Why a foldable?
In 2016, I scrapped my car and decided to commute by BMW (Bus/Bike, MRT, and Walk). I decided on a foldable because I needed to lug my bike up and down bus stops and train platforms. I zeroed in on the FSIR, a 20-inch, 10-kg all-aluminium foldable.
(The wheels are not parallel, making the bike hard to push.)
I did not know that it was “branded” then and that the hinge design was patented. Hence, the $750 price tag is about $250 more than the average. All I cared about was the weight, and I have used it to explore Singapore (almost everywhere) and recce for walking trails (more than 20); I am one satisfied customer.
Seven years later, a friend and I biked 1,000 km around Kyushu. He was on a brand-new Rifle R8, and I was on the FSIR. At the end of the trip, I gave my bike away (to a waitress at a ramen shop in Fukuoka), knowing I would own the Rifle R8. He paid $450 and sold it to me for $300.
What’s wrong with the FSIR?
- The sleek seat looks cool but is guaranteed to give you a pain in the arse after an hour of riding. I quickly replaced it with a soft, broad seat for $25.
- When folded, the two wheels are not parallel. You can’t push the bike. You have to carry it, and it’s no joke even for distances, like from the MRT station turnstiles to the platform. I prefer the bus to the train, where the transfer is down one bus and up another at the same stop. Some designs come with a separate set of small wheels. They serve the purpose but add to the weight and cost.
- The drive-to-driven gear ratio is >3. This means hard work when riding up a slope. It’s typically between 2 and 4 for a city bike and 0.5 to 1 for a mountain bike. Thus, the lowlight of our Kyushu ride was having to push up a 5 km stretch of road to go over a ridge. It was not fun, but we enjoyed the mountain air, admired the scenery, and spotted the cherry blossoms.
4. The handlebar could not be raised, meaning a tall person had to raise his head to see what was ahead. Insist on a city bike handlebar that requires you to sit upright, like the Dutch commuting to work or the Japanese housewife on her way to shop. It is uncomfortable sitting in any other position; ask any cyclist. Bending to reach the handlebar meant continually raising your head to look ahead. Fighting gravity is tiring, and when you succumb, even momentarily, it is unsafe. A foldable is not designed for racing. It is for commuting at leisure, and oldies should sit back and enjoy the ride comfortably.
The Rifle R8
Before we paid the retailer $450, we ensured the Rifle R8 did not include the four wrongs.
Price, Security and Safety
Price: For under $200, you will be spoilt for choice of a steel frame foldable. The lightest weighs about 15 kg. The next time you shop, try lugging a 15 kg bag of rice around the aisles for 10 minutes. I am sure you will agree that the first consideration should be weight. I would gladly pay a premium for every kilogram below 10 kg. The lightest at 6.9 kg, has a carbon fibre frame and is on sale at almost $7,000. More modest models in the 8 kg range can be had for $2,000. They are all flouted as branded.
Security: I will stick to a “standard” that retails between $400 and $800. Most thieves would leave mine alone for one that is worth stealing. I like to enjoy my cuppa at the market without having to sit with my bicycle next to me or parked within sight.
Safety: It’s easy to fall off a bike, so at least one foot can rest on the ground when you stop paddling. A casual walking speed is 4 km/hr. On a bike, you can double that if you can ride without continually looking at the road, thus allowing you to look around and enjoy the sights.
We do not need to make a statement at our age (I am 76). We need a bicycle that we can pedal with minimal effort while sitting upright to enjoy sightseeing comfortably as we commute by bicycle. A foldable allows us to abandon our ride and continue our journey by bus or train. It would be nice if the tyres would not puncture, for example, solid tyres. My experience with punctures is not too unpleasant. In seven years and many thousands of kilometres, I had three punctures.
I feel carefree whenever I bike and will continue for as long as my legs allow. I will use the R8 for my next ride, either along the coast from Nanning to Xiamen or the Grand Canal from Beijing to Hangzhou. I will be alone on this trip unless you want to come along. Will you?
PS: I am not an agent for the Rifle R8 and have no financial interest in any bicycle manufacturer.
Cheng Huang Leng
Cheng Huang Leng is a marine engineer by training. For many years, he taught marine automation to Singapore Polytechnic students and personal effectiveness, leadership, and quality management to Singapore Technologies employees until his retirement.
