I find myself at a crossroad and soliciting comments on folding bikes.

I want one with speeds, My ~35 year old folding bike has been through
numerous tires and even a couple of wheels. When it was new it was a
three speed but when that rear hub died the local shops told me they
couldn't get one with speeds so I settled for what was in stock.

found this site

http://www.transalt.org/features/foldingbike.html

any one have a sun folder ?

http://www.sunbicycles.com/03/html_03/folding_home.html

can anyone recommend any bicycle shops in the Homestead/Miami/Ft
Lauderdale area? TIA,

captkeywest wrote:
I find myself at a crossroad and soliciting comments on folding bikes.


How much do you want to spend? Some of our cruising friends are getting
Wal-Mart's folding bike, which has (I think) 16" wheels, 10 speeds, and
front & rear suspension. You have to order them shiped to a local
Wal-Mart, somewhere around $150 new. It's not stainless but given decent
care it should last a few years.

I want one with speeds, My ~35 year old folding bike has been through
numerous tires and even a couple of wheels. When it was new it was a
three speed but when that rear hub died the local shops told me they
couldn't get one with speeds so I settled for what was in stock.

http://www.foldingbikes.co.uk/giant.htm

This is my wife's bike. 6 speed, very quick & easy to fold & unfold,
very sturdy, relatively light, relatively easy to stow. Downside, I paid
$400 and that's a significant cut from it's MSRP. The bike store where I
bought it had been marking it down more and more to try and move it for
a year.



found this site

http://www.transalt.org/features/foldingbike.html

Some interesting bikes here. They refer to the Strida, which I have.

http://www.strida.com/

I like it, but it has limits. It's not really suitable for long distance
rides because the balance is rather funny. I got one with folding
handles which reduces the folded size by about half. Your linked web
site makes it sound like the Strida doesn't fold up very small, which is
contrary to my experience. This thing can almost be tucked away in your
coat pocket. Also it has nothing on that can rust.

If you're just going a couple of miles, the Strida beats the heck out of
walking. It really takes just a second to unfold or pack up. If you're
going on a long ride, or up a lot of hills, or over rough roads, get
something else.

Hope this helps.
Fresh Breezes- Doug King

If you want to look like a retiree then those folding bikes with 16" wheels
are just great. Try a properly sized bike that folds:

http://www.montagueco.com/


Those little wheels have greater rolling resistance and a harsher ride than
larger wheeled bikes. They're great for circus acts and riding up and down
the driveway.

If you must insist on small wheels then try:

http://www.fullfx.com/fxstore/c9sc/i...47&ref=Froogle

It doesn't get much more compact than that.

Gilligan

"captkeywest" wrote in message
oups.com...
I find myself at a crossroad and soliciting comments on folding bikes.

I want one with speeds, My ~35 year old folding bike has been through
numerous tires and even a couple of wheels. When it was new it was a
three speed but when that rear hub died the local shops told me they
couldn't get one with speeds so I settled for what was in stock.

found this site

http://www.transalt.org/features/foldingbike.html

any one have a sun folder ?

http://www.sunbicycles.com/03/html_03/folding_home.html

can anyone recommend any bicycle shops in the Homestead/Miami/Ft
Lauderdale area? TIA,

http://www.dahon.com/mariner26.htm

The strida is a strange looking bike. Funny, but I guess it works.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"DSK" wrote in message
...
captkeywest wrote:
I find myself at a crossroad and soliciting comments on folding bikes.


How much do you want to spend? Some of our cruising friends are getting
Wal-Mart's folding bike, which has (I think) 16" wheels, 10 speeds, and
front & rear suspension. You have to order them shiped to a local
Wal-Mart, somewhere around $150 new. It's not stainless but given decent
care it should last a few years.

