Awesome! Sounds like a good trade :)

I have the BikeTourer, which has the QL2 fitting system. The Front Roller has the QL1 system, which I think has less vertical adjustment. With the QL2, I can make the lower mount connect with the rack well enough. However, the BikeTourer is HUGE, so I rarely use it on the Swift - hence I never got around to taking a picture. If you still want one I could though.

My everyday panniers are the Nashbar waterproof front panniers. They aren't as fancy as the Ortliebs, but I got them on sale for around $50 and they seem durable and waterproof so far (18 months & counting). They just attach with hooks & strap, simple but it works. Pictures of this on the blog.

EDIT: I wonder if you could fit a small bracket on the fork, where I put the hook? If it went up parallel to the fork, maybe the pannier clip could locate on that? Bit if a cludge I suppose..

cheers, Magnus

Hi Magnus, just read through your blog... I know you probably have your bike setup as you like, but I noticed that you questioned whether a dual drive could be fitted with STI levers.. did some ebay shopping awhile back and installed a set of Midge drop bars and SORA STI's on my SpeedPro and used a 105 Short Cage derailleur.. it works perfect.. the left lever is for a triple and the right an 8spd..

Have Fun,
Bruce

Aah, good to know! I had seen that Bike Friday did that, but didn't know if it was a bolt-together job, or if there were any further steps (like using a Travel Agent to modify cable-pull).

I got stuck into "Why doesn't this fit? What am I missing?" rather than looking for a fix, which cost all of $1 and two minutes with an allen wrench. I'll put up pictures tomorrow (tired after 30 miles of errands with the panniers today!). Thanks for the suggestion.

Thanks guys for the ideas. I wanted a folder for awhile. Husband of a lady I work with is into airbrushing and did the frame.

garth_s
Looks great!!:)
PCG

Nice one Garth_s!

Ortlieb Front Rollers on the Swift
 

Screwed these L-brackets (each half measures 3/8" x 1 1/2") behind the Nashbar front rack fitting and they make a perfect slot for the Ortlieb Front Roller Classic (these have the QL1 fitting, new QL2 on the FR Plus may have a longer reach); I got the Classic because the newer model isn't available in yellow.

The panniers are a revelation in car-free life. It's a huge difference vs. hooking a backpack over the handlebars, letting it rest on the rack and lashing up any loose ends. I'm stunned at how stable the panniers are. I'd gotten used to the twitchy bars, but without weight hanging on them, the Swift is a dream. As a bonus, when the panniers are rolled closed, the tops are level with the rack, making an extra wide platform for bungee loads.

The Ortliebs are better than expected (and my expectations were pretty high), just a dream piece of equipment.

Nashbar front rack ($7.99!)
L-brackets, $0.50 each, local hardware store
Ortlieb Front Roller Classic, $117 shipped from Wayne at thetouringstore.com, best price, great service.

Nice set-up! The ortlieb bags are great! The yellow color also helps in being visible to the cagers.:)
PCG

Anybody know any place in Arizona where I can try out a Swift?

New Swift
 

New Swift frame, built up with parts from the garage...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2305/...f55b5bba_o.jpg

Nitto Mustache bars, Brooks B.17 saddle, Tektro Oryx Cantilever front brake,
Tektro Mini-V rear brake, Dia-Compe brake levers, etc.

The rear wheel & Sugino crankset are from my Dahon. I used a new bottom bracket
- the one from the Dahon was crap.

Single Speed - 53x15. One of these days I'll get a new rear wheel with a flip/flop hub.
Until then I've put a Surly cog on the cassette with a bunch of spacers.

Leather wrap on the bars from Velo Orange (http://www.velo-orange.com).
I've had this stuff in my drawer all summer, waiting for enough patience to sew it on.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2144/...ac93f554_o.jpg

One more picture...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2377/...8fd81bb5_o.jpg

Very, very nice.

I love PowerGrips, use em' on 2 of my bikes.

Another fixed-gear Swift:

http://fixedgeargallery.com/2007/nov/3/LyleVannier.htm

He erroneously asserts that it's nimble due to a shorter wheelbase compared to roadies. A Swift has the same wheelbase.

True. I think what makes the Swift feel more nimble is the fact that when you're slicing a path through heavy traffic, you don't have that extra 6" of wheel sticking out in front of you.

But get a load of that industrial-looking 1/8" chainring. Looks gnarly. I want one. :p

Wow...this is really nice. Those bars and that saddle. Classy. I like the canti front brake. This will be extra good once you get your wheel built with a flip-flop hub.

It was a really nice day out today, so I snapped a couple of pics:

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...yjim/swft2.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...yjim/swft1.jpg

I must do the same to try and match your great results! Pity I don't have a bridge like that in my back yard... will havr to come up with an Austrlian context...

Any punctures on the Contis yet? I have had 1 plus a tube failure at an older puncture repair site.

I had 2 punctures at the rear tire within the first month. After installing the Slime tube protectors, I haven't had a flat since.

The more I ride these tires, the more I refuse to consider anything else. Although not very durable in terms of puncture resistance, I can visually tell that these tires will wear much longer than anything else I've owned. They're light, fast, sticky, and in the sea of Kenda and Schwalbe tires on the ever popular folding bike here in san Francisco, it's nice to be able to roll-up alongside (or roll quickly past) with a tire that looks and performs so unique.

Perhaps hard to tell on a fixie, but do you also get a 'BRRRRRRRR' sensation from the wheels at about 36km/h? I still have that, very mysterious...

At that speed, I'm just about spun-out at 120RPM, but even so, my tires are perfectly silent.

I'd be scared to put my Swift that close to the edge of the water.

More postcard pics...

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...m/swft_gg1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...m/swft_gg2.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...m/swft_gg3.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...m/swft_gg4.jpg

Beautiful pics. I want it!

I'm planning on getting a Swift. What advice can I get on choosing between the Brooklyn Swift, aluminum, vs. the Eugene Swift, cromoly steel? I weigh 230 unclothed. Brooklyn said that he could get one to me in 3 weeks, Eugene 3 months.

I weigh 230 unclothed.
__________________-
tmi ;)

I meant to say that with clothes and gear I could be loading down the bike with 250+. I take it the Swift is one of the few, if not the only, folders that can handle that weight.

I'm 260 Lbs and the aluminum Xootr Swift has been handling the load without any problems so far. I changed the tires to 1.75" Schwalbe Marathon w/kevlar guard (No flats yet).

Any word on the steel Swifts yet? I've been thinking about getting the nexus 8 hub for my swift but chose to wait out for the steel one.

what size big apples can I fit on my swift? Does anyone have any pictures of a swift with the BA's mounted?