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Deciding on first folding bike! Brompton? Tern?

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Deciding on first folding bike! Brompton? Tern?

Old 04-15-12, 09:57 AM
  #76  
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The rack if you're going to tour and carry all your gear, otherwise no. I bought a rackless version. Do get the luggage block though. I got the reduced gearing 6 speed. That was a WISE choice.

Like I said earlier, I looked at cheaper bikes which also rode well but the Brompton is special. It's not twitchy or any of the occasional complaints I've read from others, at least not for me. My initial test ride was in El Segundo, CA which is a hilly town and I took to it immediately.

Was the extra cost of the Bromptone worth it over the many years I'll have it? No question. And the fold and folded size was a major issue for me as I always want to have it in my rig.
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Old 04-15-12, 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by CSG
The rack if you're going to tour and carry all your gear, otherwise no. I bought a rackless version. Do get the luggage block though. I got the reduced gearing 6 speed. That was a WISE choice.
Thanks... that's several votes in favour of no rack and the reduced gearing then.
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Old 04-15-12, 12:00 PM
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Unless you want to use the bike as a shopping cart, in which case the rack makes the bike stable enough.
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Old 04-15-12, 12:10 PM
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Don't forget that you can also put the bike into the shopping cart while shopping!
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Old 04-15-12, 03:20 PM
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Alright... if I don't get the rack, but only the L version, can the rack be attached later if I decide I need it? That seems to be better based on what others have written than getting the R version and trying to remove it later.
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Old 04-15-12, 03:52 PM
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Yeah, on the rack thing, as chagzuki points out, a lot of people who opt for it wheel their Brompton around quite a bit, i.e. commuters. It apparently adds a bit more balance than the rackless versions. As I don't do that with mine and figured a front bag would be enough for my use, I was able to save some money by excluding that model.
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Old 04-15-12, 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Ozonation
Alright... if I don't get the rack, but only the L version, can the rack be attached later if I decide I need it? That seems to be better based on what others have written than getting the R version and trying to remove it later.
Yes. You have to install a new rear fender, too. Nycewheels sells the kit:
https://www.nycewheels.com/brompton-carrier-system.html
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Old 04-15-12, 08:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Ozonation
Alright... if I don't get the rack, but only the L version, can the rack be attached later if I decide I need it? That seems to be better based on what others have written than getting the R version and trying to remove it later.
Why do you need a rack when you can tow a trailer like a Burley Travoy? You can fold it small if you don't need it, tow it and then use it as a shopping cart. You can even tour with it. I use it with my Dahon folder and love it and one of the most stable folding trailers ever made and I had owned a few different trailers myself.
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Old 04-15-12, 08:52 PM
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Originally Posted by pacificcyclist
Why do you need a rack when you can tow a trailer like a Burley Travoy?
I didn't even know this existed! Probably too much for my needs really, but I'll keep it in mind for the future. Thanks.
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Old 04-15-12, 11:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Ozonation
I didn't even know this existed! Probably too much for my needs really, but I'll keep it in mind for the future. Thanks.
A trailer gives you a lot of carrying options. The rear rack on folders are mostly meant to carry stuff strapped onto it, unless it is specifically made for carrying panniers without the possibility of heel striking. Typically, most people who ride Bromptons use the front luggage option, so the rack isn't really necessary but mudguards are necessary if you plan to ride in the rain.
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Old 04-15-12, 11:23 PM
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Rethinking luggage rack - and colours!

I'm rethinking the luggage rack. I was convinced that it wasn't necessary; now, I'm not so sure. I went to sort some items and saw my camera bags. Hmmm, forgotten about those. A rack would be useful for strapping a tripod and other miscellaneous items. I'd carry the more fragile items up front or strapped to me, but I could see tying down a bag of camera items that are "less fragile". And I have to admit, I take a pretty big lunch with me on a daily basis: thermos, lots of fruit, microwave container. The front bag would be pretty much full with my daily work bag (laptop, files, etc.).

I think I've narrowed down the colours though. I've realized that no one colour combination really strikes me as a "must have/that's so me" scheme. I intend to get a brown Brooks saddle regardless.

