Super Dave

Unlike my wife...I don't weigh myself very often. The tightness of my pants is the best indicator. Right now I feel about 218

PSI in the low 40s is a very good thing. Thanks for the tire info.
Dave

invisiblehand

Hah! Very good.

I suppose that your choice is between a NWT or Pocket Llama.

Good luck!

zoom26

Are you looking for a 20" bike or can you go to a full-sized 26"-er? I was looking at the Montague Paratrooper before I went for the Dahon Vybe. But for a more hilly commute I think you should go with something with more gears, a dual-crank IMO.

Super Dave

I'm nearing the end of the ordering process with Bike Friday and have most of the details sorted out on a Pocket Llama. I'm going to use my favorite swept back bars (Nitto B352) like on my other bikes. BF will cut them down for packing.

I'm wondering about racks. Front and rear seems like overkill since I won't be touring. I'm leaning to a rear rack. I read that a front load helps to steady the steering but I don't really want to deal with panniers. What do you guys suggest for handlebar bags?

Thanks,
Dave

invisiblehand

I'd get a porteur rack built.

https://thelazyrando.wordpress.com/2...-porteur-rack/

invisiblehand

If that's overkill, then I recall that some folks figured out how to mount a klick flix system to the stem mast. That would prevent it from interfering with the split bars.

fietsbob

I just have the Front BF pannier racks on My Pocket Llama.. Yes, Front loading steadies the smaller wheel short trail Bike.

Ortlieb older sport Packers* , 4 D rings make them into a stretch Net anchor across the top of the combination. for similar box carrying

Like Pizzas

*Added extra Webbing to join them in a Pair with a common handle..

(the bags are now only sold as the Horse saddle Bags]

bhkyte

Can you post a photo when you get it please. Interested to see how its altered to get a comfort bike position. Welcome to the fold.

Super Dave

Thanks for the info guys.

Yes, I will be happy to post photos and my impression when I get the BF.

Dave

Super Dave

The Bike Friday has arrived. I like it a lot. The fit is perfect. It rides well and BF has been very good to deal with.








The fit stem is a really great idea to get the bars dialed in.






The fenders took some time to figure out. A 30mm spacer is needed to get the clearance around the disk brake.



Bottom line...I wish I ordered one 10 years ago. It will be a great travel bike and I hope to get a lot of use around my home town too!

Thanks for the advice,
Dave

PS: Any suggestions for a small single AA head light to mount on the handle bar for the rare occasions I'm riding at night? I do have a powerful light on my helmet but I like having a backup on the bike.

linberl

Oooh, it is really pretty! I love the white =) Do you really ride with your brooks seat tilted that far back? Maybe it's a guy thing as mine rides just slightly down from flat. Enjoy your bike, ride it a lot. Fyi, I switched to a dry wax lube on mine because of the sometimes chain drop when folding - no grease on my hands putting the chain back on at all - as sometimes I forget to hold the pedal when I unfurl it. For lights, I have a planet bike blaze and use rechargeable double AA batteries. I like having a bit of front load on my bike so I have a Nitto m12 rack and a handmade mini rando bag from Treetop in Chicago; holds my lock if I need to take it (a mini u lock) and hat/gloves, extra sweater for cold rides or a few groceries on a quick stop. congrats!!!

bhkyte

Looks great.
How do the dimensions compair to your ridgid? And handling compaire please.

Super Dave

Hey, thanks.

The saddle was adjusted too steep. I backed off on the angle but it still has the nose higher than the rear.

In terms of handling...overall it is very good. The rigid is still an easier ride. I would agree with the "twitchy" description but that's pretty minor and not a deal breaker by any means. All the dimensions like bar height, distance from bar to saddle and such match my rigid bike.

The Pocket Llama's bottom bracket is raised 3 inches higher. That means you ride 3 inches higher than usual. I didn't quite understand that in the ordering process. So that's a little odd at first. But, the upshot of the Llama is I can ride the 2 inch wide Big Apples and they are very, very comfortable tires. It's a fair trade off.

