New Year weight loss plans ???

Not too many make frames in the USA any longer - there are some
"artisan shops" that turn out relatively expensive frames, often with
aesthetic touches that can't be found on most "production frames"...
but the cost of labor, and probably equally important - the cost of
meeting environmental restrictions when welding and painting - have
driven most production overseas.

Hey Mark -- does your company make a decent (and affordable) folding bike
for pilots?

It seems like all the ones I've seen are either (a) way over-priced or (b)
junk. And in at least one case, both.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote:

Not too many make frames in the USA any longer - there are some
"artisan shops" that turn out relatively expensive frames, often with
aesthetic touches that can't be found on most "production frames"...
but the cost of labor, and probably equally important - the cost of
meeting environmental restrictions when welding and painting - have
driven most production overseas.

Hey Mark -- does your company make a decent (and affordable) folding bike
for pilots?

It seems like all the ones I've seen are either (a) way over-priced or (b)
junk. And in at least one case, both.

I've thought about it many times, but haven't moved forward on it
(yet). A folding titanium bike would be a very, very narrow niche
market and the set-up costs for building the frames would be pretty
high (which would of course put the bike in the "way over-priced"
category - at least from most folk's perspective.

I've thought about doing a "mini-frame version" - something that would
look a lot like a BMX bike with a really long stem and seat post,
putting the rider in a legitimate "adult position", but that would
break down to a much smaller package than a regular road bike or
mountain bike.

Mark Hickey

Hey Mark -- does your company make a decent (and affordable) folding bike
for pilots?

I've thought about it many times, but haven't moved forward on it
(yet). A folding titanium bike would be a very, very narrow niche
market

It's not just for pilots. I've often thought that the bike manufacturers
have under-estimated the size of the folding bike market.

As with LED spotlights, battery powered air compressors, and those
"instant-jump-start" thingies, when a product becomes affordable, it
suddenly becomes a "necessity" -- and the market simply explodes.

Every one of the items I mentioned above were unaffordable -- or
unavailable -- just a few years ago. Now, they have become "standard
equipment" in each of my cars.

If marketed as a convenience, or even as a safety device ("Never get
stranded again!") I believe that an affordable folding bike could become the
next "gotta have" thing for the general population -- not just pilots.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:

Hey Mark -- does your company make a decent (and affordable) folding bike
for pilots?

I've thought about it many times, but haven't moved forward on it
(yet). A folding titanium bike would be a very, very narrow niche
market

It's not just for pilots. I've often thought that the bike manufacturers
have under-estimated the size of the folding bike market.

I'm thinking about getting the Hummer, have about 4 or 5 versions,
supposedly originally made for the military and they don't cut the frame
for the 'fold' which is a big plus. starting price around $500 which if
you've priced any quality bikes lately is not out of line. It has front
suspension and front disk brake with rear caliber brake. folds to 3x2x1
foot.
It's a mountain bike although if you like you could put street tires on it
for a more comfy ride on the roads. I want it for both aviation and also I
do course certification for Running type road races and would like
something a little more convienient than my current bike.
John


This is there lowerend street/limited off road $449
no front suspension/no disk brake
Montague CX Comfort Bike
Full-size comfort bike for cruising city streets and boardwalks with 26"
standard wheels.
Folds to 36" x 28" x 12" in under thirty seconds without the use of tools.
Compact size allows for convenient storage in a car trunk, boat, closet, or
private plane.
Limited lifetime warranty on frame.
Uses extra cushioned saddle with suspension seat post, upright, rise
handlebars with an adjustable stem, and wide semi-slick tires that offer a
smooth ride on paved roads but have a grip on light off-road terrain.
Equipped with industry standard wheels and components serviceable at any
bike shop.


There medium model $549
Montague MX Mountain Bike
Frame: All Aluminum 7005 Front & Rear Triangle
Fork: RST 281 Suspension
Color: Brushed Aluminum
Shifters: Grip Shift
Drivetrain: 24-Speed Shimano® Alivio
Brakes: Alloy V-Brakes
Tires: 1.95" Front/Rear Specific Knobby
Spokes/Rims: Stainlees Steel/Alloy
Saddle: Velo Mountain Bike
Seat Post: Ally Micro Adjust
Frame Sizes: 18", 20.0"
Folded Size: 36" x 28" x12"

http://treadmillscentral.com/images/...1100895065.jpg

I'm thinking about getting the Hummer, have about 4 or 5 versions,
supposedly originally made for the military and they don't cut the frame
for the 'fold' which is a big plus. starting price around $500 which if
you've priced any quality bikes lately is not out of line.

"Reasonably priced" and "$500" don't belong in the same post when you can
buy a perfectly serviceable mountain bike (with disk brakes and suspension)
for around $100 at Wally World. My son owns one, and it's orders of
magnitude better than my old Schwinn Continental (which, in today's money,
would easily cost over $500.)

