edwong3

Since you are now considering a derailleur equipped 7 speed bike (DT Nova), you might want to also look at Citizen Bike's latest offering...the Gotham2 which not only offers a modern, hi tech look; but now comes with a wide range 7 speed drivetrain. It does weigh right around 25 lbs.

I posted the following link in another thread last night. But here is the link again:

https://www.citizenbike.com/catalog.a...&product_id=24

And here is the link to the thread I started recently on the Gotham2:

https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-bikes/600230-yet-another-new-citizen-bike-gotham-2-a.html

Good luck in what ever you choose. Please let us know what you decided.

Edward Wong III
Qile Duo 5 Speed 20" Folder

trider

Edward,
The Gotham2 is a folder worth considering. As I stated in the beginning post, I have owned a Miami Citizens in the past, actually 2, and I was mostly pleased with the bikes. The support from Citizens was superb the one time I needed them.
Comparing the bikes, the biggest difference in the two bikes is the Gotham2 is hand welded alloy and the Citizens Miami is steel. Other than the slight difference in looks and 7 lbs lighter (Gotham2), the bikes are just about alike.
One reason I really like the Downtube Nova is the orange color. Love orange.
Thanks
Terry

chucky

Not to jack the thread, but I personally think the differences are underappreciated because many people treat their drivetrains similarly no matter what type they have. What you call a beating I would probably call pampering.

Plus even if a the derailleur keeps functioning itself (albiet inefficiently) that doesn't mean it won't wreak havoc in the world around it. Snagging things, scratching things, etc; and not just while off the bike either: ever get your pants caught in a front derailleur? Like church and state I believe gears and the outside world should be separated.

feijai

The difference between "steel" and "alloy" would be... ?

34.3 to 68.6. Not "wide range" in my book. And here I was complaining about the Tikit being only 30.4 to 77.4. If 34.3 to 68.6 is considered wide, what was the range of the original Gotham? Do I want to know?

trider

Heck, I don't know metals. I believe alloy is lighter than steel. I would think steel is stronger than alloy.

randya

You are correct in that it's not listed on Downtube's products page, but if you google 'Downtube Mini' a Downtube page opens with a price (on sale for $519.00) for the 2009 model in green, see below; furthermore, if you click on 'buy now' you enter the virtual checkout line.

https://www.downtube.com/mini_folding...rcher_hub.html

randya

Personally I like the design and look of the Citizen Barcelona a lot better. The Gotham also looks like the bottom bracket is mounted a bit too far back for practical and efficient pedaling, just like that cheap Kent magnesium frame folder that was panned here a few years back.

SesameCrunch

That sure is interesting. Perhaps it's a function of some cached pages in a server that's not supposed to be seen by the public?

edwong3

At the risk of hijacking this thread, allow me to make a couple of comments. You're confusing the 14-28 gear range with the 13-34 of the new bike. They listed the 14-28 cluster by mistake on the Gotham2's page.

The range is more like 26.4 to 69 g.i. using the values given by Citizen Bike into Sheldon Brown's gear calculator. For most people, that is more than enough. The low gear is low enough for some challenging hills, and the high is high enough to cruise at speeds reaching 17-21 m.p.h. Heck, I rarely use more than a 20-30 g.i. spread on my cruising gears.

I question anyone who feels they need a really, really wide spread of gear ratios. Why did they buy a bike with a single chainring then?

Edward Wong III
Qile Duo 5 Speed 20" Folder

chucky

Yeah remember that pissed off customer some while back who ordered something from a Downtube ghost page and had the order canceled?

BTW, does anyone know why the mini was discontinued? I thought it was one of Downtube's most popular bikes.

edwong3

I love the Nova's orange color too. Overall it's a sharp looking bike, and seems like a good value. If you wind up buying those, you'll probably be very satisfied with your purchase.

Good luck!

Edward Wong III
Qile Duo 5 Speed 20" Folder

edwong3

The Barcelona is Gorgeous! I started a thread on it over a month ago just like I did for the Gotham2. I wouldn't mind owning both if I only had the room for them in the house. These two bikes demonstrate that Citizen is definitely starting to "upscale".

As far as the BB on the G2. it is mounted right at the bottom of the seat tube. The Kent Magnesium had the BB welded behind, and next to the bottom of the seat tube. Some people liked it that way, and some didn't.

Edward Wong III
Qile Duo 5 Speed 20" Folder

feijai

"Alloy" is a general term meaning a compound consisting of more than one metal. Hint: steel is an alloy.

Then it'd not be *me* confusing it, would it now? :-) I have no reason to doubt you but I see nothing on their page that says 13-34. Where did you get this information?

