Sorry, couldn't find the folding bike section.
I have a Ridgeback Attache folder and am preoaring for the next leg of my (and 7 others) folding madness - after London to Paris in 2009 and C2C this year we are going to cycle the first leg of LE2JOG in 2011.
The bike is more or less the same as the Dahon Vitesse D7 (7 speed hub) and I am considering making it more useable for longer rides (unless I fork out on a new bike).
What I need to improve is the geometry - I can't stand in the pedals as distance between seat and handlebar too short. Someone told me that I might be able to find a different handle bar which moves things forward, but haven't found anything - any ideas? In addition probably fitting Ergo bar ends, any experience?
thanks
martin
making my folder more useable
Re: making my folder more useable
I cannot speak for your particular model but I have done a couple of mods to my Brompton.
Fitting Ergon bar ends has as expected given an extra degree of comfort and a variety of hand positions. Do check out their website
http://www.ergon-bike.com/gb/en/home
to see the full range of lengths and sizes. Understandably many bike shops only stock a selection. The length of bar and size of pad can be an issue with a folding bike if they are not to foul the frame when folding.
My LBS Edinburgh Bike Co-op where happy to order exactly what I wanted.
The second alteration was to fit toe clips. The rigid nylon ones I use on my hybrid would have got in the way of the folding process so I used Powergrips
http://powergrips.mrpbike.com/
These flexible straps are sufficient to hold your foot in place on the pedal but move out of the way when folding.
Hope this helps
Alan
Fitting Ergon bar ends has as expected given an extra degree of comfort and a variety of hand positions. Do check out their website
http://www.ergon-bike.com/gb/en/home
to see the full range of lengths and sizes. Understandably many bike shops only stock a selection. The length of bar and size of pad can be an issue with a folding bike if they are not to foul the frame when folding.
My LBS Edinburgh Bike Co-op where happy to order exactly what I wanted.
The second alteration was to fit toe clips. The rigid nylon ones I use on my hybrid would have got in the way of the folding process so I used Powergrips
http://powergrips.mrpbike.com/
These flexible straps are sufficient to hold your foot in place on the pedal but move out of the way when folding.
Hope this helps
Alan
-
Wesh-Laurence
- Posts: 372
- Joined: 10 May 2009, 8:00am
Re: making my folder more useable
I can't find a close up photo of the handlebars or seatpost on your bike.
Basically you either want to move the handlebars further away from the saddle or move the saddle further from the handlebars. I assume that you have moved the saddle as far back as you can on the saddle rails.
Does your bike have a horizontal stem onto which the handlebars are attached, if it does can you buy a longer stem to move the handlebars further forward. If there is no stem can you replace the handlebars with ones with a very high rise and attach these horizontally instead of vertically, this would move the handlebar ends further from you.
Basically you either want to move the handlebars further away from the saddle or move the saddle further from the handlebars. I assume that you have moved the saddle as far back as you can on the saddle rails.
Does your bike have a horizontal stem onto which the handlebars are attached, if it does can you buy a longer stem to move the handlebars further forward. If there is no stem can you replace the handlebars with ones with a very high rise and attach these horizontally instead of vertically, this would move the handlebar ends further from you.