owner of a new folding bike

[mindstalk]

For the first time in 7 years, I own a bike. For the second time in 7 years, I've ridden a bike. (First time was a rental in Vancouver.) I'd thought about it for a while now, but with my constantly hazy future, I never wanted to commit -- certainly not to the $660 new bikes down the street that I might have to abandon when going nomadic again, or commit my life to really cheap Target bikes, and I never got around to seeing what was on Craigslist.

But somehow I recently learned that folding bikes have gotten a lot cheaper than when I first heard people at Grendel's talking about Bromptons back in 2011. Well, the Bromptons aren't cheaper -- though Amazon does have a 3-speed A-line for $1150, which is starting to seem reasonable for something you can fold into a regular suitcase -- but there are other reputable brands. Especially Zizzo, which is way cheaper; Amazon has a Zizzo Campo for $230. And they're still considered pretty good and reliable bikes, with good customer support.

So I ordered a Campo, then had second thoughts. One reason it's cheaper is that it uses single-walled rims rather than double; single is said to be weaker, and I'm not far under the putative weight limit. Amazon let me cancel, then I ordered a Via -- $120 more, but stronger wheels, also pre-installed fenders. Amazon said it would come June 4-5.

Haha! It came today, right when the Campo would if I hadn't cancelled it. Weird, but I'm not complaining.

Part of the box labelling was scary, it said I needed all sorts of tools, and I'd expected the bike to come assembled and folded. Turns out it was assembled and folded, and I didn't need the tools. Maybe they're for maintenance? Anyway, the box also had a QR code for Youtube videos. Slightly obsolete? videos, saying I should pull the seat post out of the box and add it to the bike later, when it was already part of my bike. Otherwise, they were fairly useful. The bike did come with a multi-tool that I was to check some nuts with; the nuts seemed solidly tight in either direction.

I had a few problems, though:

• there was a clear plastic disk on the rear wheel, I wasn't sure if it was part of the very copious packing or what. (No.)
• The safety check video told me to put the bike upside down and test the pedals and shifting, and horrible things seemed to happen, like the chain dangling off when I shifted from gear 2 to 4.
• As I walked the bike down to my local shop, I discovered the handlebar post kept sliding down. Bad!

But the shop resolved them:

• it's a spokeguard, and yes, part of the bike.
• In the bike's proper position, the derailleur worked just fine.
• Quick release posts have a screw for tightening them. I think I knew that... 7 years ago.

After not too long, and a few quick spins around the lot by the employee and then me, I was pronounced good to go, free of charge. I did look at helmets, but didn't find a comfortable one quickly, and closing time drew nigh, so I decided to wait and be Dutch/Japanese about it. One thing about a 20" wheel folding bike is that you're closer to the ground, and also have a more upright position (certainly the way I was setting my seat and handlebar), so it feels less dangerous. And I was right next to a multi-use path with limited car intersections. (Suddenly I don't mind the blocks being 4 minutes-walk long.)

So I rode up and down for a while, and found a school parking lot to ride around, too. I seem poor at turning tightly, or maybe I was never good at it; I don't lean in very much, and I'm hesitant to try without a helmet. (Not exactly thrilled by the risk of falling over with a helmet, either, I don't want to break an elbow.)

I wasn't wearing my wristwatch, so don't have precise timings, but as far as I could tell via my phone, I might have been biking 2.5x my walking speed, even lower than my 3x estimate for slow biking. Oh well. I guess small wheels and low gear do take their toll.

My old bike was a 40 pound monster; this one is 27. It feels so light by comparison. Maybe I'm stronger, too, I dunno.

Zizzo information

I might as well share my research. First of all, how portable is it? I haven't practiced folding it much yet, but reportedly you can do it in like 30 seconds with practice. Once folded it's said to fit nicely into the trunk of a compact car, or next to your desk (not sure about under), fits in elevators, etc. Acceptable on most transit systems, and free on European systems that would charge 6 euros for a normal bike.

Other owners online have gushed about the flexibility of small-wheel folding bikes. Like you can bike somewhere to meet with friends who drove, and they can give you a ride later if there's reason, whereas you'd be stuck with full-size non-folding bike. You can toss it into small cars (your own or rental) without needing a bike rack or having to release wheels. You can avoid the risk of bike theft by folding it up and simply putting it in a supermarket shopping cart. Stories like that were part of what tipped me over into looking for a folding bike, rather than just getting a cheap used normal bike.

How about flying? Seems like "yes, but annoying". Folded, it would be oversized. You can also remove the wheels to pack it down more and fit into a large (31"x21") suitcase. I already have one large suitcase, full of my life stuff; managing two sounds annoying. But worth it to have a bike with me? There are also bike bags and such, if you trust your bike to airline handlers that way. Also Zizzo sells a luggage rack which also has wheels, so you can fold your bike and then pull it like luggage.

As for the various models, there's Zizzo's own page, but for my own summary:

• Ferro, 29 lbs, $200s: cheapest, maybe newer? Uses steel more. Their entry-level option. Mixed reviews online.
• Campo, 29 lbs, $200s. Distinctive feature is single-walled aluminum rims; all the others use double.
• Via, 27 lbs, $300s. Comes with fenders.
• Urbano, 24 lbs, $400s. You're paying for the weight drop.
• Liberte, 23 lbs, $400s. Even lighter, also narrower tires, and a narrower seat, and quick-release wheels. Kind of the "road bike" of the family.
• Forte, 28 lbs, $500s. The "heavy duty" model, rated for 300 lbs instead of 240 lbs like the others. Also comes with a rack and fenders.
• Marino, 28 lbs, $700s. "Rust-resistant" for boating or coastline living. Also comes with rack and fenders.

The Forte and Marino also come with "Pig Nose (on Head Tube) for front load".

Note that a regular rack from Zizzo is like $45, plus 20-30 labor at my local shop; the fancy rack with wheels was marked as $150 $90, though I don't think any models come with that. And you might have to worry about getting a proper sized rack if you look for a third party. Their pig nose adapter is $70. Fenders $35. The Zizzo website doesn't seem to have customization options, so you can't go "Via, but add a rack and swap out the seat."

If you get a Via (with fenders) and rack and pig nose, it's $465. If you get an Urbano and add rack, pig nose, and fenders, it'd be like $580 and you might as well just get a Forte, unless you wanted to upgrade to the roller rack.

Comments

[squirrelitude]

They also solve the rental car pickup/dropoff problem. I bike to the rental car place, then put the bike in the trunk and drive back home to load up the car.

[mindstalk]

Good point!

Also the "car in for repairs" problem: drive car to the shop, drop it off, pull bike out and go home.

(Both use cases assuming sufficient density, of course.)