I own a Bike Friday New World Tourist model. My decision to buy a Bike Friday is different than yours. I wanted it so that I could bring it on airplanes (more conveniently and more inexpessively than a full size bike).

That being said, I do have some opinions about Bike Friday bikes that might be helpful.

First is, given that you have enough money, you can basically get anything you want. You start by picking a model (20+ to choose from). Then you choose a basic configuration for that model (2-10 to choose from). After that you can upgrade or swap out any of the components. So you can custom pick your gearing to suit your hilly commute. The Bike Friday website allows you to pick the model and configuration. You then need to work with a sales rep to upgrade or swap components.

You may want to consider the total weight of the bike if you are going to be carrying it on public transportation. I bought a chrome moly frame. When I put the bike, along with other bike accessories, in its suitcase it weighed over 40 pounds! You too will need to carry some accessories (a mirror, a pump, a spare tube, tire irons; perhaps a rack, a lock, etc.).

One of my pet peeves with my Bike Friday is that the chain tends to come off when I fold/unfold the bike. There is, however, a $15 gizmo that Bike Friday sells to help keep the chain on the chain ring when folding/unfolding the bike. I have not tried it but I would definately order it if I regularly carried my bike on public transportation.

Other than the weight of the bike and the chain derailing when folding I absolutely love my Bike Friday! I ordered nice low gears and was able to successfully cycle the Tuscan hills last Fall.

I will forward you an email concerning a Bike Friday club ride this Sunday in Woburn. I won't be there. But it will give you an opportunity to pick the brains of other Bike Friday owners and perhaps you can take a spin on one of their bikes and see a folding demonstration. I rode with the group before I bought my Bike Friday and I found their information to be helpful.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask. If you want to see or try my bike you are welcome to. I'm about 5'4" and live in Tewksbury.

Debbie
 

Robin Colgrove wrote:

 Hi all,

I am a long-time bike and train commuter with a trusty but aging Bianchi that will need to
retire soon. I have been trying to figure out what to get for a new bike. I could get another
cylcocross bike like the one I have now: fast enough for my Needham->Boston commute,
and rugged enough for bad Boston roads (but can't go on the T). Depending on the
weather and what I have to carry, I either bike in, bike to the Green Line in Newton or Bike
to the Commuter Rail in Needham. It would be nice if I could bring a folder on the T so I
could, for example, bike in in the morning and ride the train home in the evening or ride
the train in in the am but ride the Green Line home if I miss the train, etc. There is a guy I
see who does this with a little Strida folder, but there is no way I could make it up the hills
to my home on that one. Another alternative would be an electric folder, like the Dahon
Roo EL. Overall, though, I think for me the techonology of electrics is not quite there yet
and I'd rather wait a few years. I have been thinking about a Bike Friday, but in order to
work for me it would have to be fast enough for the Boston-Needham commute, rugged
enough for the potholes, geared enough for the hills, but small enough to be stuffed into
a bag and smuggled aboard the Green Line. Has anyone done this that could tell me if it
works?

thanks!

robin colgrove