Just wanted to say a quick THANK YOU! to you all for some really good information and valuable insight on folding bikes.

My daughter just learned how to ride a bike without training wheels this summer and following her all over hither and yon on foot was me. I started loading my own Giant bike up to ride with her but that got annoying real quick. I decided to look for folding bikes and began with a local place, Bike Friday. Well, I found out real quick that Bike Friday was the 'Signature knitting needles' of the folding bike world.

The budget I had for a starter folding bike was about $300, it needed at least 3 speeds, and I wanted something new. My bicycle knowledge is very basic so having somebody to contact if there were issues is important to me. I started looking at the Schwinn's on Amazon and moved on to include Citizens (I love the way the Barcelona looks), Downtube, and the low end Dahon. I added the Origami to the list after reading a bit about them here on this forum.

Well after some hemming and hawing over details I decided to go for the Cricket! I like that it has suspension and that it's frame is a bit different from the standard folding bike frame. It also has fenders, a back rack and bell all in a neat little package. The color I picked for it was orange. Paul said they would ship it out to me around Wednesday of this week. I'm very excited and hope to get a folding bike for my daughter for Christmas if my experience is good.

I'll be posting a full review and some pictures of my bike once I get my grubby paws on it. At this point I do have a couple of questions for you seasoned folders out there.

1. Did you name your folder? If so, what?

2. I decided to hold off purchasing panniers (I carry my knitting with me everywhere) and got a couple different bungee nets to hold my existing knitting bag. Should I be looking at special panniers for my folding bike?

3. My daughter is 6 going on 7. Are there any 20" folders out there that might work for her or am I subjugated to only the 16" folders?

Again, thanks for your help and replies!

On getting a folder for an 6-7 year old.

I looked in to this and tried a lot of folders out main problem was the brake levers difficult for the smaller hands. Brompton did not work well at all. Adjustable v Brakes worked best with soft blocks and teflon brake cables to reduce friction.
Some adult seat post are too long for a child's bike.
Dahon sweat pea?
Mini onza worked also.
Personally we had the best results with a Dahon curve, but we had to get a telespoic post to avoid the fully inserted post catching on kerbs.

Dunlop or decathlon bikes might also be worth a try. I believe sesame seed crunch stated his flamingo was the best bike for a young child they had tried.

bhkyte- I saw a brief youtube video about the flamingo for young kids but I couldn't find a dealer or pricing. Is there somebody that supplies them to the US?

"Hither and yon" is it? Its not every day I hear that expression, and its one of my fave's. Can I ask where in the world you are?
My bike is "Mr Foldy"
I use Ortlieb City Rollers, not for knitting. They fit my Dahon Mu perfectly. But only just.

Enjoy your folder, and I hope you have luck with something for your bairn.

Hello Cinnamon. Welcome to the world of folders. I can guarantee one thing -- you will be hooked. I've ridden road bikes, then started on mountain bikes. Now folders. Riding now is fun -- almost like when I was a kid. I'm loving the idea of folding it up and wheeling it around a grocery store with a big enough bag to fill with goods, then off I go after checking out. Tried that with my new Brommie this morning. Better than locking a bike outside and hoping it doesn't get ripped off because its with you all the time. I can even use it for doctors appointments. It folds up small enough to carry into the medical center, in the elevator and finally in the doctors office. Well, I haven't tried it yet , but I will soon with an upcoming visit to the cardiologist. Not far from home and his office is on the 5th floor of a heart center next to Banner Baywood hospital. I can't wait to see the response from those in the waiting room and not to mention the doctor.

Its great fun Cinnamon. can't wait to see your pictures.

Cheers
Wayne

Welcome to the fold!

Named mine Akcos after a Basset Hound i lived with last year....
You will like your Cricket.

Call Me Al - I live just outside of Eugene, OR. I listen to Celtic music though, does that count?

Yeah, I think I'm going to wait for my Cricket to get here before I get some panniers since I need to get some specific dimensions. I really like the idea of these ones that fold up and are easy to take off like these ones from Jandd. I'm wondering if they'd be too big for the folder tho.

Still Pedaling - Thanks! I hope I do get 'folded' in I was looking with envy at your Brompton thread. The whole 'It carrys your groceries too!' is very awesome. A Brompton folder will be what I'd like to grow into or maybe a Bike Friday just to support the locals here. You'll have to tell us what the response is when you carry your bike in to an appt. Oh, and I'm LOVING the pictures everyone is taking of their bikes in the wild, it's great inspiration for a newbie.

I'm toying around with the idea of starting a small blog on my biking/knitting adventures (since the bairn is in school), it would be a great way to document my progress. Riding in traffic terrifies me. Bike paths along the river or through some 'burbs is fine tho. Just gotta start small and extend.

cuzzinit - Very good name for a bike. I'm glad to hear that you still like your Cricket. I'm going to have to ride mine a few times then find a name.

Has anyone taken Jiminy Cricket yet?

Welcome to the fold.

Remember folders benefit from being loaded in the front. On a folder a lot of the riders weight is placed over the rear wheel so load it in the front first. Also regular panniers can lead to heel strike in the back. Maybe start with a basket on top of a rack there? Read and learn what others do. Look at loaded small wheeled bikes in several Flickr groups.

If you knit with straight needles (like they often do on the islands) you need this bag: https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brompton-...rame-prod4378/
Of course you also need the bike to go with it. https://www.foldingbikeguide.co.uk/br...-folding-bikes

If you knit on round needles this is what you need: https://www.klickfix.de/index.php?mod=1&lang=en Can be fitted to your present bike. You may have to change your style of knitting..

Joking of course but only partly. The klickfix system is awesome IMHO, you can buy a cheap bracket (we use the Caddy) https://www.klickfix.de/index.php?mod=1&lang=en and use the basket on any bike that you fitte dthe bracket to. I bought the cheapest option but I sew so I added a rolltop on my sons. It is great for making sure all the stuff you carry stays with you trough the ride. Decided to improve the system for the next one, details if you want. If you decide you want another bag (like a more handbag like thingy) you can use it on the same brackets.

You can also buy brackets to fit to your own bags: https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/n...e/rp-prod52872
The system is light AND strong.
We have one caddy on each folder, also the Bromptons.