Our journey into folding bikes
06-22-14 | 01:59 AM
#26
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We went suitcase hunting again today at the local recycling shops attached to the three rubbish dumps in the greater metro area. We did a complete circle and ended up back where we were last week and... picked up another suitcase of the right size. And the best part was this one was only $5. One of the wheels on it had broken off and it obviously had been pulled around a fair bit without it. But I located another smaller suitcase with an almost identical set of wheels on it and bought that... also for $5.
So we have our suitcases for Bike Fridays almost ready to go for the paltry sum of $30.
We've also let BF know that our travel plans have changed slight and that we expect to take delivery of our bikes in the third week of September. We are just doing the measurements of our current touring bikes and comparing them with the measurements on our other favourite bikes, and then will transfer the numbers to BF's spec sheet.
So at the beginning of July we should have our orders in and paid for!
So we have our suitcases for Bike Fridays almost ready to go for the paltry sum of $30.
We've also let BF know that our travel plans have changed slight and that we expect to take delivery of our bikes in the third week of September. We are just doing the measurements of our current touring bikes and comparing them with the measurements on our other favourite bikes, and then will transfer the numbers to BF's spec sheet.
So at the beginning of July we should have our orders in and paid for!
07-10-14 | 01:48 AM
#27
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We placed our orders last night, and expect to have the bikes ready to collect when we visit the factory in Oregon in mid-September. We've got our confirmation email back from Mike, the BF sales consultant, and we really only have to pay for them now.
We went with the Pocket Llamas, with the basic list of componentry, the exceptions being the Schwalbe Marathon tyres. Mine will be orange with blue lettering and cables, and Machka's purple with grey lettering and cables.
All the additional non-Bike Friday bits that we wanted also have arrived from Chain Reaction Cycles and Torpedo7, except for Machka's Brooks saddle which we are still trying to find in the right colour.
So basically, we sit and twiddle our thumbs for a little while.
We went with the Pocket Llamas, with the basic list of componentry, the exceptions being the Schwalbe Marathon tyres. Mine will be orange with blue lettering and cables, and Machka's purple with grey lettering and cables.
All the additional non-Bike Friday bits that we wanted also have arrived from Chain Reaction Cycles and Torpedo7, except for Machka's Brooks saddle which we are still trying to find in the right colour.
So basically, we sit and twiddle our thumbs for a little while.
09-16-14 | 11:50 PM
#29
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We are in Eugene and around 11am tomorrow, we knock on the door at Bike Friday and pick up our new Pocket Llamas!
Machka and I flew from Australia to Vancouver at the weekend, and after a few days with her folks, we drove today to Eugene and are staying in a hotel. We'll spend the day putting our own finishing touches to the bikes -- saddles, lights and pedals -- before we take some exploratory and adjustment rides on the cycle network in in the city.
It should be a good day tomorrow!!
Machka and I flew from Australia to Vancouver at the weekend, and after a few days with her folks, we drove today to Eugene and are staying in a hotel. We'll spend the day putting our own finishing touches to the bikes -- saddles, lights and pedals -- before we take some exploratory and adjustment rides on the cycle network in in the city.
It should be a good day tomorrow!!
09-17-14 | 04:47 AM
#31
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From: On the road-USA
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Looking forward to the ride report! 
Aaron
Aaron
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ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
At least.
09-17-14 | 10:10 PM
#34
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Joined: Jun 2003
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Machka and Rowan would like to announce the arrival of almost-identical twins in the form of an orange and purple Bike Friday Pocket Llamas.
The delivery took around seven hours, including two hours for lunch with fellow forumite Doug64. It wasn't that there were problems, but the delivery was a huge amount of fun for us.
Many thanks to "Doctor" Mike Boggs for his amazing patience and skill, especially in how to fold and unfold the bikes without dramas.
Naturally, additional toys were the order of the day, including Bike Friday jerseys, a BF cap for me, and Schwalbe Durano slicks for each of the bikes to go with the Marathons we ordered.
We also got to tour the Bike Friday delivery rooms, AKA factory. It's a remarkable hive of activity and one surprise for me is that the tubes are delivered round, but BF ovalises the big ones themselves.
