Folding bike owners?

[NbyNW]

Chiming in a bit late, for what it's worth:

I did an 11-mile round trip commute last year on my Dahon Speed Pro TT. It's one of the higher end Dahons. I really enjoy the handling of this bike. It's light and nimble and has a low center of gravity. The weight of the bike is comparable to my non-folding road bike.

I loved that I could fold it up quickly and stash it under my desk, as there was no other secure storage option at my work.

Another added bonus that I didn't think about until after I had been riding the bike for some time was the low stepover. I really appreciated this feature since my hip range of motion was constrained due to an injury several years ago.

It is sturdy enough for longer rides. I did a 24-mile charity ride on it last fall. This year I did the 40-mile distance of the same ride on a different bike, but I think the Dahon would have been just fine too.

I'm not sure what gear combination you are considering, but I would say that my Dahon (which is set up with a 3-speed SRAM DualDrive x 9 ring rear cassette) is slightly less efficient at climbing hills than my conventional bike. But a lot of that can be compensated for by adjusting your gears.

I have not yet traveled with my Dahon, but I like the idea of taking it with me when I'm on vacation. What's stopping me right now is that I still need professional help re-installing the DualDrive clickbox if I have to take it off to work on the rear wheel, but I consider that my shortcoming, not the equipment's.

There is a rumor that Dahon is developing a bike with a fold similar to Brompton's; it seems that they've figured out a way to work aroundwith the patent issue, or perhaps Brompton's patent is hitting a milestone, I am unclear.

[Rosie8]

I do have another question. Do most people stay with the original saddle that comes on the bike or do you change it?

[azfiddle]

My husband has a Dahon Boardwalk 7 speed (bought used for $100). He rides it about 20 miles each day on his work commute. He had to replace the back wheel with a heavier, BMX type wheel as the stock back wheel isn't strong enough to take the daily riding. He's put about 1500 miles on it since May.

We live in Tucson and know the Prescott Valley a little- he thinks the 7 speed would be fine for your area, but not a 3 speed.

Sharon

[tulip]

Saddle - only you can make that decision.

I love my folding bike. I ride it as much or more than my 700c-wheel bike. I ride it on long journeys, short trips, and everything in between.

[kmehrzad]

I do have another question. Do most people stay with the original saddle that comes on the bike or do you change it?

Rosie,
One thing to mention about the saddle on my Dahon ... it was attached to an I-beam seat post, which didn't allow just any saddle to be substituted. You can get an adapter, though, if you wanted to change it but extra $$. I don't know whether all Dahons have this feature or not. Here's a blurb from Dahon web site:

EXtreme Performance Component Groupkore i-beam saddle/seatpost. The patented I-Beam system replaces the traditional saddle rail design with a single carbon composite beam. The benefits are a dramatic reduction in weight, 200% more fore-aft adjustment, and superior strength. The sleek new Kore saddle features an outstanding shape and is designed with a Flex shell for outstanding comfort. The seatpost is made out of 2014 aluminum in a SuperOversize 34 mm diameter for a strength to weight ratio that can’t be beat. Tilt is infinitely adjustable. And should you decide that you want to stick with your favorite Brooks or Flite saddle, you can fit the seatpost with an adapter that will fit any railed saddle. The 2008 saddle/seatpost combination is up to 80 grams lighter than last year’s I-Beam system.

[NbyNW]

Oh yeah: I also have an I-Beam seatpost on my Dahon. The stock seat was too narrow for me, so I replaced it with this, which I find very comfy:

http://www.dahon.com/us/accessories/.../biovelvet.htm

But I agree with what others have said above, it's very personal. That said, there are options, even if the bike you get comes with a different attachment system. You can check out SDG's website to see the full range of saddles that they make for the I-Beam system.

[Rosie8]

Thank you for responding. I appreciate the advice from all of you. I hear what you're saying, azfiddle, about 7 gears being needed in the Prescottt Valley area. My Giant Suede is a 7 speed and I don't think I would want to have less gears than that. Even if the hills aren't that bad around her, the wind is crazy sometimes, especially in the spring. We get 20-30 mph winds in the spring that are killer to ride in. Also, if one wants to ride up the steeper hills in Prescott, it helps to have at least 7 gears.

My main goal in riding daily is for fitness - the exercise and relaxation effect of riding in pleasant surroundings. It's helped me lose weight and lower my blood pressure.

[Reesha]

Has anyone ever flown with their folding bike? I'm thinking about getting one and taking it with me to europe for the summer so I can get around there... sounds easier than packing up a regular bike.

I'd be curious to hear your experiences.

[tulip]

Yes, I've flown with my folder several times. I have a case for it. Just make sure that it meets the weight restrictions for luggage, or they will charge you extra. I had no problems with flying with my bike. I put a note in the inside of the case for TSA with photos of the bike inside.