It's no news that cycling is one of San Francisco's most popular means of transportation: thousands of bikers rush everyday to work or school, take their 2-wheeled friends on a sunday stroll or challenge the city's gradients. The town's relatively petite size is yet another advantage, but taking public transport is inevitable even for a skilled cyclist. That's when the unpleasant part kicks in unless your bike can fold into a handy little portable kit.
Dahon's new Speed Pro TT is aimed at bikers who value road performance as much as everyday convenience: with 27 gears to take on the city's steepest hills and unrivaled folding time this model is as easy to handle as it's fun to ride. On top of a custom-drawn 4130 chromoly steel frame and a Syntace VRO adjustable handlebar system Dahon faces the new century with an upgraded seat post and an innovative Radius handlepost.
Numerous youtube videos will convince you that Speed Pro TT is the fastest folding bike you can possibly find and as for more reliable sources, the bike won BusinessWeek's prestigious "fastest folder" award. Yet, no official prize can beat the opinion of a common biker and here are some quotes straight from Dahon's website. For instance, "Australian Cyclist" surprisingly enough from Australia, says that "...this thing can really move", while W.Reid from Scotland mentions that "...this machine is fast, I mean really #%#*%@ fast."
As for the drawbacks, I can only think of one: riding a bright yellow folding bike or leisurely carrying it over the shoulder will dramatically blow your chances of getting a craigslist missed connection. Sadly at least 93% of them start as "cute guy/girl on a vintage bike cycling through mission" so be sure to consider the risks before diving into the wonderful and frightening world of folding bikes.
For NOVO magazine.