Well I finally got my folder
 

Last night I picked up a little citizen cheap. Basically I'm going to see if I can live with the folding lifestyle before laying out the big bucks for a Brompton.

Sounds good. But be aware, there is a real difference between riding a low-end folder and a high end. And, often, carrying it...

(on your pic, I was tempted to say "no s**t Sherlock")

Yeah, I know. I've test ridden a Brompton but I wanted experience living with a folder day in and day out.

Which one?

The Searcher.

Are you a Google employee? How'd you get a Searcher?

@bikebuddha - where in ATL are you? I cruise around Piedmont Park regularly on my Downtube NS, and would be interested to test ride the new Citizen (and let you test ride my DT of course).

I'm just inside the perimeter in Vinings but I'm intown pretty regularly. I'll shoot you a PM and let you get a test ride.

It was at a little place called the Gear Revival that sells new and used outdoor gear and sells stuff on consignment. Came with a handlebar bag and the citizen carrying bag.

That is a sweet folder,...

That's more or less what I did, and I'm glad I tried out a cheap folder more extensively than just taking one nice folder for a test ride. I bought a cheap folder at a pawn store for $50 and rode it everywhere I ride my other bikes. Then I found out other things which were great about folders in general, like taking it traveling or transporting it by bike to loan it to a friend while his bike was in the shop, etc.

During this several month-long tryout period I started figuring out which features were going to be the most important to me, like size when folded. By the time it was spring (when I had planned to buy a folder), I was very confident in my choice and I knew which bike was the best for me (and it was a Brompton).

I got to my third folder before getting a Brompton and staying happy with my choice. All the other folders out there are so unwieldy for commuting. Sometimes I even find it a hassle just carrying the Brommie around to tell you the truth, haha. Regardless, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

I think I may have been wrong about the model. There was a google decal that I peeled off because if was torn, but it doesn't look like the other google decals I've seen on Searchers on the net. Not that it matters. Is there any spec difference to differentiate the Searcher?

The Searcher was abike built for Google employees
http://www.citizenbike.com/google_folding_bike.asp

That's why originally assumed this was a searcher because of the google decal on the rear of the frame, but it didn't look like the same decal as used in the demo video.

be careful as this will be the start of your folderitis especially with citizen bike. this is the bike that started it all for me. now i am hooked on folding bikes and nothing else. i used to ride a regular sized bike but ditched it because of folderitis...