I want one with speeds, My ~35 year old folding bike has been through
numerous tires and even a couple of wheels. When it was new it was a
three speed but when that rear hub died the local shops told me they
couldn't get one with speeds so I settled for what was in stock.

http://www.foldingbikes.co.uk/giant.htm

This is my wife's bike. 6 speed, very quick & easy to fold & unfold, very
sturdy, relatively light, relatively easy to stow. Downside, I paid $400
and that's a significant cut from it's MSRP. The bike store where I bought
it had been marking it down more and more to try and move it for a year.



found this site

http://www.transalt.org/features/foldingbike.html

Some interesting bikes here. They refer to the Strida, which I have.

http://www.strida.com/

I like it, but it has limits. It's not really suitable for long distance
rides because the balance is rather funny. I got one with folding handles
which reduces the folded size by about half. Your linked web site makes it
sound like the Strida doesn't fold up very small, which is contrary to my
experience. This thing can almost be tucked away in your coat pocket. Also
it has nothing on that can rust.

If you're just going a couple of miles, the Strida beats the heck out of
walking. It really takes just a second to unfold or pack up. If you're
going on a long ride, or up a lot of hills, or over rough roads, get
something else.

Hope this helps.
Fresh Breezes- Doug King

If you take the seat off the unicycle, I'm sure you'd get a lot of use out
of it.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Gilligan" wrote in message
ink.net...
If you want to look like a retiree then those folding bikes with 16"
wheels
are just great. Try a properly sized bike that folds:

http://www.montagueco.com/


Those little wheels have greater rolling resistance and a harsher ride
than
larger wheeled bikes. They're great for circus acts and riding up and down
the driveway.

If you must insist on small wheels then try:

http://www.fullfx.com/fxstore/c9sc/i...47&ref=Froogle

It doesn't get much more compact than that.

Gilligan

"captkeywest" wrote in message
oups.com...
I find myself at a crossroad and soliciting comments on folding bikes.

I want one with speeds, My ~35 year old folding bike has been through
numerous tires and even a couple of wheels. When it was new it was a
three speed but when that rear hub died the local shops told me they
couldn't get one with speeds so I settled for what was in stock.

found this site

http://www.transalt.org/features/foldingbike.html

any one have a sun folder ?

http://www.sunbicycles.com/03/html_03/folding_home.html

can anyone recommend any bicycle shops in the Homestead/Miami/Ft
Lauderdale area? TIA,

Folding bikes are about as stupid as roll-up sails.

Get a real bike, the kind with full-sized wheels that
are of the quick release type. Remove the wheels and
bungee them to the frame. The package will be just
as small as a folding bike but you will have a real
bike that performs and doesn't have sucky little
wheels and excess weight.

I hope this helps.

CN


"captkeywest" wrote in message oups.com...
I find myself at a crossroad and soliciting comments on folding bikes.

I want one with speeds, My ~35 year old folding bike has been through
numerous tires and even a couple of wheels. When it was new it was a
three speed but when that rear hub died the local shops told me they
couldn't get one with speeds so I settled for what was in stock.

found this site

http://www.transalt.org/features/foldingbike.html

any one have a sun folder ?

http://www.sunbicycles.com/03/html_03/folding_home.html

can anyone recommend any bicycle shops in the Homestead/Miami/Ft
Lauderdale area? TIA,

But the chainguard can get in the way of the reflectors and impede the
operation of the kickstand.

Gilligan
"Steve Thomas" wrote in message
...
A decent bike shop could have found you a replacement 3 speed hub if they
had wanted to.

For those of you that don't know, one advantage over multiple sprockets is
that a proper chain guard can be fitted.



"captkeywest" wrote in message
oups.com...
I find myself at a crossroad and soliciting comments on folding bikes.

I want one with speeds, My ~35 year old folding bike has been through
numerous tires and even a couple of wheels. When it was new it was a
three speed but when that rear hub died the local shops told me they
couldn't get one with speeds so I settled for what was in stock.

found this site

http://www.transalt.org/features/foldingbike.html

any one have a sun folder ?

http://www.sunbicycles.com/03/html_03/folding_home.html

can anyone recommend any bicycle shops in the Homestead/Miami/Ft
Lauderdale area? TIA,