Seriously, you can't think of *any reason* why one would need a folding bike of the category which only has front chainrings, but still needs a wide gear range? No reason at *all*?

cbinfl

I vote for the Nova. Mine is great. I'm in FL and rode in FT. Desoto Park last weekend all afternoon with no trouble with sand etc. The seat will go if you ride for more than an hour at a time, as you sit fairly straight up. I have about 150 miles on it since new last month. In FL I am using gear #5, 6 and 7 as it's pretty flat. I'm 70 years old, 180# and 5'10".

trider

I like what you have to say about the Nova. I also like it that you're 70 years old. Good for you, I am 7 years your junior. I will be ordering two probably within 30 days. I have the money to order both now, but I won't do that for toys. I keep a little side fund from something I sell and I buy toys like bikes out of this fund. I now have $430.00 saved over the last 30 days so I should have the rest within the next 2 to 3 weeks. The last thing I bought out of this fund back in Sept. was a $500.00 inflatable boat. Back in June I bought a $1500 folding boat. Love my toy fund.

cbinfl

The bikes been great. I bought in early Oct. Just before the price increase. It's still a bargain. Attached is a photo. I did change the seat and add a rack.

edwong3

The cluster displayed on the G2 is a 7 speed Shimano Megarange...quite possibly the ZH version, not the 6 speed 14-28 HD-22 that is specified on the other Citizen Bikes. It seems that their webmaster made the mistake of simply transferring the data from the original Gotham to the G2's page. It happens.

Years ago, Shimano even offered an 11-34 7 speed freewheel, but discontinued it along with their 7 speed 11-28. I do believe that 11-34 freewheels are still available in the 8 speed versions. And you can find 7 speed 11-28 freewheels made by another manufacturer but I can't remember their name.


Look, I'm not trying to be a "butt hole" about this. I'm not questioning whether or not you "want" or "need "to have BOTH wide gear range, AND while using only ONE chainring. I was questioning why would you complain about the gear range on a simple one derailleur/one chainring setup, when you must have been aware you could have gone with a different drive train that offered wider gearing.

There are in fact two (or more) ways of achieving a wide spread of gears using only one chainring and that is either with a Schlumpf drive mounted in the BB, or in the rear using a Rohloff, and do away with the derailleur. In fact, if you have a deep enough pocket, you can use both, and wind up with a simple looking drive train, completely devoid of derailleurs, with an insane amount of gearing spread. Of course, you'd wind up with a VERY expensive bicycle too.

For the OP's intended use, even the 7 speed 14-28 cluster as used on the DT Nova should serve him well as long as they don't intend to climb mountains

Edward Wong III
Qile Duo 5 Speed 20" Folder

trider

For the OP's intended use, even the 7 speed 14-28 cluster as used on the DT Nova should serve him well as long as they don't intend to climb mountains

Edward Wong III
Qile Duo 5 Speed 20" Folder[/QUOTE]


No mountains to climb, just slight hills here in South West Georgia and Florida.

cbinfl

Just a clarification, Some confusion on another thread about my " ... seat went ... " remark. There is nothing wrong with the stock seat, just too narrow for me. Changed it to a Brook' B67. Real big improvement.

randya

SRAM Dual Drive works too, it gives you 3x8 or 3x9 gearing with a single front chainring, plus it's a lot cheaper than a Rohloff, and probably has more range than a Schlumpf.

edwong3

Yep, I was going to mention it in my post but forgot to do so. Thanks for bringing it up. I had a 3x7 Sram Dual Drive on a BikeE CT recumbent I owned back in 2000-2001. Worked great!

Edward Wong III
Qile Duo 5 Speed 20" Folder.

trider

****************
Please tell me, where can I find the 2009 Dahon Vitesse D7 for $499.99? When I go to the Dahon site it says $699.00. Is the 09 Vitesse D7 the same as the Vitesse D7HG?

Thanks
Terry

HGR3inOK

No. The Vitesse D7HG has an internal gear hub. My guess is that "HG" stands for "hub gear". The Vitesse D7 has a derailleur. My understanding is that the Vitesse D7 is not available in the U.S. from Dahon dealers.

randya

2008 Dahon Vitesse D7HG for $599.00 w/ free shipping from safetycycle.com

they've also got the '09 model for $30.00 more

trider

At Brandscycle.com I found the 2008 Dahon Vitesse D7HG for $529.99 with free shipping. I am thinking of buying one immediately. However, they have a Speed 7 for only $431.99 with free shipping. I am wanting the internal hub, so this might be a no-brainer. I'm going to give myself until tomorrow afternoon to think about it. There is also a 2008 Speed 8 with Big Apple tires for $479.00 free shipping.