1. Racing green frame with black extremities. Practical, I like the racing green, not sure about the two tone look though; a bit "dark" overall - maybe a sage green with black would have had more contrast?
2. All black. Classic, never really in style, never really out of style. My wife thinks it's not bad, but looks too severe overall. I have a lot of black already - wouldn't mind something a bit more youthful looking.
3. All racing green. My first choice originally, then I saw one in person. Nice, but not quite the impact I thought it might have. Perhaps it will look a bit too dated or conventional later on?
4. All sage green. Hmmm... wasn't even on my list in the first place, but I saw a good photo and it's quite sharp. It's grown on me a bit; would be a reasonable complement to my current colour palette of bags and clothes. My wife (who has better taste than me) thinks this is best overall.

I also considered the raw lacquer, but I'm not sure. Photos can be very inaccurate, but the tone seems to range from grey all the way to a bronze-green. Not sure I really want that.

I'm also thinking I should swap up to the Schwabe Marathon tires instead of the stock Bromptons.

Lastly, trying to decide on a front bag. I'm debating whether it is worth getting the folding basket so that I can shove my current work bag in, or to get something more purpose built, like the C-bag or the T-bag.

And I've seen a ton of comments on transporting the Brompton as checked luggage. What's the consensus these days? Hard shell? Soft b-bag?

Finally, what do people do about lighting? I've read that the dynamos are not the best sometimes. Has anybody bought separate LED lighting that works well and can be left on within the folded bike?

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Old 04-16-12, 12:47 AM
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My raw laquer Brommie draws stares for its paint job - "wow nice bike!" And I see them staring at the brazing joints. I am sure that it is worth the extra amount. So forget for a moment the exact hue of the raw steel underneath and consider the effect of the golden brazing offset against the drab steel.
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Old 04-16-12, 05:35 AM
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My favourites are pretty much that: raw lacquer, sage green & black. I may well go for sage green & black extremities. If I had my Brompton custom powdercoated I might opt for a different main frame colour, some sort of pastel grey that'd be set off nicely by the contrast with the black.
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Old 04-16-12, 07:17 AM
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Originally Posted by chagzuki
My favourites are pretty much that: raw lacquer, sage green & black. I may well go for sage green & black extremities. If I had my Brompton custom powdercoated I might opt for a different main frame colour, some sort of pastel grey that'd be set off nicely by the contrast with the black.
Mmmm... yes, sage green and black extremities would be nice. What colour(s) is your Brompton?
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Old 04-16-12, 07:45 AM
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I didn't really have a choice in the matter, I picked up a local second-hand one and I was more concerned about making sure it wasn't stolen than aesthetics. It's the old gloss racing green but now has a black stem and seat post (non-Brompton). Racing green in gloss has a much more old fashioned, 'classic' feel about it and it can either look heavy-tractor-ugly or quite stylish depending largely on whether it has a brown Brooks saddle to complement the (deep, warm) green. A honey saddle clashes and a black saddle doesn't enhance the green.
I prefer the newer matt finish, generally, though I'm not sure it makes sense with racing green. Looks too military, especially with black accessories.
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Old 04-16-12, 07:55 AM
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Having said that, perhaps I lied as this looks pretty nice:
https://portapedalbike.com/products-p...g-green-black/

As does this:
https://portapedalbike.com/products-p...ge-greenblack/
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Old 04-16-12, 08:26 AM
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Ozonation - The tonal range you see of the raw lacquer is the lighting (as photographers know )....in some lights, it looks grey, or greenish or charcoal. Kind of like a chameleon more than a painted color. But yes, if I were to get a color out of your list, all sage green would be my choice. All white is really striking too.

For bags - The T bag would fit your camera gear, and your lunch and probably most of your tripod too if it's not raining (ballhead down of course). The T bag is huge with a roll top. I saw a T bag review where someone put all Star Trek seasons on DVD in it (old and new)...some ridiculously huge pile of DDVD boxes in it. With a C bag, it's messenger bag sized, so you wouldn't be able to fit everything...maybe just your lunch and stuff or just your camera gear, but prob not both.

Go for the Schwalb Marathons!

