous, and the greenways around the fair grounds in Queens have some breaks into dangerous traffic as well. But the Bronx is the absolute king of bikeways.