Fixing the Dahon's Fender and Discouraged by Summer Heat

Cargo hook saves the day to temporarily fix a broken fender bracket.

With my regular Peugeot commuter needing attention, I pressed the Dahon into service, and lacking carrying capacity, on a whim I jerry-rigged my smallest panniers on the rear rack. But because there is scant heal clearance, only one of two pannier hooks fits, with the rear hook quasi-bungeed in place. The bags were pretty light so I thought nothing of my temporary solution. As I cruised to work I was smugly pleased that my panniers might actually work for the Dahon as back up transportation.

As luck would have it, I heard a loud crack and an ugly flapping noise so I pulled over to investigate. My first thought was that a pannier hook had somehow come loose and snagged the spokes - a fear that frequently haunts me whenever something goes wrong with the rear wheel - but it wasn't that bad. I'd apparently stressed an already weak fender bracket that connects to the frame near the brakes which keeps it above the wheel (my bike fell on our NYC trip and I had to bend the fender back in place) because, as it turns out, that was the only trouble - the fender was still intact (though rubbing on the tire) - so I used my trusty 4-hook cargo net to raise the fender for the remainder of my ride to work and then back home.

With much research, I also discovered these sturdy aluminum fenders are no longer available. Instead, only black plastic replacements are it - and I cannot go there with black fenders! Chrome-colored fenders are attractive on this dark green folder, and speak "commuter" to me so I will do anything to save the ones I have.

After removing the axle bolt, can you spot the extra problem?

The Dahon is an unfamiliar bike is many ways. As much as I like it's portability and comfortable ride, I knew the mechanics would be quite a bit different than my usual 1980's mountain bikes. To start with, I had to remove the rear wheel to assess the underside of the broken bracket and see if it could be unattached (only the rivets were showing).

I imagine there are other Dahon owners of this particular vintage who do their own maintenance and have stumbled on the same peculiarity: the derailleur needs to be removed along with the wheel. I took a picture of the alignment, though I knew it was still going to be a nightmare to put everything back together correctly. I tried not to think about it while I worked on the fender.  One thing at a time...

I knew I'd saved a rather unsightly, though perfectly serviceable fender bracket from a previous run in with sticks that's snapped a fender on another bike. My husband says I'm jinxed with fenders, and he's right, I've had more than my share of mishaps (or fenderamics as I like to call it)!

I was unable to pry off the broken piece - rivets on both sides - so I bent the replacement snug against the existing bracket, which seemed to work fine. See below.

 And, while I had the wheel off, I set about also replacing the rear reflector that I'd somehow smashed - how do these things happen? Again, the Dahon's reflector appears to be proprietary but I keep a stash of extra parts, including reflectors of all shapes and sizes.

While not as sturdy as the original reflector, it'll do and I'll just have to be careful when folding the bicycle.

Of course being the parts collector that I am, I also kept the smashed bracket because, well you just never know if I'll come across the right-sized reflector that I can epoxy in place!

After much adjustment and angst (more than likely my patience was lubricated by a beer), I fit the wheel and derailleur back into semi-usable position. It's not perfect. Gears are not shifting as smoothly as before, but the bike is ride-able until I figure how to adjust things or bring it in for a quick tune-up. I did some research but failed to come up with anything remotely close to this model that would be of any help. However, interestingly, I noticed that newer Dahons attach the derailleur in a separate frame hole, in front of the axle. Makes sense to me!

I have new tires for the Dahon, but, as you can imagine, I'm not keen to tackle that project until the current tires wear out.

As a side note, I'm having a terrible time this summer getting to bike projects. I have lots of ideas, sewing and otherwise, parts are in-house, I even got a new saddle, but this humidity has caused a general malaise. I'm still commuting as much as possible, but rides often end in air conditioned comfort or I jump into the lake to cool off. The last thing I want to do are bike projects!

Can a person hibernate in summer?

Two for One Weekend: Nashua River and Cheshire Rail Trails

My husband and I attended weekend-long wedding festivities in mid-June in southern New Hampshire, and also explored two rail trails: 12.5 mile Nashua River Trail that spans southward into Massachusetts and a 10 mile segment of the 42 mile Cheshire Rail Trail - that journey stretched northwest from Keene towards Walpole.

The Nashua River Rail Trail was surprisingly all paved and mostly shaded - very welcome on a hot weekend. My favorite part was through a long stretch of forest with pine needles covering the path.

Pedaling beside ponds was a pleasure...

...especially when we discovered a couple snapping turtles near the shore.

Mid-point on the trail.

There were plenty of signs...

and we soon reached the southern terminus in Ayer, Massachusetts.

After a quick snack in the shade, we doubled back to complete 25 miles.

Sunday morning, we located a trail pretty close to where we were staying in Marlboro.What the Nashua River Trail lacked in drama, the Cheshire Rail Trail made up for in dramatic landscapes, steeper climbs, and a few rugged spots. Leaving a hot parking lot, not long after we crossed a well-made and artistically welded bridge over a busy highway.

I appreciate creative benches - this one could double as a bike rack.

Heading north, this paved section quickly left bustling Keene, and passed a golf course...

for nice, shady dirt surface. The incline was noticeable so I took my time. There were many
single track crossings, which made for musings about a local mountain bike community.

We caught up to a couple (or did they catch us?) on suspension mountain bikes, who explained that there was an interesting Narrows section up ahead. My husband and I made that our goal before needing to turn back in time to attend a wedding.

The Narrows was rather dark and inviting, an area near a summit that the railroad appeared to have blasted through. Water seeped down the cliffs.

