New bike

[figment]

On Friday night I looked at my finances and figured out that I could afford it. So yesterday I bought a new bike! It's a folding bike, like the one azure_armand got a while ago; but it's a different brand; a Brompton. I'm really excited about the bike and we went for a longish ride yesterday as soon as we got home with it.

Azure took some pictures with his cell phone .




I have a P3L - the 3 indicates the number of gears. I kind of wish there were more, but I think it's the right number for city biking.



The bike folds like this.

I got the little clip on the front and the bag that goes with it, which is really easy to put on and take off, and which easily holds a fair amount of stuff - I could put my helmet, lock, water bottle, wallet, etc. in it and have room for more.

Anyway, yay bike! I can't wait to ride it to work tomorrow.

Comments

[gunn.livejournal.com]

So cute! So expensive! So cool! I wish *I* had a bike I could put in my suitcase.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

It is expensive (although I got it for less than the quoted price). Honestly, my apartment is too small for a full-size bike. But it's plenty big enough for two folding bikes!

[gunn.livejournal.com]

A good bike is worth the price- don't mistake my statement as some sort of assertion of it being bad or something. I endorse everyone everyone everyone buying bikes of whatever kind is right for you.

Less than three. I'm excited to see you soon.

[yaaren.livejournal.com]

Oh man! That's so awesome. I've been thinking about one of those ever since I followed the links to research azure's bike purcahse awhile back.

You lucky girl! Enjoy your kickass bike!

[daedala.livejournal.com]

Wow!

Congratulations!

[ramanujan.livejournal.com]

That's so awesome! The Brompton is such a sweet little machine, it folds so nicely. And at the same time, it looks elegant and not at all ungainly, and it rides just great.

I sold my Friday last winter because I thought I was getting a newer Friday, but the company made a big mess of it -- sent me a bike twice with gobs of glitches. So I eventually just got my money back. But I was without a folding bike.

So when I went to MSP for my 10 year reunion, I paid a visit to Calhoun Cycles and picked up a Brompton of my own -- a basic, no frills C3. I love it! I did 50 miles on that bike around the cities, including a couple trips on the Midtown Greenway. When you and Azure visit the cities, be sure to bring your folders, and spend an afternoon on the Grand Round -- the stretch of bike paths from Minnehaha to Nokomis to Harriet is an utter delight.

Re: Congratulations!

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thanks!
Do you have any advice on packing folding bikes to go on the plane? Can I just put it inside a normal soft-side suitcase and check it? I would worry about it getting banged up.

Re: Congratulations!

[ramanujan.livejournal.com]

I'll tell you, when I brought my Brompton home on the plane, I just put it in a zippered nylon bag and checked that, and it was fine. That might have been pushing my luck somewhat, but when you think about it, there really aren't that many objects in an airplane's hold that could really GOUGE a bike. If you put the bike in a sturdy bag, and the bag in your soft-sided suitcase, surrounded by some of your clothes, it should be just fine.

Have a really good time! The cities were beautiful when I was there.

Re: Congratulations!

[ramanujan.livejournal.com]

One more thing: the bike is, of course, way cool. But what I'm even more impressed by is that it indicates a certain level of interest (on your part) in cycles to make such an investment, and to recognize such a bike's potential usefulness. There's no getting around it; you're an enthusiast, Mrs. BirdFigment! And that's a wonderful thing.

I would be pleased as peaches if I had personally influenced or encouraged you in this direction, however subtly or remotely. Even if I didn't, it would be okay to lie. ;^)

Re: Congratulations!

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

I can't think how you would NOT be an influence on how I looked at cycles and cycling.


...

But make no mistake, I am still a sluggish lump and would frustrate any REAL cyclist very quickly if s/he were to ride with me.

New bike

[(Anonymous)]

Hey, Beth, congratulations on your new bike! The little wheels do make it look funny, but if that is what works in order to fold it, why not! It'll be nice to be able to ride it (in decent weather) to work and for fun. Love, Mom