A Really Interesting Article on the front page of the "Scene" section of the Denver Post

The entire article was much lengthier than the web posting - about 3 pages, with a lot of pictures.

This is one of the pictures that did not make it on to the DP website:

It was a good article. I've been saying for the past two years if someone is just getting into cycling and is looking for a hybrid, a folder makes the best sense. My first bicycle purchase was a folding bike and it's still in my stable today.

Do you want to know what's holding the folding bike from becoming mainstream?

Answer: The STARES!

I used to bring my folder on the train into Manhattan and the stares just makes you want to hide under a rock sometimes. You deal with it better as time goes by but it never goes away. I hate to say this but the people who use 16' inch wheel folders tend to be a little eccentric if you ask me. ;-) I don't know, just my observation. People look at you kind of strange often times with pity. Oh. I almost forgot. You're greatest pickup lines would not work on a 600 pound woman if she sees you with a folder!! Trust me!

I've also noticed that people who use folders tend be fairly young, less than 30 years of age. I would say that if you can get beyond the stares, a folder really makes life easier and can save a boat load of money and time in having to walk or make transfers to other modes of transport.

Soooooo true !!!

It helps if you're an extrovert. Just as long as the bike looks cool. However I think I draw the line at a Strida.

I get more questions than stares about my Strida on the Metra Train.

Strida is the best bike to take on a train for daily use.

Ridgebacks folder is really a badge engineered Dahon specifically a boardwalk 6. 20 inch wheels are much more functional than 16 inch anyway.

My only question about most folders - old and new is why they don't fold the other way so the forward of the cycle covers the greasy chain. I'm liking working on my Raleigh Twenty, but man if they could have made it fold the other way I think it would have made a lot more sense... heck I'd be happy to see some aftermarket options for adaptable full chaincases. I picked up this old tomos which is a folder made in the old Yugoslavia and it uses bizarre parts like what can only be guessed to be a "Thomson bottom bracket" - but they made it fold the other way - so the front covers the chain.

Brompton does just that - chain on the inside, and strida gets round the whole issue with a car cam belt drive !

That's why I like the Strida. On the Metra Train folding bikes need to be in a bag because of the greased chain.

I can get around not having a bag with the Strida.

The Dahon Presto now comes with a chaincase.

It's funny that you should say that. I took my folding bike on a recent trip to Manhattan, and it's true a lot of people noticed it, and even stopped and asked me about it. However, they were friendly and interested, and wanted to know where they could buy one! I found that the attention increased my enjoyment of the trip.

More info:

http://ca.geocities.com/spirope/foldingbike.htm

Yep. My experience too. Well, sort of. You see I ride my Jetstream XP (which is a pretty trick looking setup, with the Rolf wheels et al.) on the Long Island leg of a commute I do out of Manhattan. I switch from the E train at Jamaica station and that's where the stares get evil. I mean evil.

If it werent for the fact that I'd been doing my commute on an electric scooter, I'd swear that people were staring out of curiousity; because the scooter really is a curiousity! Nope. This bike is getting evil stares because people are wanting to steal it. No question about it.

I'm gonna try and pick up a girl tommorrow. I'l report back.

DG1

I get some stares, but mostly people are curious about the bike. If they don't ask me about it directly, they talk softly amongst themselves about it. One man came up to me and said, "How the hell did you break your bike in half? Hehehe." I appreciated his effort. I have a 26" folder, so it's not as compact as the smaller ones.

I think with me, people may wonder what a well-dressed (I take my bike home on the metro at night, so I'm not often dressed in bike clothes) professional-looking woman is doing with a folding bike. I like to let them wonder. The helmet attached to my bag should provide a hint.

As for putting folders in bags, officially they are required to be in bags. But a 26" in a bag is ridiculous. I'm just counting on continued good luck and keeping a low profile (riding in the last cars, etc.)