Swift folders
#1626
Drops small screws
If it weren't for that one *&$@%!!! hill, the stock model would have been so close to what I needed...
#1627
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Carlisle, in England's Lake District, just a few miles south of the border with Scotland.
Posts: 323
Bikes: A Bianchi C2C road bike, a steel framed touring bike and a Xootr Swift folder which has made the rest redundant!
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I know what you mean. I think my Swift is just the way I want it ..and then......
#1628
Drops small screws
No, really. Handlebars and pedals, and then I'm done. Really. I mean it.
#1629
My legs hurt
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Farther behind you than I'd like to be
Posts: 683
Bikes: Vaya, Brompton, '73 Schwinn Super Sport, Cresswell Fold-it, '81 Trek 610
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I do think that we tend to get a bit obsessed with gears sometimes. When I bought my Swift, I was not sure if I could cope with only eight cogs and one chainwheel as my touring bike had ten cogs and three chainwheels. In practise I have had no problem with eight gears. I did lower the gearing by fitting larger cogs on the rear wheel (a straight SRAM replacement cassette) but I have never used the top two cogs (7 & 8) on the road - even downhill. The Swift is a great bike and, if you browse previous postings you will see that I have played about with my bike as much as anyone on this forum. However, the Swift is a great riding bike that happens to fold and at some point you have to accept that it will not be able to do all the things a large wheeled (700c) bike can do. It's my favourite bike by far and is always first choice when the open road calls but there is a limit to what you may expect of it - even with all kinds of mods.
For my needs / wants, I'd use my swift more often if it had a wider gear range. I like options, and since a front derailleur doesn't add a lot of weight / complication / expense for me(I've got plenty of spares just waiting to be used), Why not? Different strokes, and all that. Xootr giving people the option can only be a good thing.
#1630
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Arizona
Posts: 862
Bikes: Swift folder, single speed
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Yeah... but I think I actually have the mods more or less where I need them. Once I have grippier pedals and wider handlebars, I think I'm done. (Yes, I know, famous last words.)
If it weren't for that one *&$@%!!! hill, the stock model would have been so close to what I needed...
If it weren't for that one *&$@%!!! hill, the stock model would have been so close to what I needed...
I've got two different platform pedals that are wide enough for my big feet and nice and grippy, if that's what you're looking for. I keep forgetting what brands things are, but I'll look them up for you if you're interested...oh yeah, SKS Toruring pedal, and - uh, I forgot the other one.
What big hill, going south on Broadway to 181st Street? (There are some super-steep side street hills just to the east there...almost in the scary San Diego/San Francisco category.
#1631
Drops small screws
I've got two different platform pedals that are wide enough for my big feet and nice and grippy, if that's what you're looking for. I keep forgetting what brands things are, but I'll look them up for you if you're interested...oh yeah, SKS Toruring pedal, and - uh, I forgot the other one.
What big hill, going south on Broadway to 181st Street? (There are some super-steep side street hills just to the east there...almost in the scary San Diego/San Francisco category.
I'm guessing none of these engineers were cyclists.
#1632
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Arizona
Posts: 862
Bikes: Swift folder, single speed
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Noteon -
I meant going north to 181 St. Going south is downhill.
That Greenway hill you're speaking of must be something new that i don't know about - but if it's just one little steep hill why worry about special gearing for it? Just walk it.
I lived by the Dyckman Street entrance to the West Side Highway when they were rebuilding it down to the GW Bridge. It was closed to traffic for a while after it was repaved, and it was great for cycling! I also used to do multiple hilly loops around the Cloisters in Ft. Tryon Park for a workout. I also used to put on a heavy backpack and hike in the hills in Inwood Hill Park in the dead of winter for backpacking practice. I wonder if Sebast the Inwood Park hermit is still around. OK, enough about me and Noo Yawk.
I meant going north to 181 St. Going south is downhill.
That Greenway hill you're speaking of must be something new that i don't know about - but if it's just one little steep hill why worry about special gearing for it? Just walk it.
I lived by the Dyckman Street entrance to the West Side Highway when they were rebuilding it down to the GW Bridge. It was closed to traffic for a while after it was repaved, and it was great for cycling! I also used to do multiple hilly loops around the Cloisters in Ft. Tryon Park for a workout. I also used to put on a heavy backpack and hike in the hills in Inwood Hill Park in the dead of winter for backpacking practice. I wonder if Sebast the Inwood Park hermit is still around. OK, enough about me and Noo Yawk.
#1633
Drops small screws
I lived by the Dyckman Street entrance to the West Side Highway when they were rebuilding it down to the GW Bridge. It was closed to traffic for a while after it was repaved, and it was great for cycling!
