A Spark in the Quest for a DIY Folding Bike

Last year there was a vintage Bianchi folding bike for sale on the local Craigslist. I watched it drop from $150 to $100 to $50. And I struggled. I want less stuff. I have too many bikes. I have no use for a folding bike. It finally sold. I was relieved.

Then I started traveling a little bit for work. I even went to an unfamiliar town or two. And I wished for a folding bike to have hauled along. I started searching for a folding bike. No such luck. Timing is indeed everything.

Then I stopped traveling, and the itch went away.

Lately, I have been riding the bus a little. And that "last-mile vehicle" concept has started making sense to me. The bus stops are 1/4 mile from my house and 3/4 mile from my job. (That Flykly scooter I wrote about a few weeks ago is looking much cooler now.) And I have been looking at folding bikes again. There is a cool Dahon folding bike on Craigslist now. I have watched it drop from $150 to $130, but I am really cheap broke.

Someone go buy this thing (so I won't be tempted)!

 

So, where does this leave me in my quest? It's gonna have to be a DIY affair. I  keep looking at DIY folding bikes, but I haven't seen many that looked feasible for a man with my limited skills, money, tools, and time...

 

...until this morning. Some cool Euro bike dude posted an Instructable that has my brain and fingers itching. Will I build one? Probably not, but the next best thing might be to inspire you to build one. Check it out!

Folding Fixie (without welding)

 

Now, where's that scaffold hardware catalog and a set of calipers? I know they're around here somewhere.

 

May you upcycle your cycle and may you take each other everywhere!