Take care,
Dave

bentrimcycle

I also want to try the folding bicycles and i will get some useful information here about the bike.

downtube

Looks great...congrats Super Dave!

Thanks
Yan

Super Dave

Thanks a lot.

Just a note on the stem...that's the temporary "fit stem" that is adjustable to set it like you want and then mail back to BF so they can fabricate one to your exact needs. I like the flexibility of their approach. I will be sending it back and asking them to make me another fit stem just like the one they are sent me. They are willing to do that and that will give me the ability to change dimensions as my desires change, I grow older, etc. Pretty cool component.

Regarding the "twitchy" handling. I notice it most at slow speeds going up hill in a granny gear. The bike is more twitchy at slow speed (as in 5mph) than my rigid bike. One the speed is up to cruising speeds...I don't notice it. It seem more stable once I get up to 7 or 8 mph and not an issue over 10 mph. So, not a big deal.

The long cables were banging around on the head tube and making noise. I've tied them around the head tube with a bungee cord and that should solve that noise issue.

I'll be sending in my fit stem in the next couple of days and will post follow up photos when the final stem arrives in a couple of weeks.

Cool kids bikes Yan. Very nice.

Sounds like a cool setup. Please post a photo if it's not too much of a hassle.

Take care,
Dave

downtube

I love Bike Friday too. FYI they make a Family triple that folds, I almost bought one to tour with my kids this summer. It disassembles into two suitcases....it costs $3500. Almost every other triple I found costs $6k+

Thanks,
Yan

linberl

The front rack/bag combo helps a lot with any twitchy steering as it adds a bit of weight down low, depending on what's in the bag. You can get the bag in different colors and possibly even custom pockets; I love that it is made in chicago by a usa craftsperson Treetop ? Mini Rando Bag. The Nitto m12 slipped right into the hole in the gap between the forks and you just slightly pull them over the brakes. Now you have disc brakes, so I am not sure about fitment; you might have to do a bit of research to make sure it will work. The bag has a leather slip on the back that goes over the rack and a leather slip underneath which attaches with a leather strap included. I also zip tie it so it deters opportunistic thieves. It's great for those times when I want to pick up something at a store or some takeout and don't have my basket attached. It fits a mini u lock perfectly. If you want close pics, let me know.

I think this mini rack is the right kind for your fork: https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...ess-steel.html

Super Dave

Sweet ride linberi! Thanks for the photo and description. What's in your water bottle? It looks like your seat tube came with water bottle bosses on the frame. Wish mine had some in the front of the tube. I don't like bending over that far to get water.

Yea, I'd get one in a heartbeat if my girls would actually want to ride. The only way I can get them on the tandem is to ride to the donut shop first and then I haul their butts around for a while...
See my last post here...terrible.
https://www.bikeforums.net/electric-b...-tandem-2.html

Later,
Dave

linberl

The bottle holder on the beam is an air horn. I ride in traffic and it really helps. Yes. there are bosses on the beam and seat post. You can get a little bracket to put your bottle where you want: Topeak Water Bottle Cage Mount - REI.com
I had this on my Trek 720 on the stem, it works fine.

bhkyte

Sounds like a Downtube project.......

downtube

We have enough projects. BF is doing a great job with their tandems and triples....I'm glad they are doing it since no one else is.

Thanks,
Yan

Super Dave

The Bike Friday has been great. I had to change out the original triple for a lower q factor crank (TA copy). That resolved a knee issue I was having on the bike.

Here's a photo from a trip to Boulder.


When I'm back at home I am using a Bionx motor.


I have been really impressed with the folks at Bike Friday and their bike. My only regret is not getting one sooner.
Dave

invisiblehand

That's awesome Super Dave.



I see that you kept the fit stem. Do you ever plan on swapping it out for a regular -- and lighter -- stem?

Super Dave

Hi, I wanted to have the option to make adjustments with the stem so they made me one that was adjustable. The weight doesn't bother me. Take care,
Dave