oritatami
It's a joy to be in the majority on the bike in asia and unsurprisingly, foldable bikes are becoming an increasingly popular choice for new buyers. out and about today we saw the usual amount of good examples which only made my hunger to buy one more apparent. I really want one for town riding / hopping on and off the train and although cheap and cheerful versions from china and taiwan continue to flood the market, they are also often cumbersome and heavy. muji-rushi, for example, has some beautifully plain bikes at the moment but most of these weigh approximately the same as a small family car. naturally the choice is such that you could also spend the same amount as you might on a small family car.
interestingly, england still seems to have some of the best foldable designs to date including the brompton, moulton and strida. the latter does not use a chain but has a kevlar belt, weighs only 10kgs and is just over 200 quid. I'm being swayed rather heavily in that direction.....
Posted by stupot at October 16, 2005 11:27 PM
Riding a bicycle (or kickbike) here is a real pleasure compared to what I've experienced in California. I'm sure your observation that cyclists are in the majority has a lot to do with it. Even when people are driving they seem to be much more aware of cyclists.
The foldable bikes are a real puzzle though. Most of my Japanese friends own one, but never actually fold them up or put them in the trunk of their car, or carry them on the train. I've asked many of them why they have so much appeal, and the most common response is "they are so compact", or "they have a true small sense". One of our senior executives at the office recently paid $$$ for an original moulton. Why? Because he wanted to tell his friends that he owns it. It's a social status symbol, at least in his case.
Does your 200 quid price include the shipping, handling, and customs duties? If so then it's a steal - go for it! It looks so cool. It would almost be worth the price just to see all the stares and double takes you'll get riding it. I'm not sure if it would be a babe-magnet, but it certainly has potential.
Posted by: lem at November 2, 2005 12:55 PM