tds101 

Considering how bored some people are, who knows,...

Fentuz

1st thing I'd ask is what tyres do you run? My helios with kojak 35-406 is faster that my gravel bike on XC tyres (gravel would be faster on slicks due to gearing a 1kg lighter).
I initially rebuilt my helios to road spec with double chainring (7x2) using tourney levers with a 11-30 cassette and kojaks which made the bike much faster... the slicks have less rolling resistance and are almost 1/2 the weight of the marathon/big apple. Then I came across a cheap set of brand new wheel (kinetix comp) for £60... so I converted it to a 9x2 with a road cassette 11-25 which is much nicer as the gap between gears is much smoother.
https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-b...e-type-tt.html.

I like that set up so much that when I rebuilt the jetstream, I went for a 9x1 sora setup... nice and smooth.

Either way, if you haven't done start with the tyres (£40 - $60) then, if you are still unhappy, get a set of kinetic comp (or equivalent) wheels (£150) a 9 speed cassette (£30) and sora derailleur and shifter (~£100 new but cheaper on ebay) or the full groupset and a litepro FD mount, a litepro crank/ chainings (£70)... and basically, for £400 (or less if you find some bargain, you can get your bike to a spec pretty similar to the speed pro and speed pro TT.

That will be cheaper that a carbon road bike which will be at least $1000...

duke_of_hazard

Unfortunately the D7 got stolen in 2011. Then I stopped biking till now ! I got an older generation D7 so am working on pimping it back up to like my previous D7.

duke_of_hazard

Actually I am. I find I don't really use the folding aspect that often. But the compact size helps even when it is not folded.

I do want a road bike I can use for commuting. It should be lighter, have narrower tires and have all the commuting accessories like rack and fenders..

Fentuz

In that case, look at Poseidon gravel bikes and fit some slicks. I believe there are some just under 10kg with many bag packing mounts etc.

ClydeClydeson

Road bikes are the most minimalist expression of the most efficient machine ever built - the bicycle.

A road bike feels fast and smooth, and putting extra watts into the pedals gives sets up a feedback loop where it makes you feel fast so you want to go faster, so you push on the pedals a bit more and.... ….and repeat.

However, no-one 'needs' a road bike. I think the world wold be a better place if everyone had, or at least has tried, a good quality road bike that fits them properly. They are lovely, but not a need.

However, I have a road bike and I need a folding bike!

duke_of_hazard

I checked them out but seems these are mountain bikes. Are there no commuting bikes designed for speed? Or road bikes designed for commuting? I think I need fenders because one never knows when it will rain..

CliffordK

For small wheel bikes, the "Mini-Velo" bikes are popular in other countries. Essentially folding bikes that don't fold.

Bike Friday here in Eugene has some unique bikes. The "Pocket Rocket" is a folding drop bar bike, although they do apparently put drop bars onto some of their different models.

You can get them in the standard BMX 20-406 wheels, or the narrower 20-451 wheels.

Still, there is a lot to say for a good pure road bike.

Fentuz

they are gravel bikes not mountainbike. I ride mine of the road @24 to27kph average on a 40k with mountain bike XC tyres. I know that if I was to fit slicks, i would zoom much faster and without applying as much power.
gravel bikes are make for longer journey.
in the UK, shops sell budget gravel (£800 like planet x london road or £1300 cinelli zydeco lala) as commuting bike because they are fast, stable, strong and wider tyres allow for various terrain.
these gravels can take the weight of the rider and bagages which is something that some pure road bike cannot. For example, some canyon cannot take more than 100kg (rider + luggage) which can be limiting for some people when commuting with laptop, change of close etc.

sks does fenders and the frame should have the mounting point.

They are different types of gravel, the road orientated with 100 to 400% gearing on semi slicks. Or the MTB XC like mine with 80 to 340% gearing on XC tyres.

tds101 

Gravel bikes can handle off road trails, and city streets with ease - especially with slicks. Fentuz gave you a solid recommendation.

Tourist in MSN

For commuting, instead of a skinny tire road bike, consider touring or randonneuring bikes. Touring and rando bikes would likely handle nicer for a commuter and may have wider more comfortable tires on the bumps. And easier to put fenders on a touring or rando bike.

Or, a mini-velo bike as noted by CliffordK. If you like small wheels on a folder, you may be happy with the small wheels on a non-folding mini-velo.

I use drop bars on my Airnimal Joey folding bike, I prefer using the drops in headwinds.

One thing to note however, small wheel bikes usually have rather quick handling, but commuting where you are riding the same route most every day, slower handling can be nice if you get bored and your mind starts to wander.

***

I often get perturbed when I see someone resurrecting a 12 year old thread, but when I saw it was the OP with an update, in my opinion that was completely forgivable. And it would be nice if more OPs offered updates, instead of demanding help and then going silent.

Sardines

I think it's all about what kind of commute you have. Light gravel, single tracks etc, a slick like a Schwalbe G 1, or if just on roads and a bit of single tracking, faster tires like the Marathon Supreme or Panaracer RibMo work well.
A full size folding also works well. I had great trouble with my Montague joints, and the way it folds is just rubbish. The Flat/Change bike does pretty well as a commuter, and rides well. Hybrids are fast but nothing is as fast as a road bike, but how much time do you save, vs having to change, arriving fresher etc etc.

Jipe

For commuting, one important point is what you need to carry with you for the commuting and how to carry it.

Road bike most of the time do not offer anything to carry on the bike, no rack mount, no front bag... The only solution is to use a rucksack which is really uncomfortable especially if the weight of what you need is realtively heavy or/and if the weather is warm/hot.

Gravel bike have almost always fastening points for rear and front rack.

Good folding bikes like Brompton and Birdy offer several solutions to carry things, rear/front rack, front bag...

The next point i where can you store your bike at destination of commuting. If there is no safe parking possibilities, risk of having the bike stolen is very high especially if you park the bike almost everyday at the same place and in this case a small folding bike that you can take inside with you is a must. A folding bike like the Birdy is as fast as a gravel bike.

birdmove

I don't mind reading older threads. I was impressed reading this one that he can get 25mph, and now a couple more than that, on a folding bike. I ride a single speed flat bar road bike (a cheapo) and I do tuck down if possible when riding into the wind, or coasting.

birdmove

I don't mind reading older threads. I was impressed reading this one that he can get 25mph, and now a couple more than that, on a folding bike. I ride a single speed flat bar road bike (a cheapo) and I do tuck down if possible when riding into the wind, or coasting.