Submitted by
AdamW
a Cross Country Rider
from Boise, ID
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2008
Strengths: Fun! Linkage seems durable. Travel!
Weaknesses: Included travel bag (Airporter) needs ongoing maintenance due to baggage handler abuse
Bottom Line:
This bike is amazing! Although the included Airporter bag is slightly over "oversized" dimensions I have yet to be charged extra. I have now traveled with this bike to Italy, New Jersey (2x), and Maine. In Italy I set it up with slicks, rack, and panniers and had a great tour. The bike was comfy and smooth handling with I experienced no troubles spending all day in the saddle. With knobbies I was bumping over rocks and roots on the East coast. Railed the local smooth singletrack here in Idaho. I also set it up with slicks for a road ride in Maine in addition to some trail riding. Incredibly versatile and did I say fun? Wherever I go, the Flo comes along. I have now got set-up down to about 20 minutes; breakdown to 30 or so minutes as you really do need to protect the frame with piping insulation. The baggage handlers are rough and the soft-sided Airporter bag is not rugged enough to withstand their abuse. The bag itself is breaking down somewhat with zipper damage, cracks in the plastic reinforcing that provides the structural support for the bag, and stitching coming out. After each trip, I do a little reinforcing, restitching, and whatever it takes to make the bag a little stronger for its next trip. I can't say enough about this bike: the way it handles and the ability to travel with it just puts a smile on my face. One of the best bicycle-related purchases I have ever made! If you travel a bunch and look at roads/trails saying to yourself I wish I had my bike to check that out and you have a wad of cash ready to pluck down, you won't be let down.
Submitted by
Terry Ash
a Cross Country Rider
from Utah Valley, Utah
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2008
Strengths: Super spec, amazing Steel frame, lightweight; oh, and by the way, this baby breaks down for travel. Truly AMAZING.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
This is a ripping steel hardtail that's perfect for all day riding due to the compliant steel frame. She's also great for xc racing if that's your bag. Light (around 23lbs) stable, and handles like a dream, crisp enough for the tightest and twistiest, but stable enough for descents more steep and technical than you oughtta be riding on a hardtail!
This is the sweetest hardtail I've ever thrown a leg over!
Similar Products Used: Cannondale Hardtail; Cannondale Jekyll; Santa Cruz Blur and Santa Cruz Nomad
Bike Setup: Factory Stock - no need to change a thing!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tom Phillips
a Cross Country Rider
from Jeffersonville, Indiana, USA
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2007
Strengths: Super smooth drive train! Shifts are seamless and power transfer is immediate. The light weight makes for a fast bike in the flats and a climbing fool. I bought the bike because I like to ride in South East Asia and the fit is perfect for the mountains or the roads. The benefit of this bike coming apart to facilitate travel is a plus but the bike is sweet on it's own merits.
Bottom Line:
I have a Cannondale six/13 with all Dura-Ace, a T2000 touring bike and a KHS MTB but find myself drawn to the Dahon for more and more rides. I can ride it at 26 mph in the flats sometimes the Flo seems to do the work for me. I love this bike! I would like to see road bars available on the bike for those long rides or tours when I want more hand positions. I will probably try setting the road bars and shifters up just to see how it works.
Strengths: Super light Reynolds 853 frame, Steel is real!!! Very solid component group, very sweet handlebar/stem combo great for adjusting height, crazy light wheelset.
Weaknesses: You must be mechanically inclined to use this bike, it has to be set up correctly each time or failure will occur.... Don't particularly love the seat/post combo, tends to loosen and rattle often, but it is comfortable.
Bottom Line:
Not only is this a GREAT travel bike, it is just a plain great bike. I have raced it for a season and a half in all conditions, in 24 hour races, marathons, with nary a problem. Have traveled all over the US with it, and have not once had to pay the fee for bikes. Only suggestions if you have or get one is to attach the lower clamp at a 45 degree angle to the frame, it takes a lot of load off of the clamp hinge and makes it ride a lot quieter. Last note is to take your time assembling the bike, it isn't difficult, but make sure EVERYTHING is tightened and adjusted.