#1634
Captain Ron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: st. pete
Posts: 148
Bikes: Merckx (fixed), De Rosa (not)
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#1635
Part-time epistemologist
Nice. Although I got the sense from a conversation with Peter that cable routing to a road front derailer is problematic since they are generally bottom pull.
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
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#1636
Drops small screws
Oh, speaking of cable routing, if anybody gets the Sram Dual Drive, be careful running cables near the lock, especially if the seatpost gets strangely harder to adjust. I have two mangled cable housings that I need to have replaced.
#1637
Part-time epistemologist
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#1638
Drops small screws
Maybe a rollamajig would help with cable routing issues.
I blame myself for not realizing what was going on when the seatpost wouldn't slide or tighten easily.
#1641
deluxe
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Deering, Nh
Posts: 18
Bikes: Several, road and MTB.
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I'm planning some travelling with my Swift. As the hard cases are a bit too bulky for me, I'd prefer packing the Swift into a softcase, ala Gaerlan:
www.gaerlan.com/bikes/case/case.html
Does anybody have any experience which softcases will do? The size should be relatively tight to keep the bicycle from bumping around. I plan to make some kind of inlet to hold the softback in form. To start with I'd like to get some advice if somebody has already played with the same idea.
Thanks
ES
www.gaerlan.com/bikes/case/case.html
Does anybody have any experience which softcases will do? The size should be relatively tight to keep the bicycle from bumping around. I plan to make some kind of inlet to hold the softback in form. To start with I'd like to get some advice if somebody has already played with the same idea.
Thanks
ES
That sized case is exactly 1 inch below the typical airline cut-off point, of 62 inches combined, so still should fly free if within the weight limit.
#1643
Senior Member
I bought a suitcase from ebay that's 31x20x10 and the swift is snug in that. The case needed a new handle (made easily from parachute cord, but only cost 99 cents !!
That sized case is exactly 1 inch below the typical airline cut-off point, of 62 inches combined, so still should fly free if within the weight limit.
That sized case is exactly 1 inch below the typical airline cut-off point, of 62 inches combined, so still should fly free if within the weight limit.
#1644
Fledgling
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Rome, Italy via DC
Posts: 55
Bikes: Swift Folder, Brompton
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A nice looking Swift with a 14-speed IGH (not mine, sadly):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bikewal...7605035215202/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bikewal...7605035215202/
#1645
deluxe
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Deering, Nh
Posts: 18
Bikes: Several, road and MTB.
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Case
Yes to rear wheel removal, yes to RD removal, yes to all other removals people generally make when packing their folders.
Though the case is soft, I got some sheets of hardboard and reinforced all the surfaces on the inside.....helps with any pointed/concentrated impacts......adds to weight, though it is easily removable if weight matters.
I also fabricated cheap spacers like BF sells that go through the complete bike when packed, to keep the suitcase sides well spaced. Made them out of PVC pipe, plumbing fixtures, hardboard, and epoxy......they work well, they're much more substantial than the BF model.
Though the case is soft, I got some sheets of hardboard and reinforced all the surfaces on the inside.....helps with any pointed/concentrated impacts......adds to weight, though it is easily removable if weight matters.
I also fabricated cheap spacers like BF sells that go through the complete bike when packed, to keep the suitcase sides well spaced. Made them out of PVC pipe, plumbing fixtures, hardboard, and epoxy......they work well, they're much more substantial than the BF model.
#1646
deluxe
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Deering, Nh
Posts: 18
Bikes: Several, road and MTB.
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#1647
all season cyclist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 15
Bikes: Xootr Swift, old Pro-flex 550
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Crossrack vs. Posthaste
Hello all,
I'm buying a Swift at the end of the month, thanks in a large part to the great discussion on this thread. My question is about bags---I am going to be doing a work commute, not far but will need to pack small laptop, lunch, etc. I was wondering if anyone has compared the Crossrack to the Posthaste rack, both sold as accessories on the Xootr Swift site. They both appear to have a max capacity of 25 pounds, and the Crossrack has the advantage of mounting front or back. The Posthaste has the advantage of accomodating 2 panniers and/or a rack bag--but I am wondering if this is a real advantage given the weight limitation.
The commuting thread has lots of material on various types of bags, but am interested in the "Swift" perspective! I've seen some of the comments on the crossrack, but my searches on "Posthaste" have come up blank.
