Yes it looks odd but actually it's exactly the same position as drop bars only without the 'tops' position. You can ride on the hoods, or on the drops just below and the relative position of these is just as on drop bars.

But in answer to your question - no, I don't like them and am changing them in the next few days. I don't have a road bike so I'm not used to riding on the lever hoods but I was assured by lots of people that this was a comfy way to ride. I've given them a month to get used to them but in the end I just don't get it. I find the hoods are not a comfy place to put my hands and I can't get a very good drip on the brake levers if you need to stop suddenly. The only riding I do is in traffic so braking is important for me. Trust the vast majority of road riders to stick with something stupid :-)

I'm swapping these bars out for the bull bars of a Dahon Speed Pro TT. I had one of these bikes for a year and I loved these bars - great for sprinting, climbing and also comfy over 3-4 hour rides. They are a unique shape - the bars point in a bit (like most mountain bike bar ends) instead of pointing in line with the bike as every other bull bar seems to. I'm getting a Syntace VRO stem and X-ray clamps to do with it just like on the Speed Pro TT so I will have a useful range of adjustment and a very stiff clamping for sprinting.

Ricky - Take a look at the Delta Ergo bar. That's what I've been using lately.

Yes that looks like the same sort of shape as the Kinetix Pro TT bars I've just ordered

Anyone UK riders out there feeling fit and up for a race? The Smithfield Nocturne folding bike race is being held again in London on June 7th. This was a fantastic event last year and promisses to be even better last year. The folding bike race turned out to be one of the highlights and so they are doubling the entry this year with 2 heats and a final instead of the one race. It would be good to see a few more Swifts in the field than just mine this time.

www.smithfieldnocturne.co.uk

and here's a review of last year's race: http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=5028
(that's me in the 5th picture down)

Put some stelvios on and the swift is an ideal bike for this race - quick to unfold and fast and nimble one you're riding.

LittlePixel is entered on his Mercton fixie.

Looks like Calhoun Cylce has the '07 Xootr Swift on sale for US$599.

I saw this just after I bought mine - I guess they are chopping in some (most!) of their margin. My view is to buy direct - the service you get from Swift directly is amazing. Really great guys. I'm not sure you'd get the same if you have an intermediary in there. Eitherway, you get a bargain.

I absolutely love my Swift. It's so quick & nimble. I will post a detailed review after I've completed by first full week of commuting on it, but my initial thoughts are totally positive. Although the fold is not nearly so great as others (Birdy / BF / Dahon) it rides like a fast solid frame bike *and* I can get it through the revolving doors in my office and past the security guys. They reject all normal bikes ("leave it outside, pal") while I stroll past and keep it nice & safe on the 27th floor.

My only upgrade so far is some Crank Bros SPDs. I really need to do something about the bars - I want some kind of bar extension to pull on.

Love it, love it, love it.

What do you mean by buying direct? Exactly where did you buy your Swift, JW?

I think he might mean he bought his Swift from Xootr directly, IIRC Werewolf you got your from Peter himself, you lucky ;)

How do you like your Swift so far, Doco? We received ours at the same time, didn't we? I ride mine every day and like it more and more.

Crumbs, and I was supposed to be there this week! :(

I love it, during each ride I just think to myself what a great riding bike

I don't even ride my big wheeled bikes anymore and I am selling them and all my bike stuff on ebay as we speak

I will end up with my Moulton and Swift...thats all I need

for now ;) n+1 folders

Doco - the only reservation I have about small wheel bikes is that, though I'm used to it now, I still find it more skittish. Even when i take one hand off the bars I sometimes wonder if I might be about to lose control and crash. It's probably more exagerated in my case, since I am rather top-heavy, but in reality I haven't even come anywhere close to having an accident, so far, knock on wood!

I got my new Xootr Swift a couple of weeks ago and have busied myself since then taking bits off and putting others in their place. I've stuck a few pictures on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11490024@N06/

Wow Boycey, that's a mighty fine lookin' fixie you got there. I love your brake setup.

Finally got "Swixie" going
 

OK, my fixed-gear converted XOOTR is finally rideable.

To get it there, I set up my Surly f/f hub initially to match the (132.5mm width dropout) spacing based on measurements James Swift provided (along with more dim's from the Surly website), once I deciphered everything. I ended up with 16m on the right (fixed) side, 14mm on the left, with 102mm overall width on hub. Looks like I have 45mm chain line at front, with drive chain ring inside the spider (unlike James setup). My tire appears to be centered in the stays. This all gives excellent visual alignment of the front and rear sprockets. (Visually sighting down the chain and both sprockets is the best way I know to check chain alignment. Not saying it's accurate, but it's all I have).

Wierd that everything lines up so well with the stock Xootr parts. I was advised I'd need a different b/b and maybe crank set. I MUST have overlooked something...

But, away we go. I can already skid the rear wheel *sort of*. As soon as I have some free time I'll hit a parking lot and get more practice. I'm a newbie to riding a fixie.

I'll post photos or a link to photos soon as I can clean up the bike, it's a lil greasy right now.

Ivan

PS - thanks to James for patiently providing much tech advice and info.

Help,,, I'm frustrated. Tire/wheel problem.

I can't get my new Schwalbe Marathons to center up on the wheels.
I've taken it to the LBS -- they couldn't fix. Then I came home and powered them up. Still no luck. Pumped 'em up to 100lbs psi, and the beads still didn't position properly.

Between me and the bike shop we've got at least 2 hours of failure in the project.

Stats:
Wheels marked -- DINO 20 x 1.5/1.75
Tires marked -- 20 x 1.50 40-406

########

Should I just replace the wheels? If so, you got any?

(BTW: I was gifted a wonderful set of Haro tires that wouldn't center up on these wheels. The LBS couldn't get the Haros to center either, but I rode 'em till one of the tires wore out.)

###

Or do you have a wide gear-range folder you'd be willing to part with?

Thanks,

Bob Gruber
Dallas, Tx

You're also welcome to reply directly (with part or bike proposals) to rpgruber@swbell.net

Thanks, bg

What is it about the Swift that makes it such a great ride? I took my lightweight race bike out for a spin today (Culombus alloy frame with carbon forks) and enjoyed flicking through the Campagnolo group set. It was much lighter than the Swift and rolled easier but....it wasn't the swift! I must get back on the small wheeled folder tomorrow, it is just sooooo much fun!

Bikinbob - I don't understand your problem. What do you mean by center up on the wheels?

Paul - I agree. The Swift is fun. Maybe it's riding the skittish, but responsive, little beast.

Does anyone know if Swift has come out with their new steel frame yet?

nope, I just don't think it will ever come out

but I guess Peter's spending time tweaking it

Just last week Peter told me September for the new frame.

Something about the Swift I've noticed recently is that is has a really small trail (distance that the front tyre contact point trails behind where the steering axis meets the ground). I haven't measured this precisely but it looks less than an inch. This is the case on my 451 wheels and I don't know if the 406 wheels would have a larger or smaller trail than this.

In comparison a random road bike I looked at (cannondale caad9) has a 53mm trail and a bianchi track bike a 65mm trail (for sprinting out of the saddle I expect). This makes the steering very light and responsive (I think) and also unstable no-hands. I find the swift very difficult to ride sprinting out of the saddle (not helped by narrow road bars and a ridiculously long stem). But for seated riding I love the responsive handling.