Similar Products Used: Specialized S-Works steel (old school), Titus FCR
Bike Setup: Mostly stock, but changed to Rock Shox SID World Cup fork, and XTR Crankset. Rode it as a 29er for a while, it will fit a 1.9" rear wheel in the stays.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO. USA
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2006
Strengths: TRAVEL! (and not suspension travel!). This bike has been with me to 5 countries now, and it is the perfect do anything bike for the road and singletrack. It is a very light, very supple hardtail with great components that can handle any trail I am willing to ride. It also is a great urban explorer. If you have ever said "I wish I had my bike with me", now you can! I have ridden it on single-track in the Black Forest, Croatia, Italy, as well as around Colorado. It accelerates better than any mountain bike I have ridden and climbs and descends the twistys wonderfully. Unlike any other bike you can travel with, there is nothing you cannot ride it on and have an enjoyable time. The main draw of this bike is that YOU WILL take your bike with you since you can fit the suitcase in your car or any taxi, and have a great bike at your disposal anywhere you travel. With the lockout, and semi-slick tires, it moves along just fine on the road, and has braze-ons for panniers if you would like (I haven't gone that route yet). For me, it is just like home, having a great bike in my hotel room to explore new trails, neighborhoods, or just a cool coffee shop on the other side of town. For sure it is a great bike (I've owned 4 other hardtails- one steel and 3 aluminum, and this is my favorite), but the strength of this bike is the free transport of cycling pleasure all over the world. I travel with lots of sport teams in my job, and everyone is jealous of my mobility, and chance to see the world as it should be seen, on a bicycle! The bike is easily dissembled in 5 mnutes, and well-packed in 5-10 more. Assembly is also 10-15 minutes. The suitcase works great. I should add that this is a race-ready setup, and on any course that doesn't have giant drops, I would choose this bike over my Superlight.
Weaknesses: PRICE> I am cheap. I hate spending more than $1500 on a bike that I won't race, but if I was only going to buy one bike, for sure this is the one to get. DISK BRAKES> I live in dry Colorado, and rim brakes are fine. These avid disks work just fine, but removing the disks for travel each time mean I end up spending an extra 5-10 minutes in each new trip getting the adjustment just right. I have also slightly warped the rotors in transit, and I now take a Park tool with me to adjust if need be. Saddle/Seatpost> Unique saddle with a center plastic rail, linked to seatpost. I would prefer a more traditional seatpost with other saddle options.
Bottom Line:
If you travel and would like to ride while travelling, then there really is no better option. If you want one mountain bike and you don't need full suspension, and you love the feel of a lightweight steel frame, get this bike. The ability to travel with a bike almost without hassle is life changing (That might sound hyperbolic, but it does allow you to experience foreign travel in a new and exciting way. In less than 6 months, I have many wonderful exotic rides for the memory bank!) This bike is also a great Cross-Country Racer, and no one would ever guess they just got their butt kicked by somebody on a "travel bike"! I have bought 11 bikes, raced road, mountain and track, and buying this bike is the single best purchase I have ever made in cycling!
Similar Products Used: No other travel or folding bikes, but other hard tails: Diamond Back, Specialized Stumpjumper M4. I also own a Santa Cruz Superlight.
Bike Setup: Avid Disks, Manitou Skareb Elite Fork, Trauvativ cranks, grip shift shifters and derailures.
I *need* a foldable bike, and am considering getting a steel frame and having a framebuilder retrofit S and S couplings.
I don't need custom geometry, so lots of options for fra Read More »
Picked it up today and named it Reddie Freddie (Reddie cos it is err.. red, Freddie after my gran)
The tweaks..
Specialized Toupe Team saddle
Crank Brothers Eggbeater pedals (Stee Read More »
I was in NYC and missed the FOTW trail maintenance night on Monday at Saxon Hill. But I did get to ride the new section that was added to "Mo Flo" last night. I was able to sneak Read More »
Anyone have these - I tried them in a LBS and they feel great. Wondering if they are as good as the ergons, as they are substantially less expensive. Read More »