And we may have started to plan next year's overseas trip with Ruthy, a part-time BF consultant who also organises trips to Japan, and in particular Hokkaido which we visited a couple of years ago. She is organising another tour next year to Hokkaido, and it might be the opportunity we need to get those Bike Fridays doing what they are meant to do.
I know that Americans are proud of anything of good quality that is produced within its borders, and I think with what we now have and what we saw today -- and especially with the customer service -- that pride is well founded.
Pictures to follow.
The delivery took around seven hours, including two hours for lunch with fellow forumite Doug64. It wasn't that there were problems, but the delivery was a huge amount of fun for us.
Many thanks to "Doctor" Mike Boggs for his amazing patience and skill, especially in how to fold and unfold the bikes without dramas.
Naturally, additional toys were the order of the day, including Bike Friday jerseys, a BF cap for me, and Schwalbe Durano slicks for each of the bikes to go with the Marathons we ordered.
We also got to tour the Bike Friday delivery rooms, AKA factory. It's a remarkable hive of activity and one surprise for me is that the tubes are delivered round, but BF ovalises the big ones themselves.
And we may have started to plan next year's overseas trip with Ruthy, a part-time BF consultant who also organises trips to Japan, and in particular Hokkaido which we visited a couple of years ago. She is organising another tour next year to Hokkaido, and it might be the opportunity we need to get those Bike Fridays doing what they are meant to do.
I know that Americans are proud of anything of good quality that is produced within its borders, and I think with what we now have and what we saw today -- and especially with the customer service -- that pride is well founded.
Pictures to follow.
09-17-14 | 11:27 PM
#35
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From: Down under down under
Bikes: Lots
Machka and Rowan would like to announce the arrival of almost-identical twins in the form of an orange and purple Bike Friday Pocket Llamas.
The delivery took around seven hours, including two hours for lunch with fellow forumite Doug64. It wasn't that there were problems, but the delivery was a huge amount of fun for us.
Many thanks to "Doctor" Mike Boggs for his amazing patience and skill, especially in how to fold and unfold the bikes without dramas.
Naturally, additional toys were the order of the day, including Bike Friday jerseys, a BF cap for me, and Schwalbe Durano slicks for each of the bikes to go with the Marathons we ordered.
We also got to tour the Bike Friday delivery rooms, AKA factory. It's a remarkable hive of activity and one surprise for me is that the tubes are delivered round, but BF ovalises the big ones themselves.
And we may have started to plan next year's overseas trip with Ruthy, a part-time BF consultant who also organises trips to Japan, and in particular Hokkaido which we visited a couple of years ago. She is organising another tour next year to Hokkaido, and it might be the opportunity we need to get those Bike Fridays doing what they are meant to do.
I know that Americans are proud of anything of good quality that is produced within its borders, and I think with what we now have and what we saw today -- and especially with the customer service -- that pride is well founded.
Pictures to follow.
The delivery took around seven hours, including two hours for lunch with fellow forumite Doug64. It wasn't that there were problems, but the delivery was a huge amount of fun for us.
Many thanks to "Doctor" Mike Boggs for his amazing patience and skill, especially in how to fold and unfold the bikes without dramas.
Naturally, additional toys were the order of the day, including Bike Friday jerseys, a BF cap for me, and Schwalbe Durano slicks for each of the bikes to go with the Marathons we ordered.
We also got to tour the Bike Friday delivery rooms, AKA factory. It's a remarkable hive of activity and one surprise for me is that the tubes are delivered round, but BF ovalises the big ones themselves.
And we may have started to plan next year's overseas trip with Ruthy, a part-time BF consultant who also organises trips to Japan, and in particular Hokkaido which we visited a couple of years ago. She is organising another tour next year to Hokkaido, and it might be the opportunity we need to get those Bike Fridays doing what they are meant to do.
I know that Americans are proud of anything of good quality that is produced within its borders, and I think with what we now have and what we saw today -- and especially with the customer service -- that pride is well founded.
Pictures to follow.
Click photos for more ...
Taken by Doug64
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Rowan
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Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Last edited by Machka; 09-18-14 at 01:27 AM.
09-18-14 | 05:20 AM
#38
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Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Canada
I actually really like riding with front and rear panniers on my NWT. The bike becomes very stable and rolls beautifully.
I also have changed my bars to trekking bars from the drops the bike came with.