Unfortunately, it was rough and slow going for our rigid bikes. Pointed rocks protruded from a hard ground - I spent most of my time out of the saddle to gain any momentum.

But we made it through, only to turn around, however the downhill ride made it more manageable on and we noticed rock climbing bolts affixed to the cliffs.

As more and more rail trails are created in this country alone, there's so much to experience! I'm glad we attended the wedding to catch up with old friends, of course, but seizing extra opportunities made the entire weekend worthwhile.

What Is It About the Dahon that I Love So Much?

The Dahon Boardwalk has proven it's worth, opening my eyes to experiences I never expected. (Hint: it's more than it's obvious capabilities as a folder.)

It's easy to become enamored when adding a new bike to the fold, riding the new bicycle exclusively while the other bikes form a layer of dust. This has not been the case with the Dahon. It has a distinct purpose: as an alternative when I require less carrying capacity, when I need to stow it inside a vehicle, or riding short jaunts around town.

And yet, it is a bicycle that's become much more than that.

Simplicity and Versatility
The Dahon is a straightforward bicycle. There are 6 gears with easy twist shifters. There are fenders and a rack for functional transportation rides. Folding capabilities aside, therein lies it's beauty. It's a simple machine: a few gears, two wheels, easy to keep clean.

On might argue that a 3-speed does virtually the same thing, and you'd be right, but a small wheel bike also offers unique advantages. Easy on and easy dismount begs a rider to explore: stop for photos, window shopping,  etc. And, with a quick release seat post, I've discovered the bike can fit almost anyone, doing double-duty as a perfect bike for guests, and because of it's upright posture has been deemed "a fun little bike".

Little Wheels Give Me Big Ideas
The fact that all these simple ideas come in a compact package, has quick turning radius, (handy for squeezing past gridlocked vehicles in NYC), with ample space on handle bar and extra long stem, for a purse, water bottle holder, or almost anything. It's by far the lowest step over bike of my collection, and coincidentally, my first foray into 1x gearing, which I like for it's simplicity.

Of course, the Dahon has limitations. The short rack cannot accommodate my work pannier or haul enough camping gear for tent touring. However, I wouldn't hesitate to bring the Dahon on another Amtrak excursion or try an inn-to-inn tour on flat terrain. And much like experimenting with the Yuba Boda Boda, riding a non-traditional bike has opened my eyes to possibilities I'd never dreamed of.

Another interesting fact: the Dahon is further confirmation that a frame that's easier to mount is what I want as I grow older. And now I have 3 styles to choose from: Peugeot commuter, Clementine tourer, and the versatile Dahon.

It's Been a Wonderful Ride, Miyata 610!

It's easy to become emotionally attached to a bicycle, but in the end they are only machines. I came to that realization a few years ago, especially when our children didn't have any interest in riding the Miyata and I'd gravitated to riding mainly step through bikes. I received a fair price for the bike so I have no regrets. The Miyata is destined to make someone else happy, in whatever incarnation the new owner decides.

As it should be.

DIY Water Bottle Holder for the Dahon Boardwalk

Homemade handle bar mounted water bottle carrier.

As mentioned previously, I devised a solution to easily carry water on my Dahon for our New York City adventure.

But a holder made of fabric wasn't my first thought.

TooGoo water bottle mount from Amazon.
I can always use this adapter on any bike. 

Initially, I purchased an inexpensive metal clamp. It took me a while to safely tighten the screws and position the "puzzle" lock thing on the handle bars. Eventually, though, it worked and I secured an extra water bottle cage to the mount.

However, I wasn't completely satisfied. Like all handle bar water bottle attachments, the holder is perched high so you can easily grab your bottle and drink. That wasn't so much a problem, yet a folding bicycle has quite a bit of  extra and often unused "real estate", meaning there's a lot of vertical post space before meeting the frame, yet had I wanted to lower the new attachment it wouldn't fit the oversize tubing. And more importantly, I might need to fold the bike and the metal mount would rap or scratch the frame. I knew I lacked the patience to remove the mount and/or also the cage and reattach the parts once we traveled to our destination. (at the time I planned to fold the bike while using Amtrak and save the bicycle reservation fee).

I went back to the drawing board - so to speak - and found this idea on the internet.

Bushwacker insulated water bottle holder.

It was an intriguing concept: secure the carrier with two Velcro-type fasteners! I liked the adaptable, and easily removed nature and could save myself 15.00 and create my own version. It was also an idea that wouldn't mar the frame or bar. And motivation wasn't entirely due to saving money because I enjoy problem solving, am pretty handy with a sewing machine, plus I had all the materials on hand.

So, like most of my DIY bike projects, I place my bike next to my sewing corner to continually adjust and check measurements. This project was relatively simple. I sandwiched quilt batting between material (adding black material on top edge to eventually hide straps) to give the finished product structure, sewed a tube-shape first, then gingerly sewed a circular bottom. The Velcro-type fasteners were attached to black webbing then sewed onto the main body.

The finished product is adaptable and I like that it can be attached to either front or back of handle bar. There is little sway, even with a full large water bottle. It's also relatively easy to remove and replace the bottle - of course, an important feature!

Using the holder on our New York City trip.

The Bushwacker version is constructed with closed cell foam so it has insulating properties and I imagine is a stiffer version than mine. Their model also uses lateral hook and loop fastener to adjust to different sized bottles. I think the price is justified for these additional features. However, for a DIY project that's functional and is magenta colored,  I'm very pleased with the way my model turned out!