View Poll Results: If you have or only could have one bike, would it be a folder?
Yes. It does everything I need it to do
40
66.67%
Yes. A non-folder won't fit in my flat/office/bus etc
8
13.33%
No. I'm a roadie/MTB'er etc and the folder isn't enough bike.
12
20.00%
No. They're funny looking and I only ride at night so nobody sees.
0
0%
Voters: 60. You may not vote on this poll
A folder for your only bike?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
A folder for your only bike?
If you have or only could have one bike, would it be a folder?
I think I could... would I be willing? Maybe.
- Yes, it does all I need it to do
- Yes, because a non-folding bike won't fit in my apartment/flat/office
- No, because I'm a roadie/MTBer at heart
- No, because they're funny looking, and I only ride the folder when nobody's around
I think I could... would I be willing? Maybe.
Last edited by Mooo; 05-25-08 at 10:28 AM.
#2
Professional Fuss-Budget
Well, in general I don't think I could really stick to one bike, so....
Basically if I wasn't doing fast group rides, I probably could've gone with a really nice Bike Friday NWT as my primary ride (assuming, of course, that the NWT is as stable and comfortable when loaded as my touring rig). I find the responsive handling of 20" wheels doesn't work very well in pacelines.
Basically if I wasn't doing fast group rides, I probably could've gone with a really nice Bike Friday NWT as my primary ride (assuming, of course, that the NWT is as stable and comfortable when loaded as my touring rig). I find the responsive handling of 20" wheels doesn't work very well in pacelines.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Vancouver, Washington and Ocean Shores, Washington, USA
Posts: 1,319
Bikes: 2 - 2007 Custom Bike Fridays, 2 - 2009 Bike Friday Pocket 8's, Gravity 29'er SS, 2 - 8-spd Windsor City Bikes, 1973 Raleigh 20 & a 1964 Schwinn Tiger
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I have two bikes and both are folders. One is my "go-to-the-store" bike (a Dahon S1) and the other is my go out and ride bike (a NWT).
Folders are so much easier to deal with in the garage and in the car, and they are so easy to maneuver around in city riding situations. I love the 20" wheels.
The wife's only bike is a Pocket Crusoe - she really likes that bike.
Folders are so much easier to deal with in the garage and in the car, and they are so easy to maneuver around in city riding situations. I love the 20" wheels.
The wife's only bike is a Pocket Crusoe - she really likes that bike.
#4
Banned.
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I have 3 folders at present. I gave away my last full size (26 inch wheels) non folding bike a few months ago. While I did really liked that bike, I found that I no longer used it for at least a year. My folders did everything that that bike could do-and more. So now I am a exclusive folder user/owner.
#6
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
If I could only have one bike (and it would be a hard choice) I would be leaning toward my Trek 7500 CX / tourer conversion or my fixed gear Kuwahara Cascade mtb / tourer.
Thankfully... that is a choice I do not have to make.
Thankfully... that is a choice I do not have to make.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Vancouver, Washington and Ocean Shores, Washington, USA
Posts: 1,319
Bikes: 2 - 2007 Custom Bike Fridays, 2 - 2009 Bike Friday Pocket 8's, Gravity 29'er SS, 2 - 8-spd Windsor City Bikes, 1973 Raleigh 20 & a 1964 Schwinn Tiger
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#8
Raleigh20 PugFixie, Merc
I think the results to this survey will be a bit biased due to the enthusiasm of this forum's participants. If it was the BMX subforum, I suspect the answers would be different!
__________________
My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Also, I was curious. Thanks for voting!
#11
Banned
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My answer is a hearty yes.
Nonfolding bikes are just far too inconvenient for anything but professional use (commercial racer, pedicaber, bike messenger, etc). When it comes to personal use, for utilitarian purposes (going to work, store, etc) a folding bike is almost a necessity because nonfolding bikes are simply not easily accommodated in most places (no suitable place to lock, no way to ease the commute with multiple modes of transit, etc) and for recreation it's just not worth the effort to pull the nonfolder out of the garage, load it on the back of the SUV to get to the trail, pump up the tires (because the only tires you normally pump are on the folder you ride to work everyday), maneuver the giant wheels through the hallway, etc, etc. Not that I do group rides or trails or anything like that, but if I did then I think the hassle of dealing with the above would ruin all the fun.
