Oppo, Input Please

"Goggles Pizzano" (gogglespizzano) 09/03/2020 at 13:32 • Filed to: bikelopnik

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I’ve been invited to ride with the guy I met last weekend (and his friends, I can only imagine... ). It’s happening this weekend or the next, so I have 2 days to find and buy a bike.

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I had a bike up until a few years ago when I wasn’t riding enough to justify keeping it in my small dining room. When I did use it, it was just to putter around the ‘ hood.

This little fella is a 3-speed Huffy Touriste from the 70's. Asking $200, h oping for $ 140 out- the- door if everything checks out. It would stow nicely in a closet and a 6-pack would stow nicely in that rear mounted basket. #parklifeforlife

My questions for anyone that’s ridden a folding bike , are they wholly unstable? Good enough for a hands-free tracking shot with the camera ? Just how awful are they on sidewalks? A lthough it’s a 3-speed , are there issues with speed? In a nut shell, how compromised are they?

Ermahgerd! > Goggles Pizzano 09/03/2020 at 13:43

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They aren’t too unstable but with the smaller wheels the bigger issue is that the frame geometry and the close horizontal position of the handle bars gives you a very upright riding position and as such it is hard to put power to the ground and difficult to ride out of the saddle (pray there are no hills). If you are going any real distance or trying to keep up with a road bike of any quality ( or even a mountain bike) you will struggle. This bike in particular looks like it will be exceedingly slow. Most (but not all) folding bikes are really meant for “last mile” uses (commuting to work from the subway station etc.) so they aren’t meant to go the distance. There are folding bikes out there better for distance or recreational riding but they are less common and often more expensive (Bike Friday makes a pretty sweet folding road bike but they are bank).

HammerheadFistpunch > Goggles Pizzano 09/03/2020 at 13:43

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The new ones are okay, smaller wheels means less stability hands on or hands free.  The old ones are...less so.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Goggles Pizzano 09/03/2020 at 13:46

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Things like that are generally a "last mile" solution for people who use public transit or park a good distance from work. "Mile" being the key word here. They're not really intended for much more than that.

Goggles Pizzano > Ermahgerd! 09/03/2020 at 13:52

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Uh oh. That last - mile thing sounds like a red flag . I’m thinking more 3 miles. Rare and expensive also sounds like a red flag. Thanks.

Goggles Pizzano > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/03/2020 at 13:56

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Ermahgerd! m entioned “last mile” too. Looking for 3-5 miles. That’s worrysome. Thanks.

Goggles Pizzano > HammerheadFistpunch 09/03/2020 at 13:57

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Thanks.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Goggles Pizzano 09/03/2020 at 13:57

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With what that guy is going to ride, it shouldn’t be a big deal to cruise along on whatever you find. If you were talking about riding , as in exercising , then there’s no way I would recommend that folding bike. Just don’t expect the bike to perform well and don’t expect to be comfortable. Small wheels and a short wheelbase are going to give you a rough ride.

ClassicDatsunDebate > Goggles Pizzano 09/03/2020 at 13:59

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One of my co-workers has a folding e-bike and commuted from Millardville to Newton over the Port Mann.  E-bike tho...

Goggles Pizzano > TheRealBicycleBuck 09/03/2020 at 14:05

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The comments so far have sent me into an “ Oh shit, now what am I going to do?” moment. But... you’re probably right about keeping up with the gang . They’re goin’ nowhere fast. I do have the option of treating it like a rental too , I guess . Could sell it quick next month at a small loss. Hmm .

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Goggles Pizzano 09/03/2020 at 14:05

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Those are not meant for any sort of serious biking. You'll be struggling to stay stable and probably can't match their speed.

Goggles Pizzano > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/03/2020 at 14:07

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T hat bad, eh?

Goggles Pizzano > ClassicDatsunDebate 09/03/2020 at 14:14

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A friend use to ride in the GranFondo. She’s brought back stories of people who would actually ride pedal power folding bikes. Just crazy.

For Sweden > Goggles Pizzano 09/03/2020 at 14:15

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Buy an electric bike with a throttle and pretend to pedal

We have evolved beyond the need for manual cycling

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Goggles Pizzano 09/03/2020 at 14:18

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Yeah. Skip to the last minute or so of this video. He’s wobbling all over the place, pedaling like a maniac, and that riding position looks supremely uncomfortable.

ClassicDatsunDebate > Goggles Pizzano 09/03/2020 at 14:19

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Speaking of Whistler, we rented e-bikes last week.  Norco VLT’s it was....incredible.

Goggles Pizzano > For Sweden 09/03/2020 at 14:25

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 If I had a million dollars, I’d buy me a Motochimp.

Only Vespas... > Goggles Pizzano 09/03/2020 at 14:26

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Not a fan. One works twice as hard with the little wheels. Also here in NYC they get swallowed by potholes. Folders are surprisingly heavy as well. If you get one people will constantly be asking:   Does it come in Men’s Sizes too?

TheRealBicycleBuck > Goggles Pizzano 09/03/2020 at 14:35

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The only sweating they plan to do is from riding in the sun. :) 

Goggles Pizzano > Only Vespas... 09/03/2020 at 14:40

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lol. “S wallowed by potholes”, that’s what I was getting at asking about sidewalks. It’s probably where I’d spend most my time.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Goggles Pizzano 09/03/2020 at 16:21

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If you are getting a bromoton get a good one not a huffy. I think the best deal is older 26” mountain bikes from a name brand like Trek or specialized. Usually can be found for 100-300 dollars.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Goggles Pizzano 09/03/2020 at 19:11

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I’d nope on a folder. Heavy, poor geometry, small wheels handle poorly, the hinges tend to loosen and eventually fail if actually ridden enough, ridiculous looking, and honestly still take up a fair chunk of space even when folded. I’d go with a regular used quality name brand bike of your choosing and get a hook to hang it from if space is of real concern. If you ride that infrequently you can always rotate the bars and remove the pedals to slim it down considerably for storage.

Nice saddle though.