10-27-05: After riding my fixed folder I found in the junk and built up, I realized it needed improvements I could not then afford. Specifically, the left crank kept working loose. Being a cottered crank there was only so much I could do to tighten it -- and, being cottered cranks, the chainring was impossible for me to swap out. This is important because tho for the first few days of around town riding the 48x18 gear worked okay the last few I felt it spinning like mad. Also, the bike didn't really fold up as well as I would have liked.

But my trusty Dahon folding bicycle, which I carried on the train, and which carried me through the worst parts of Newark for nearly a year -- as well as through scenic New England on a memorable trip were I was attacked by wild turkeys -- folded well, had proven itself in daily use both folded and riding, rack and fenders, and already had a modern bottom bracket with cotterless cranks.

The choice was clear: put the old folder in storage and convert the Dahon.

So the Dahon is fixed; 53x18 gearing, with the GT bmx r. wheel and stock front wheel; some tweaking was needed to get the larger rear tire to fit under the fender without rubbing but I made it.

The ride is better, the cranks are new and tight, and the 53t 'ring is easy enuff with the 20" rims and 18t cog -- but takes the edge off the mad spin. The cockpit fits better than the crowded reach of the old folder, although it still has the limitation of not being able to adjust handlebar height. But it works okay with the gearing;
i don't have to crank it out of the saddle so the upright bar position isn't an issue. By contrast the old folder could adjust bar position horizontally, but the frame was shorter so it was more cramped. Plus, I have the added bonus of knowing from experience that it can fold anywhere, anytime -- train, stowing in the car, work, etc.

The 53x18 is the "magic gear" for this frame; with vertical dropouts gear selection serves the dual purpose of both gearing, and chain tension; in conjunction with the half-link in the chain it is just tight. A little too tight maybe but it will work a tad loose over time and minor fiddling with the rear wheel's position gives it slack enough to spin freely tho' it is still quite tight.

Now fitted with a large seat pack, I have removed the rear carrier from the rack. Tho I may still strap things to the rack I do not want to carry a large container of stuff until I lose some weight as I weigh about 195 and the bike is only rated, per manufacturer specs, to 210 lbs!


Result: A perfect folding fix.

-- Elvis