If Mark wants to get a folding bike in every automobile trunk in America,
that's the target price to aim for, IMHO.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote:

I'm thinking about getting the Hummer, have about 4 or 5 versions,
supposedly originally made for the military and they don't cut the frame
for the 'fold' which is a big plus. starting price around $500 which if
you've priced any quality bikes lately is not out of line.

"Reasonably priced" and "$500" don't belong in the same post when you can
buy a perfectly serviceable mountain bike (with disk brakes and suspension)
for around $100 at Wally World. My son owns one, and it's orders of
magnitude better than my old Schwinn Continental (which, in today's money,
would easily cost over $500.)

If Mark wants to get a folding bike in every automobile trunk in America,
that's the target price to aim for, IMHO.

It all comes down to the mission statement for the vehicle (not unlike
in GA). $400-500 is pretty much the entry level that I'd recommend
spending for a bike that will be ridden regularly, for any distance
for a number of years. Below that, the componentry is fairly marginal
(and in the case of most $100 bikes, not even fully functional).

That's not to say that a $100 bike won't carry the rider over the
occasional ride without killing them... obviously it will. A lot of
people who get into cycling seriously do "serial upgrades", starting
with the Wally World bike, and moving up one level at a time until
they end up with a bike that's up to the riding they're doing. For
many, that means a $500 bike - for others, $2000 or more.

Mark Hickey

In article l7vuf.457213$084.371904@attbi_s22,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:


It's not just for pilots. I've often thought that the bike manufacturers
have under-estimated the size of the folding bike market.

As with LED spotlights, battery powered air compressors, and those
"instant-jump-start" thingies, when a product becomes affordable, it
suddenly becomes a "necessity" -- and the market simply explodes.

Every one of the items I mentioned above were unaffordable -- or
unavailable -- just a few years ago. Now, they have become "standard
equipment" in each of my cars.

If marketed as a convenience, or even as a safety device ("Never get
stranded again!") I believe that an affordable folding bike could become the
next "gotta have" thing for the general population -- not just pilots.

It's a romantic notion, but I don't think it's true. Most of us are
pretty lazy. I've got a friend who's 6' 5" of solid muscle, and he calls
AAA when he gets a flat tire. People don't want to put a bicycle
together and ride it down the freeway to get home. That's what cell
phones are for.

There was an article in a flying rag several years back (might have been
AOPA Pilot) that was about being prepared to spend a few days in the
wilderness in the event of an off-airport forced landing. It said "The
Southern California pilot's idea of an emergency kit is two dimes for a
pay phone."

Your self-reliant attitude is commendable, but, IMO, it's one that isn't
widely shared, unfortunately.

(I hope your cars are also stocked with food and water, clothing,
blankets, a tire patch kit, at least a couple of hundred dollars in
cash, a good knife, maybe a small caliber rifle, matches, a Boy Scout
Handbook, and a full tank of gas. You never know where you'll be when
the next natural or man-made disaster will come along.)

Other than the folding bike, I'm planning to start getting prepared
tomorrow, or Friday at the latest.

"Smitty Two" wrote in message
news
It's a romantic notion, but I don't think it's true. Most of us are
pretty lazy. I've got a friend who's 6' 5" of solid muscle, and he calls
AAA when he gets a flat tire. People don't want to put a bicycle
together and ride it down the freeway to get home. That's what cell
phones are for.

It's never made sense to me to wait a hour or more for AAA to show up when I
could change the flat myself in 5-10 minutes... Of course, I also keep a 2
liter bottle of water and some Lava brand soap in my car to clean my hands
afterwards....

"Grumman-581" wrote in message
...

It's never made sense to me to wait a hour or more for AAA to show up when
I
could change the flat myself in 5-10 minutes... Of course, I also keep a 2
liter bottle of water and some Lava brand soap in my car to clean my hands
afterwards....



I've got Allstate's Auto Club Coverage and I've had to call them the last
time I had a flat not because I couldn't change the tire myself but because
there in no place large enough to put the removed tire in my Honda S2000.

Your self-reliant attitude is commendable, but, IMO, it's one that isn't
widely shared, unfortunately.

Anyone who lives in the upper Midwest generally carries "survival gear" in
their cars. Those who don't have clearly never been stuck in a snow drift.

(Of course, a folding bike wouldn't be of much use at this time of year!)

Personally, I wouldn't use a folding bike (or think of it) as "survival
gear", but rather as just another fun option to have while motoring. There
have been plenty of times that I've been in a state park where I thought
"wouldn't it be nice to have a bike"...

If Mark could build one for around $100 bucks, I'd buy several. And I
know a lot of other people who would, too.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"