Fixed folders

Hi, a few months back the smiling buddha had a thread about converting his dahon folder to fixed... I've been doing a similar project (Dahon boardwalk S1). Are there any other fixed folder fans out here? Does anyone know what happened to smiling buddhas bike; is he still using it?

i was actually curious about that.
i reckon i'd put two brakes on it, cos the geometry on those bikes looks like it'll be hard to throw your weight around.

i was actually curious about that.
i reckon i'd put two brakes on it, cos the geometry on those bikes looks like it'll be hard to throw your weight around.

I own this:

Ah-ha! I think I've seen you on this, or at least someone on a blue trek folder that's been fixed up. On Kennington Road, must have been at least a year ago.

how does the leg-braking work out for you on that?

Ah-ha! I think I've seen you on this, or at least someone on a blue trek folder that's been fixed up. On Kennington Road, must have been at least a year ago.

That was me and it was def over a year ago. I'm now on a Charge Plug as the Trek has a crack in the seat tube...

Will be converting a Swift folder when the new steel model finally arrives.

how does the leg-braking work out for you on that?

Just the same as a diamond frame. What's good though is that is very nimble in traffic.

It was geared 53/13 = 78"

There are some interesting creations on FGG. (I know the 2nd doesnt actually fold, but it could) I love the idea of having something I could throw in a suitcase and use to go explore when I'm out foreign, rare as that is.

There are some interesting creations on FGG. (I know the 2nd doesnt actually fold, but it could) I love the idea of having something I could throw in a suitcase and use to go explore when I'm out foreign, rare as that is.

That is one of the benefits of a folder. The other is that you can take it into a pub and secrete it under a table...

Has anybody gone ahead with a conversion on a Swift folder? I've seen a couple of fixed conversions featured, and a barebones frame available in the US. Wondered if it was worth the shipping costs rather than converting a fully built one.

zigzag - I commute outside of Paris three days a week by train so I use the Dahon is my commuter bike - it is surprisingly good in traffic -

I bought a Swift Folder frame from Peter in Brooklyn, took months to arrive, but was worth the wait :) Shipping to the UK was $70 and the import taxes were about £60. I think this is the best way to do it, import the frame and buy everything else here in the UK.

I was thinking of getting a secondhand Dahon Jack and converting it to single speed and changing the wheels to something lighter/slimmer. The reason in doing this is that the bike folds up meaning technically I can take it into work and leave it by my desk and not worry about it being stolen. Good idea or bad?

Might be of interest to someone for a project, Dahon Speed folding frame,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Unused-Dahon-Speed-Folding-Bike-Frame_W0QQitemZ130298992163QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR?hash=item130298992163&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

I want this!
Not fixed (or even singlespeed, it's 4 speed!)

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I'm on the lookout for a raleigh 20 at the moment. Although I want one of the non-folding ones. there seem to be a few fixed ones about..

I bought a Swift Folder frame from Peter in Brooklyn, took months to arrive, but was worth the wait :) Shipping to the UK was $70 and the import taxes were about £60. I think this is the best way to do it, import the frame and buy everything else here in the UK.

How easy is it to get decent 20" wheels etc to build this up? I just looked at the bikes online and they look good.

bmx wheels? and I imagine it is easy enough to get parts for folding and recumbent bikes. I think recumbents sometimes/often(?) have 20".

No

You can get good quality 20" wheels as Moulton use them , but you need to get the right diameter 20". Sheldon Brown has loads on this .

In small wheels bikes I believe that 20" is the optimum size.

I use 20" DiamondBack wheels on my Swift Folder, got a pair for £15 on eBay, the advantage of the Swift Folder is it uses standard sizes all round so lots of options will fit. I will upgrade my wheels within the next year though, I want to get a flipflop so I can give fixed a go.

Here's some pics the day my frame arrived, with all the other parts (see if you can spot the missing bit) and once complete :)

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Hi,

I found a swift folder in North London, had sustained a bit of damage. I was wondering if there was a way to put out a feeler for someone that has lost one, as i'm told giving it to the police doesn't give much chance of it being found...
Good day to ya's

I want this!
Not fixed (or even singlespeed, it's 4 speed!)

i dont think thats a folder

it's not a folder as such, but does split in two.

http://www.bickertonbicycles.co.uk/

What are these worth?

a slap if seen on one