Excited to hear what you end up ordering! And pics of course when you get it!
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Old 04-16-12, 08:38 AM
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Rethinking luggage rack - and colours!
I'm rethinking the luggage rack. I was convinced that it wasn't necessary; now, I'm not so sure. I went to sort some items and saw my camera bags. Hmmm, forgotten about those. A rack would be useful for strapping a tripod and other miscellaneous items. I'd carry the more fragile items up front or strapped to me, but I could see tying down a bag of camera items that are "less fragile". And I have to admit, I take a pretty big lunch with me on a daily basis: thermos, lots of fruit, microwave container. The front bag would be pretty much full with my daily work bag (laptop, files, etc.).

I think I've narrowed down the colours though. I've realized that no one colour combination really strikes me as a "must have/that's so me" scheme. I intend to get a brown Brooks saddle regardless.
Reading this I am thinking I would buy the rack and the T-baf for this kind of situation. Tre rack as a stable platform for rolling the bike as a cart with all the stuff you want to bring innside the T bag, since you can roll it like this with the bag still atatched. When I travel with a folder and "lots of stuff" i worry about loosing some of the stuff. Therefor stuffing it all in the T bag sounds like a good solution.This way you can use the bike as a luggagetrollu down those looong corridors where you can not really wheel a bike, not even a Brompton. Of course the rack is a spare luggage platform but I would not count on it as something you use often. The supersmart parking of the B can not be used with luggage on the rack.

1. Racing green frame with black extremities. Practical, I like the racing green, not sure about the two tone look though; a bit "dark" overall - maybe a sage green with black would have had more contrast?
2. All black. Classic, never really in style, never really out of style. My wife thinks it's not bad, but looks too severe overall. I have a lot of black already - wouldn't mind something a bit more youthful looking.
3. All racing green. My first choice originally, then I saw one in person. Nice, but not quite the impact I thought it might have. Perhaps it will look a bit too dated or conventional later on?
4. All sage green. Hmmm... wasn't even on my list in the first place, but I saw a good photo and it's quite sharp. It's grown on me a bit; would be a reasonable complement to my current colour palette of bags and clothes. My wife (who has better taste than me) thinks this is best overall.

I also considered the raw lacquer, but I'm not sure. Photos can be very inaccurate, but the tone seems to range from grey all the way to a bronze-green. Not sure I really want that.

I would go for one colour and I would go for something classic. A colour that you find stunning today could be stunningly out of fashion ten yrs from now. My personal favourite would be black with a brown Brooks and a Brown leather bag https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brompton-...qab-prod22328/

I have not seen a raw coloured bike myself but reading about others comment I belive they are stunningly beautiful.

I'm also thinking I should swap up to the Schwabe Marathon tires instead of the stock Bromptons.

Lastly, trying to decide on a front bag. I'm debating whether it is worth getting the folding basket so that I can shove my current work bag in, or to get something more purpose built, like the C-bag or the T-bag.

I have the basket and like it but find as soon as you are doing something like traveling one bag and one open basket is just one extra item to deal with. Also if I am not riding straight home from the shop I fear stuff is going to fall out more often than with a basket on a regular bike becouse I tend to fold the bike often.

And I've seen a ton of comments on transporting the Brompton as checked luggage. What's the consensus these days? Hard shell? Soft b-bag?

Finally, what do people do about lighting? I've read that the dynamos are not the best sometimes. Has
anybody bought separate LED lighting that works well and can be left on within the folded bike?

When deciding remember the dynohub can also be used to charge a cellphone or similar.
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Old 04-16-12, 08:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Ozonation
I'm rethinking the luggage rack. I was convinced that it wasn't necessary; now, I'm not so sure. I went to sort some items and saw my camera bags. Hmmm, forgotten about those. A rack would be useful for strapping a tripod and other miscellaneous items. I'd carry the more fragile items up front or strapped to me, but I could see tying down a bag of camera items that are "less fragile". And I have to admit, I take a pretty big lunch with me on a daily basis: thermos, lots of fruit, microwave container. The front bag would be pretty much full with my daily work bag (laptop, files, etc.).

I think I've narrowed down the colours though. I've realized that no one colour combination really strikes me as a "must have/that's so me" scheme. I intend to get a brown Brooks saddle regardless.

