Another A-Bike Sunday (and more tests)
Once again, I spent the weekend with Roxa and Abdellah in Bottens (VD-Switzerland) and there was another Sunday-afternoon bike ride. And a few more tests for the A-Bike:
- Handling in really bad dirt roads (lots of rocks)
- Extreme uphill (and downhill) trails
This was not an extremely long trip and was quite quick. Only around 9 Km (4,5 each way), at least that’s what the GPS says. We also did a big break for coffee and water before returning. We only took a few patches of “normal” road and most of the way was done on dirt tracks, really bad ones in some moments. I was quite impressed how the A-Bike handled the situation here. Very good. Yes, you feel bigger rocks and some holes very well, but you can briefly (and in advance) just take your ass out of the saddle if there’s a big incoming obstacle. After this technique was mastered, I found it quite useful also for tougher uphill situations. Makes a huge difference and I never tried it before (don’t know why but seemed weird). It feels kind of “running in the air” but way faster and with less effort than running uphill. Downhill I find I only use the front (right) breaks, as I do for all other situations. The left ones are too violent and the back of the bike starts sliding sideways. I am too lazy to do some adjustements on the breaks but I eventualy need to have a closer look on these. Overall, no problem with the (front) breaks. Neither with dirt tracks. Neither with “not so soft” uphill moments.
Here are some pictures of the day:
And some Google earth track pictures too:
You can buy your A-Bike here
while they are in stock:
(fast delivery)
September 24th, 2007 at 12:42
Ciao!
Provo a scrivere in italiano assumendo che per te non sia un problema visto il tuo nome ma, se necessario, posso riscrivere in inglese.
La questione e` semplice: vorrei acquistare una A-bike per un uso simile al tuo per andare in ufficio (bici+bus+bici). Ho una sola perplessita` legata al fatto che la devo acquistare on-line senza poterla prima provare (vivo nel nord Italia): e` sufficientemente robusta oppure dopo averla aperta e chiusa poche volte la dovro` buttare via? Senza parlare delal strada: vorrei usarla su asfalto ma con buche e sobbalzi e simili non so come si potrebbe comportare la A-bike: la butto dopo un giorno o una settimana di utilizzo?
Provo a scrivere a te dopo aver visto i tuoi filmati ed assumendo che tu mi possa dare un parere sincero e disinteressato.
Ti ringrazio in anticipo per la tua disponibilita`.
Scusa il disturbo.
Ciao,
Maurizio.
September 25th, 2007 at 10:14
Hi. Fernando here. My name is actually portuguese and not Italian. I guess I understand most of your message but better write it in english, please :) I will reply promptly. Thanks.
September 25th, 2007 at 10:44
Hi!
Let’s switch to English.
I’m interested in using something like the A-bike for everyday use (bike+bus+bike) for few-kilometre lengths in order to try to avoid using my car.
Since I live in Italy, not in London, it’s not so easy to understand if the A-bike might suit my needs because I can’t test it before buying it, so I’d like to ask you, as an A-bike user (not seller…), whether you think it is robust enough for such kind of use: can it stand frequent folding/unfolding? can it resist bumps and holes that you can find even in roads with asphalt?
To put it in a nutshell: is it worth the money it costs?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
Bye,
Maurizio.
PS Do you think the pump is needed? Is it somehow “special”?
PPS Of course every A-bike user is entitled to answer, not only Fernando… ;-)
September 25th, 2007 at 12:26
I understand your concerns since when I bought mine I could not test it either. But now in my opinion it was worth cent I paid for it.
As you plan to do, I also use it for my work commute to avoid using the car and every situation when it’s too long to walk but not worth going by car (in Geneva it takes way longer at rush hour).
I just changed job recently and now I am further away (not sure how much) from home but still using the A-Bike Daily. I have a few options to go to my workplace:
1) Car - takes 15 minutes if very lucky but around an hour if there’s traffic (most times).
2) Tram/Bus - Expensive and takes around 20 minutes or more with stops and changes.
3) Walk - Takes around 25 to 30 minutes. Nice view since it’s always near the lake.
4) A-Bike - Takes around 7 minutes.
I end up using the A-bike most of the times (or walking). That’s even when it’s kind of a rainy day (like today). I have it now for a few months and even used it during my holidays in Portugal, in off-road dirt tracks with rocks and holes (Extreme A-Biker?). In this new job I have to take the bike trough sidewalk and asphalt (the ideal conditions) and it’s just fine. There’s a few irregular patches, bumps and holes on the way. You try to avoid them most of the times but it’s fine if you occasionally hit some (you don’t die or fall in a spectacular way). Of course it’s not a mountain bike and doesn’t go as fast as one but it’s still way faster than walking/running and… try to put a mountain bike in your desk drawer (like I do with the A-Bike) or behind the door or in a cabinet at home. The huge advantage here is being practical, portable and convenient.
I never saw another A-Bike in Geneva but see a lot of Brompton’s and other foldable ones, which go at the same speed (or slower). As foldable, they are just half the hassle of a big one, they still take half the space and are heavy. As for the A-Bike, I had heavier laptops :) I saw a few of them in London on the streets and on buses and the tube.
One advice… Keep the tires at 90 (PSI?) or 100… I use the pump every 10 days or so to keep it like that.
It was worth the money it costs (it’s cheaper now by the way), plus the shipping from the UK plus the custom charges or taxes or whatever it was :) Really worth it.
They sent me the pump for free (I was not expecting) but I saw a lot of compatible ones in every sport stores afterwards, but mostly without the gauge to check the tire pressure.
Just use the (yellow small banner) link in this article and order yours. Looking forward to listen from your A-Bike experience :) Cheers.
Note: Get ready for people stealing it and using it at work in the office all the time.