Thanks in advance,
Bill
I'm buying a Swift at the end of the month, thanks in a large part to the great discussion on this thread. My question is about bags---I am going to be doing a work commute, not far but will need to pack small laptop, lunch, etc. I was wondering if anyone has compared the Crossrack to the Posthaste rack, both sold as accessories on the Xootr Swift site. They both appear to have a max capacity of 25 pounds, and the Crossrack has the advantage of mounting front or back. The Posthaste has the advantage of accomodating 2 panniers and/or a rack bag--but I am wondering if this is a real advantage given the weight limitation.
The commuting thread has lots of material on various types of bags, but am interested in the "Swift" perspective! I've seen some of the comments on the crossrack, but my searches on "Posthaste" have come up blank.
Thanks in advance,
Bill
#1648
Drops small screws
I haven't used one, but it looks as though the other advantage of the Posthaste is that it doesn't interfere with the fold. The Crossrack might or might not, depending on how high on the seatpost you need it to be, which will depend on both your saddle and your choice of pannier.
In my case, the Crossrack just barely works: I ordered an Arkel Bug (which is a great pannier/backpack for my purposes) online without ever trying one out first. I can get the Crossrack just high enough to keep the Bug from rubbing the rear tire if I put so high on the seatpost that it just touches my butt, put the seatpost so high that it's just at the outside of my good leg extension range, and use a bungee to raise the bottom of the Bug just enough to keep it off the tire. (That's when it's loaded with laptop and clothes. With less payload, I don't have to use the bungee.) The top of the Crossrack also just clears the loops on the back of my Brooks B17 saddle.
So my only recommendation, if you do choose the Crossrack, is to know what pannier you're going to use with it and try the whole thing out before buying either. I'm not bothered much by the tight clearances, and I really love the flexibility, not to mention being able to hang plastic grocery bags directly on the rack, even when there's a pannier there already. But other configurations (eg, a pannier with a smaller vertical dimension, or a rider with longer legs than mine) would work a little better.
In my case, the Crossrack just barely works: I ordered an Arkel Bug (which is a great pannier/backpack for my purposes) online without ever trying one out first. I can get the Crossrack just high enough to keep the Bug from rubbing the rear tire if I put so high on the seatpost that it just touches my butt, put the seatpost so high that it's just at the outside of my good leg extension range, and use a bungee to raise the bottom of the Bug just enough to keep it off the tire. (That's when it's loaded with laptop and clothes. With less payload, I don't have to use the bungee.) The top of the Crossrack also just clears the loops on the back of my Brooks B17 saddle.
So my only recommendation, if you do choose the Crossrack, is to know what pannier you're going to use with it and try the whole thing out before buying either. I'm not bothered much by the tight clearances, and I really love the flexibility, not to mention being able to hang plastic grocery bags directly on the rack, even when there's a pannier there already. But other configurations (eg, a pannier with a smaller vertical dimension, or a rider with longer legs than mine) would work a little better.
Last edited by noteon; 08-13-08 at 05:41 AM.
#1649
Archiboy
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: GRR
Posts: 63
Bikes: 08 Xootr Swift, 06 Kona Smoke
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Hello all,
I'm buying a Swift at the end of the month, thanks in a large part to the great discussion on this thread. My question is about bags---I am going to be doing a work commute, not far but will need to pack small laptop, lunch, etc. I was wondering if anyone has compared the Crossrack to the Posthaste rack, both sold as accessories on the Xootr Swift site. They both appear to have a max capacity of 25 pounds, and the Crossrack has the advantage of mounting front or back. The Posthaste has the advantage of accomodating 2 panniers and/or a rack bag--but I am wondering if this is a real advantage given the weight limitation.
The commuting thread has lots of material on various types of bags, but am interested in the "Swift" perspective! I've seen some of the comments on the crossrack, but my searches on "Posthaste" have come up blank.
Thanks in advance,
Bill
I'm buying a Swift at the end of the month, thanks in a large part to the great discussion on this thread. My question is about bags---I am going to be doing a work commute, not far but will need to pack small laptop, lunch, etc. I was wondering if anyone has compared the Crossrack to the Posthaste rack, both sold as accessories on the Xootr Swift site. They both appear to have a max capacity of 25 pounds, and the Crossrack has the advantage of mounting front or back. The Posthaste has the advantage of accomodating 2 panniers and/or a rack bag--but I am wondering if this is a real advantage given the weight limitation.
The commuting thread has lots of material on various types of bags, but am interested in the "Swift" perspective! I've seen some of the comments on the crossrack, but my searches on "Posthaste" have come up blank.
Thanks in advance,
Bill
#1650
Drops small screws
tblott3, how much weight do you have on it? When I mounted mine on the front, I had steering issues.