1. Racing green frame with black extremities. Practical, I like the racing green, not sure about the two tone look though; a bit "dark" overall - maybe a sage green with black would have had more contrast?
2. All black. Classic, never really in style, never really out of style. My wife thinks it's not bad, but looks too severe overall. I have a lot of black already - wouldn't mind something a bit more youthful looking.
3. All racing green. My first choice originally, then I saw one in person. Nice, but not quite the impact I thought it might have. Perhaps it will look a bit too dated or conventional later on?
4. All sage green. Hmmm... wasn't even on my list in the first place, but I saw a good photo and it's quite sharp. It's grown on me a bit; would be a reasonable complement to my current colour palette of bags and clothes. My wife (who has better taste than me) thinks this is best overall.

I also considered the raw lacquer, but I'm not sure. Photos can be very inaccurate, but the tone seems to range from grey all the way to a bronze-green. Not sure I really want that.

I'm also thinking I should swap up to the Schwabe Marathon tires instead of the stock Bromptons.

Lastly, trying to decide on a front bag. I'm debating whether it is worth getting the folding basket so that I can shove my current work bag in, or to get something more purpose built, like the C-bag or the T-bag.

And I've seen a ton of comments on transporting the Brompton as checked luggage. What's the consensus these days? Hard shell? Soft b-bag?

Finally, what do people do about lighting? I've read that the dynamos are not the best sometimes. Has anybody bought separate LED lighting that works well and can be left on within the folded bike?
The Brompton rack is a little bit on the short side to effectively carrying anything long like a tripod. I suppose if your tripod is a Manfrotto 190 or a light Slik, you could probably strap it, but anything heavier than that I would suggest again a trailer for the job. For camera equipment, I suggest wrapping the lens and camera in bubble wrap individually for transport if you decide to carry some of them in the bag. Unlike a car or a big wheeled bike, the Brompton's smaller wheel transmit shock and bumps much more readily and viciously than a 26" or 700c bike. I had the bayonet mount of a lens bent once as well as on the DSLR because it got jostled inside the bag without bubble wrap on my Dahon. With my trailer, the equipment now sits inside a foam protected padding bag. While the Brompton has a rear shock, it only serves to dampen vibration to the rider. Unless you have something like a Nikon D3100 or Canon EOS Rebel, more advanced digital are heavier. Not sure you'll want to carry 10lbs or so gear with you riding on a folder either.

Raw Lacquer is nice seen in person. I would choose that if green isn't available. Green is nice as well.

Marathon tires; definitely a good swap.

As checked luggage, you definitely want to use a hardshell case. There are cases with soft shell cases that people are getting their bikes damaged; mainly on the rear triangle near the rear derailleur. I have a hardshell case for my Dahon.

LED vs dynamo lighting.. ( I owned both so perhaps I can give some opinion).

Dynamo lighting is typically rated around 2.4W and is bright enough in well lit places. Not too bad in really dark areas. Typically, you will notice a drag when it's on. The convenience is that, it's always there so you don't forget. Another advantage is when you tour or ride century in the dark. You don't need to worry about batteries when you're touring in places where there isn't a Radio Shack around for a 100 miles or so.

The downside is that, dynamo lighting isn't meant for fast riding at night. The coverage and the throw distance is so short that you can't see clearly what's in front of your from far away, because they have low lumens. Plus it's heavy, at least the dynamo on the wheel. For the amount of light they put out vs weight, dynamo lighting I think is just not the best.

