Folding Bike, 20-inch wheels, 32 pounds

As part of my move to Virginia Beach, I am renting an efficiency apartment just west of the university. For now, I figure I will commute to work via bicycle, given I only plan to be on campus two days a week.

It has been years since I've regularly ridden a bike, but I am in good default shape. I work out 6 days a week. So my decision to buy a bike was not a huge deliberation. I did have a concern about inclement weather. So what I did was buy a Citizen Bike, a bike that folds up and can be put into any car trunk (see more comments below). In this way, if I need a ride home in the evening during a storm, I can get one from a colleague.

I tested out my 1.5 mile route (see below) yesterday and it took about 12 minutes. Ok, I confess. I am not a speed demon. My bike only has 6 speeds. Also the major streets are busy with traffic, and the last part is an overpass. Given Indian River Road narrows as I go over the Freeway, I take the sidewalk at that point over the Hampton Roads Highway, for safety. Yes, I yield to pedestrians! There are not many. I didn't see any yesterday, only two other bikers.

I hope my plan holds up. The weather has been very temperate lately. Folks tell me the temperature will climb into the high 90s later this month and in September--so I'll see how that goes. But for now, the price is right! I only have to refuel at the dinner table. I do need some things, like a small bicycle pump, maybe a reflective mesh vest. Also a light rain poncho, might help. At least I got snap-on lights for my bike, for when it gets dark in the Fall.

I was skeptical, initially about buying a fold-up bike. But in addition to the car trunk thing, a couple of factors pushed me toward it. First, Regent has limited bike racks at this point. So for security, I just fold up my bike, and carry the 33 pounds into my office. They do make a 8 pound lighter version without fenders. Second, I don't have much storage where I am, nor likely where I might be going. Third, I think fold-up are cool. They are a conversation piece! And I don't need the rugged frame for punishing off-road mountain biking.

There are alot of high-end fold-up bikes for commuters. I spent only 1/2 or 1/4 of what I could have in purchasing this unit online. Bompton fold-up bikes appear to be top of the line. Citizen Bike has a sale now for under $200 for the model I bought. But Citizen was very helpful, even though it was a 2-day delay before they shipped it UPS. The bike came preassembled. It only took a crescent wrench and a Phillips head screw-driver, and about 1 hour to fiddle with things to make sure the bike seat was on, and little things were adjusted, like angles of the brake handles, or reflector lights.

If you are interested to commute by bike, even alternating certain days of the week, see this wikipedia article on bicycle commuting.

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Thoughts after three months: Well, my bike has held up pretty good. No flat tires yet! That is a miracle given the broken glass. I've only had to be picked up once given the rain. Last week I did have one of my pedals fall apart. I damaged it a month ago so the ball bearings finally froze up, and bought a $10.00 replacement! Temperatures are colder now, so I wear more layers.