Bike Friday pocket rocket Swept bar conversion

I have had the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket for some years and its a great zippy bike which I took it to some memorable trips.  But now I find it too stretched and its getting harder to ride the road bars. Guess age is catching up and I find myself riding it less.  Also I realised I ride on the hoods like 97% of the time... 

And yes while I do like the look of BF pocket rocket with road bars.... it was not so comfortable to me now. 

Looking at my fleet of bikes, I realised the most frequently used ones are the swept back bars and so I decided to make the switch. Due to the folding nature of the bike, it required the cabling to be routed in a longer arduous way and it affected the STI shifting abit. So I decided to go back to the simple thumbies route... which worked all this time on my old other bikes.  Bike friday also had some trick part like the goose neck interrogate handle post.  I used a 35.4mm seat post, sawn off on the saddle mounting and tried it out. It works! The last few weeks was spent riding and resetting all the touch points.  Now its a zippy and comfy ride! 

BikeFriday Pocket Rocket folding method

For folks who love a spirited ride on smaller wheels. The BikFriday Pocket Rocket , PPR Pro are good options.  I have owned one since 2012 and you can read it here  they ride very well. 
But one of the "issues" are they aren't for everyday fold and go type of rides. Esp if u want it very quick. But if u have a BF Pocket Rocket, u have the option to "fold it and the gentleman above shows it very clearly. And he also added some straps so that the package is more stable. Check it out!

Bike Fit video by Lynette Chiang

Lynette Chiang is an avid bike advocate, esp for Bike Friday. She was also instrumental in promoting Bike Friday bikes and connecting to real customers.  I understand now she is not with Bike Friday anymore which is a real shame. However, life carries on...  as I poked around you tube, I found some nice video she did on bike fit. It is a 3 part series which is good to watch, not so much on the best equipment but understanding the people are built differently and what to look out for to make it that much more comfortable and efficient. Enjoy!

Brompton and Bike friday enjoying a quiet moment

Brompton or Bike friday....

On the recent Taiwan cycling trip, I noted Mary and Derrick chose Brompton while Kimi used a Bike friday. This two brands which has fierce "loyalists" sparking long online threads that one is better than another....or is it?  I am just glad that we get to see bike fridays and Brompton riders being friends and sharing a nice time together. Let's all remember that it is just a joy to be able to cycle and cycling with a group of like minded friends are even more fun and precious.

Mary and Kimi sharing a nice time at Seven Star Bay, Hualien, Taiwan

united as one. go go LCSG!

Orrr, paaayy , soom... just like childhood days!

Bicycle with a soul...Really? Zun bor?

BF and Brompton in harmony, for once :) 

Cyclist are an interesting lot. When it comes to their bicycles it would invariably invoke strong feelings and brand loyalty. What comes to my mind is Brompton and bike Friday. To me both are good bikes and it baffles me to see the tension and big arguments on cyberspace and kopi talk.... It is like comparing Ferrari and porsche. In my humble opinion, both are good but they ride different and look different.
Some proponents (of BF or Brompton) will cite the fold, theirs the best, heritage and how the bikes are about handcraft(I am guilty of that too) and really does that matter?
I sometimes find myself "overselling" the bicycles and gear. Especially to the non-cycling friends and community. In their minds they must be thinking "wah lau...2K leh...can buy motorbike and u tell me ur bicycle cost so much, Zun bor? Inside got gold is it? What you talking about soul?"  I am sure they like to know how and why do such innate tubes and rubber become such passion of desire? What goes in the minds of these people - like me...
Bicycle with a soul? Or perhaps what I am talking about "soul" is in the conversations while riding, feeling the cool breeze. La-ing kopi and chatting over all kinds stuff. Although it is small talk...it has the magical power to bond. And I love it!  So what moves ur mojo so to speak? I like to know....
FYI, this is my first entry using the iPad, edited abit on macbook pro(typing is faster) :)