The strange thing is that the people who seem most tolerant of the inconveniences of nonfolding bikes are usually just putzing around. Amateur races? Pacelines? Group rides? Are we geese or human beings? Don't get me wrong, I understand the fun of the competitive spirit, but why anyone would chose to channel it to a nonincome producing activity is a mystery to me. When I'm feeling pugnacious I log into my brokerage.
Nonfolding bikes are just far too inconvenient for anything but professional use (commercial racer, pedicaber, bike messenger, etc). When it comes to personal use, for utilitarian purposes (going to work, store, etc) a folding bike is almost a necessity because nonfolding bikes are simply not easily accommodated in most places (no suitable place to lock, no way to ease the commute with multiple modes of transit, etc) and for recreation it's just not worth the effort to pull the nonfolder out of the garage, load it on the back of the SUV to get to the trail, pump up the tires (because the only tires you normally pump are on the folder you ride to work everyday), maneuver the giant wheels through the hallway, etc, etc. Not that I do group rides or trails or anything like that, but if I did then I think the hassle of dealing with the above would ruin all the fun.
The strange thing is that the people who seem most tolerant of the inconveniences of nonfolding bikes are usually just putzing around. Amateur races? Pacelines? Group rides? Are we geese or human beings? Don't get me wrong, I understand the fun of the competitive spirit, but why anyone would chose to channel it to a nonincome producing activity is a mystery to me. When I'm feeling pugnacious I log into my brokerage.
Last edited by makeinu; 05-27-08 at 08:16 AM.
#12
Drops small screws
If I had to choose between my road bike and my Matrix, I'd choose the Matrix. It's what I get to work on, which means it's where I get most of my miles.
But it's not nearly as fun on a weekend as the road bike, so I wouldn't do centuries anymore.
But it's not nearly as fun on a weekend as the road bike, so I wouldn't do centuries anymore.
#13
Explorer
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 279
Bikes: Dahon Jetstream XP, Merlin Road Ti, Fisher Mt. Tam
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My road bike hasn't come down off the hook since I regeared my folder to handle the hills in which I live. I wouldn't get rid of the road bike, though. It's a Merlin, and I love it. I also have a Fisher Mt. Tam (triple butted tubing, fillet brazed by the man himself back in the day) that I'll also never part with. (I'm dating myself with that bit of info, aren't I?) They're awesome bikes and practically irreplaceable.
__________________
I came to say I must be folding . . .
Dahon Jetstream XP
Dahon Helios SL
Strida 5.0
Twenty project
— or not . . .
Fisher Mt. Tam (c.1988)
Merlin Road flat bar project
Schwinn Twinn Deluxe
I came to say I must be folding . . .
Dahon Jetstream XP
Dahon Helios SL
Strida 5.0
Twenty project
— or not . . .
Fisher Mt. Tam (c.1988)
Merlin Road flat bar project
Schwinn Twinn Deluxe
#14
Senior Member
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Location: Toronto, Ontario
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I love my folders and have more than I really need. That being said, even my Bike Friday doesn't ride as nicely as my Canondale Bad Boy. It's just a bit too small, I'm a bigger guy at 6'3". Then again, the bike that I keep at my office for lunch time runs is a folder and the one I take on vacations is a folder too. I'm glad I don't have to choose!
Last edited by sprockets; 05-27-08 at 11:13 AM.
#15
Recently Re-tired.
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In my happy place.
Posts: 100
Bikes: Lightfoot Ranger, Maxarya (both recumbents), Strida, Dahon Jetsream E-bike, Dahon Curve SL
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I presently own a Maxarya recumbent, a Lightfoot Ranger, a Dahon Jetstream P8 with Bionx electric assist, and a Strida version 5.
So which which bike do I ride to work every day? (10km each way)
The STRIDA!
So which which bike do I ride to work every day? (10km each way)
The STRIDA!