Joined: 28 Jul 2007Posts: 1315Location: Columbia City
So..., I'm looking at a used folding bike on craigslist, and it has some interesting parts that I'm not that familiar with. Mostly what I'm curious about is this Schlumpf mountain drive 2-speed drive (it's paired with a Shimano nexus 7). From a cursory look around the interwebs, it looks like it would allow a not-too shabby gear range. On the other hand, I'd be perfectly happy with a fixed gear travel bike because I don't see myself climbing any monster hills in any of the places I would expect to take it in the next few years. But you never know, and gears are nice sometimes.
Anyone have any experience with one of these?
langston
Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:25 pm
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 5547Location: Columbia City
buy it!
Last edited by langston on Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:27 pm; edited 2 times in total _________________ riders wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.
lantius
Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:15 pm
1337Joined: 22 Jul 2005Posts: 6705Location: right over
The Swift is my favorite of the folding bikes, so that's a big plus plus recommendation there. I think my preference for travel bikes is fixed or singlespeed due to the reduced complexity, but IGH is a close second.
It looks like that's the mountain drive with torque arm, which means (IIRC) that it doesn't require any frame modifications - you could just pull it, sell it, and use a normal bottom bracket and cranks if you'd like.
rob
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 5:12 am
Joined: 28 Jul 2007Posts: 1315Location: Columbia City
Yeah, I'm not interested in it if the frame's been modified in any way.
Alex
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 5:13 am
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
That bike probably has the nicest parts kit every put on a Swift Folder. You could buy it and sell the Schlumpf crankset (they are expensive and sought after by recumbent riders) to recover a good chunk of the cost. If you don't ride the bike that much then it might also be worth relacing the Schmidt hub into a 700C wheel for your everyday bike, then put a cheaper wheel on this one.
I like how the Swift Folder rides and the simplicity of the design, but it isn't the smallest fold or the easiest bike to get into a suitcase. I've had 6 travel bikes (two S&S, three models of Bike Friday, and the Swift Folder) and the Swift Folder took me longer to pack than any of them except for the tandem Bike Friday.
alex
dashap
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:57 am
professorJoined: 21 Jun 2006Posts: 1566Location: central district
Alex wrote:
I've had 6 travel bikes
alex
So, what is the Alex Wetmore-recommended travel bike?
Alex
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:20 pm
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
It depends on your use.
short haul riding, folding for bus/train -> brompton or bike friday tikit. Tikit comes in many sizes and uses normal parts, Brompton only comes in one size and every part is non-standard, but it packs smaller and quality may be better, both are expensive.
long haul riding, packing into suitcase, no public transit -> s&s couplers
I currently have a S&S bike and a Tikit. I've ridden the Tikit up to 70 miles in one day, but if I had the choice I'd rather ride my S&S bike that distance.
I haven't looked at the Dahon's recently. If you can fit them the Dahon Curve always seemed like a nice short haul folder for not much money. I find them too small for me.
blasdelf
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:38 am
BAD NAVIGATORJoined: 01 Mar 2010Posts: 1505
that Swift Folder's got a $650 crankset and the hubs are $200 each — you can part that bling off of it later and get back most of what you have into it
kinda weird that they would put a mountain drive and not a speed drive on it, given that low gears on small wheels are so easy to get just by using non-hueg chainrings
rob
Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 10:52 am
Joined: 28 Jul 2007Posts: 1315Location: Columbia City
Bought it!
I was talking to the dude that owned it, and he's like 'There's this great website that this guy put up on traveling with it,' and I ask whether it's Alex Wetmore, and he's blown away by the fact that I know Alex. Good times.
It's in great shape, and it's been treated with frame-saver. I think I win.
tehschkott
Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 6:38 pm
daywalkerJoined: 09 Nov 2007Posts: 6108Location: Hatertown
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Joined: 28 Jul 2007
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1337
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