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11-15-2004, 09:50 AM

Elisa Francesca Roselli wrote:
> .....Dahon Impulse P21....... This bike is a winner!

> ....... Weight on
> the handlebars is minimal. I was right to choose this model with its
> straight T-bar handles, as this puts so much less stress on my wrists
> than Behemoth's swept-back bars.......

I guess this is one clue towards sorting Behemoth - new handlebars -
assuming that bike is staying with you.

> A few small demerits........... The magnetic catch that
> holds the bike together when folded is rather weak and the two halves
> easily come apart.

A bit of webbing or velcro strap to tie the two bits together can fix that
easily. So light and cheap that it can be left attached to handlebar or
somewhere else which is convinient.

> The baggage rack is small and carrying capacity is limited.

Carradice (a UK cycle luggage maker of legends) make some bags adapted to
fit Dahon's (or, I think, have spotted a niche to sell their standard bags
to Dahon owners).
http://www.carradice.co.uk/dahon-sqr-products.htm

Digging around Carradice's site also shows an "uplift" mount for a
conventional saddle bag (wider designs rather than the longer SQR bag
shapes), which fits onto a SQR mounting block:
http://www.carradice.co.uk/sqr-products.htm

Otherwise, I wonder if its possible to get the Brompton front luggage
bracket fitted to a Dahon ? Its something which would need some thought, so
not one for someone without knowledge of both machines. If it can be fitted
there are a range of useful front bags made for Bromptons.

> The most important drawback is that this bike is totally unupported in
> France. ..... I was paranoid about getting a flat. Why are there no local
> sellers? Is Dahon one of those American firms that has made a policy
> not to sell to "Old Europe" out of redneck jingoism?

Probably as likely that French cycle shops cannot cope with unusual bicycles
? In the UK most cycle shops have little out of the ordinary.
Even so, Dahon are available in the UK, arguably easier to find than a UK
made Brompton folder.
Dahon.com suggests these are the French importer:
http://www.josealvarez.fr/public/ who in turn hint that "Bouticycle" are the
dealer outlet(s) http://www.bouticycle.com

Tyres shouldn't be too hard - Schwalbe make a range of types of the required
sizes, covering everything from extreme racing through urban sensible, to
mud-plugging off-road.

- Nigel

--
NC - Webmaster for http://www.2mm.org.uk/
Replies to newsgroup postings to the newsgroup please.

11-15-2004, 09:50 AM	#10 (permalink)
NC Posts: n/a	Re: Dahon Impulse P21 is a Dream Bike Elisa Francesca Roselli wrote: > .....Dahon Impulse P21....... This bike is a winner! > ....... Weight on > the handlebars is minimal. I was right to choose this model with its > straight T-bar handles, as this puts so much less stress on my wrists > than Behemoth's swept-back bars....... I guess this is one clue towards sorting Behemoth - new handlebars - assuming that bike is staying with you. > A few small demerits........... The magnetic catch that > holds the bike together when folded is rather weak and the two halves > easily come apart. A bit of webbing or velcro strap to tie the two bits together can fix that easily. So light and cheap that it can be left attached to handlebar or somewhere else which is convinient. > The baggage rack is small and carrying capacity is limited. Carradice (a UK cycle luggage maker of legends) make some bags adapted to fit Dahon's (or, I think, have spotted a niche to sell their standard bags to Dahon owners). http://www.carradice.co.uk/dahon-sqr-products.htm Digging around Carradice's site also shows an "uplift" mount for a conventional saddle bag (wider designs rather than the longer SQR bag shapes), which fits onto a SQR mounting block: http://www.carradice.co.uk/sqr-products.htm Otherwise, I wonder if its possible to get the Brompton front luggage bracket fitted to a Dahon ? Its something which would need some thought, so not one for someone without knowledge of both machines. If it can be fitted there are a range of useful front bags made for Bromptons. > The most important drawback is that this bike is totally unupported in > France. ..... I was paranoid about getting a flat. Why are there no local > sellers? Is Dahon one of those American firms that has made a policy > not to sell to "Old Europe" out of redneck jingoism? Probably as likely that French cycle shops cannot cope with unusual bicycles ? In the UK most cycle shops have little out of the ordinary. Even so, Dahon are available in the UK, arguably easier to find than a UK made Brompton folder. Dahon.com suggests these are the French importer: http://www.josealvarez.fr/public/ who in turn hint that "Bouticycle" are the dealer outlet(s) http://www.bouticycle.com Tyres shouldn't be too hard - Schwalbe make a range of types of the required sizes, covering everything from extreme racing through urban sensible, to mud-plugging off-road. - Nigel -- NC - Webmaster for http://www.2mm.org.uk/ Replies to newsgroup postings to the newsgroup please.