Show us your folder!

[emily_in_nc]

The cranks are normal.

Not always. Because of the small wheels, often a larger "big crank" is used. My Friday has a "tandem" crankset, which has a 53-tooth big ring. My DH, who is a really strong rider, has a humongous 62-tooth big ring! I think his other two rings are larger than normal too (mine are standard -- 42-30). We both have XT mountain gearing in the back for loaded touring, rather than a road crankset.

Just another datapoint!

[Blueberry]

Not always. Because of the small wheels, often a larger "big crank" is used. My Friday has a "tandem" crankset, which has a 53-tooth big ring. My DH, who is a really strong rider, has a humongous 62-tooth big ring! I think his other two rings are larger than normal too (mine are standard -- 42-30). We both have XT mountain gearing in the back for loaded touring, rather than a road crankset.

Just another datapoint!

Interesting - I thought they had stopped doing that with the advent of the Capreo cassette. Hmmm...food for thought.

[tulip]

I just told Walter at BF what my gearing is on my Luna, and he took it from there. Of course, it wasn't that simple because my Luna has a compact double and my Friday has a triple, but we got a spread that works for me just fine.

About my white bike--I love how it looks, but it does show dirt, and more importantly, grease. Folding and unfolding results in the chain coming off (unless you're really good at it) and the white bike shows more grease than some people might like. I like black bikes. My partner got a black one (but don't pay extra for the Black Diamond--it's more of a dark grey. The stock Black Ink is really black).

[emily_in_nc]

About my white bike--I love how it looks, but it does show dirt, and more importantly, grease. Folding and unfolding results in the chain coming off (unless you're really good at it) and the white bike shows more grease than some people might like. I like black bikes. My partner got a black one (but don't pay extra for the Black Diamond--it's more of a dark grey. The stock Black Ink is really black).

Agreed completely -- my white bike shows grease and dirt really easily. It's really nice when clean, but black is certainly more practical.

I've never been known for being practical.

[msincredible]

Here's my Birdy!







And on some of my business trips:

Singapore


Calgary


Cambridge, MA


St. Louis

[emily_in_nc]

msincredible, your birdy is just darling! Thanks for posting the great photos!

[tulip]

Great new bike MsIncredible! I love the color! Looks like you're having fun exploring together.

[emily_in_nc]

Interesting - I thought they had stopped doing that with the advent of the Capreo cassette. Hmmm...food for thought.

Yeah, I guess that a standard crankset is used with a Capreo cassette. However, we didn't want the Capreo (which they did have even back in early 2004, when we ordered our Fridays) as we both wanted that 34t huge XT cassette in back for steep climbs while fully loaded. On our upstate NY unsupported tour, I did have occasion to use my 30t ring in the front with that 34 in the back several times since I was hauling four panniers, two racks, a Tailrider, and a front bag up some VERY steep hills. The hills around the Finger Lakes make our hills here in the Piedmont of NC look like the gentle rollers that they are!

For unloaded riding, I agree that a standard crankset and Capreo cogset would be just fine, but we bought our bikes specifically for loaded touring. Unfortunately, we've only done the one tour, but hauling a heavy load of groceries has also warranted use of mountain gearing!