Contrast that to the latest and brightest LED lights (I have both of the best which puts out more than 400 lumens), they are super light and super bright! Cars actually yield to you because they couldn't figure out if you are a car or a cyclist, especially with the 400 and up lumens LED. They are not meant for long rides, cause typically they last around 2 to 3 hrs on high and maybe 5 to 6 hrs on medium. Still, it's a lot brighter and a longer throw than dynamos. But you need to remove them when you park your bike. Those lights these days are so small you can stick it in your pocket no problem. I actually no longer use a dynamo. I had a Schmidt dynamo light btw.
Plus the dynamo light needs a special halogen bulb designed specifically for a bike to give you the light coverage and throw plus long life span. And they are hard to find and don't last as long as LED which don't burn out or at least too easily!
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Old 04-16-12, 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Ozonation
Thanks... that's several votes in favour of no rack and the reduced gearing then.
This is how my 6sp S is configured (and no fenders) and I am very happy with it. I would not mind having even lower gear for steeper hills. The rack gives you better stability and rollability when the bike is folded but it's good enough for me as is so I went with the simpler configuration.
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Old 04-16-12, 11:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Purpleorchid
Ozonation - The tonal range you see of the raw lacquer is the lighting (as photographers know )....in some lights, it looks grey, or greenish or charcoal. Kind of like a chameleon more than a painted color. But yes, if I were to get a color out of your list, all sage green would be my choice. All white is really striking too.
True... lighting is key, and never mind what happens in post-processing (if any)! I'm thinking sage green is still my best bet overall at the moment. Chagzuki hit it on the head about racing green. I couldn't quite figure out what was not impressing me, but if the racing green is a little off or the light is not quite right, then it does look sort of John Deere-industrial-farm like - not that this is bad, but it's just not me. Oddly enough, I think I would have preferred the gloss as opposed to the matte.

Yes, I'm thinking the rack is more efficient and effective for me overall. I know I can't put very large items on it, but with the rack, I can at least get the rack bag and put more items in there. I shoot with two systems - Nikon full frame and Panasonic 4/3 - so I would think I should be able to pack the smaller Panasonic kit and corresponding smaller items more easily. I should also be able to get some of my Nikon kit too. I don't think I'll be cycling to many photo assignments or events, but I've noticed that some of them are really spread out and wouldn't a bike be easier to get around if I could drag out a Brompton and scoot around rather than hoofing it with 30 lbs of overpriced glass and metal! Also, I'd love to just go on some photo/biking tours.
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Old 04-16-12, 01:13 PM
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That got me thinking...it would be so cool to hang a Think Tank Photo Urban Disguise off the front luggage carrier using a C or T bag frame!!!!! The lenses and camera would be totally protected from all the bumps. Too bad I only have a Glass Taxi and other smaller TTP bags that can't quite be adapted to fit on the front luggage carrier. I'll need to figure out how to do it with my Glass Taxi.
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Old 04-16-12, 01:55 PM
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Miscellaneous thoughts:

1. I upgraded to the Schwalbe tires and am pleased with them.
2. I have the sage green bike and still think the color is beautiful. I like the lacquer a lot, too...but it's significantly more expensive, of course. I'm not really a fan of the contrasting colors; to me it looks too busy. But that's a matter of taste.
3. I have the hub dynamo on my Brompton and am a big fan for the simplicity. I went with the Shimano hub (a really good deal!), but then bought and installed the much nicer light that comes with the SON hub. This ended up being less than half the price of the SON hub option. I particularly like that you can set the lights so they come on when it's dark; it's nice to not have to think about it at all. And it is very bright.

However, I have LED lighting on my BF, and it works well, too.

4. The main compartment of the C bag is about the size of a 24 pack of coke, if that helps.

5. You can always use something like a Carradice bag to carry other items on the back of your B, with our without a rack. This holds 18 liters, and it also has a place on the top where you can put tie downs to carry other items (like a tripod) transversely. It also looks great with the sage green! These bags attach to the two rear saddle loops on a Brooks or Brompton saddle, and have a third strap that goes around the seatpost. This might be the best option for carrying cameras. The downside, however, is that you have to undo three leather buckles to remove the saddle bag - it only takes about a minute, but that's significantly longer than the five seconds it takes to remove a B. front bag. Meaning that it's better suited for a trip where you aren't getting off your bike and going into a lot of different stores, etc.

6. I have the Brooks B-67 (the one with springs) rather than the B-17. Although if I had a lacquer bike, I would be tempted to go with the B-135 for the steampunk look.

And of course if you are going that far, you might as well get the aftermarket brass hinge clamps:
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Old 04-16-12, 02:16 PM
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The dealer I'm speaking with apparently does not endorse the replacements for the Schwalbe Marathon kevlar tires, which are no longer available.
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Old 04-16-12, 03:39 PM
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That saddle looks as heavy as the bike.
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