My New Bike Friday

On Friday of this last week, I traveled to Eugene from Seattle to take delivery at Bike Friday World Headquarters of my first of two Bike Fridays, a New World Tourist. I wanted to pick up the bike and have my first experiences with the bicycle to be in the spirit in which it was designed, "performance that packs". So instead of driving to Eugene, I rode the Amtrak Coast Starlight from Seattle, and on returning home the next morning I rode the New World Tourist, Travel Trailer behind, via the Fern Creek Trail to the Eugene Amtrak station. Inside the train station, I packed the bike back up into the Carleton and boarded the train home for Seattle. If only the train had not been so late, I would have realized my plan to ride home from the King Street Station in Seattle - but it was already 11PM. But, the Carleton fit easily into the trunk of the taxi. It is now Monday, and I have resumed my regular Bike commute to work in downtown Seattle - on a new Bike Friday. The experience of purchasing the bike was wonderful thanks to Tim Link. It was apparent right away during that first Saturday telephone call that he knew bicycles, and was not just a salesperson reading a features and and specifications sheet. I liked his low key, cheerful positive personal style. In the six weeks from order to delivery he promptly answered all my questions about the bike as I second-guessed all components - and we made adjustments to this and that all along the way to delivery. After inviting me to a demo ride in Seattle in July, I almost changed my order to another model - and he was so patient and ready to do that for me, until I just started trusting his cycling judgment. And he is a good judge of bicycles...and people. At delivery in Eugene, he met me at the train station in the company car. That evening, we took the New World Tourist out of the Carleton, assembled it, and took it out for a quick spin. The next morning, we practiced packing it back in the suitcase - but not before making a few adjustments to the rear hub and seat. We even got in a few last minute sales of an extra saddle and lubricants in your showroom. Then finally, a friendly wave and smile and I headed off down the trail to pack my Bike Friday back up for the train home in public-in front of other people. His instruction stood me in good stead. I plan on being back to take the bus to Baker City for Cycle Oregon with the rest of the owners that are arriving for Homecoming 2003. Oh, a few comments to pass along from people watching me with the bike the last two days: At the Eugene train station, "That bike will not fit into that suitcase. No way!" The big wheel biker returns later, "No way, it did!" A fellow traveling cyclist asks to borrow my pedal tool, and on handing it to him, "They custom made this tool!" Riding home from my office downtown Seattle today, someone shouts from the curb. Cool, Bike Friday!" Just a few first impressions of the design and how it gets made into a real bike. The design feels like it has alot of integrity, and that translates into how it rides and meets my goals as the owner. The manufacturing quality is superb. I like the warm personal touches of the felt cases for tools and bike parts when packing for traveling. The piece of candy calmed me down as I was puzzling through packing the bike back up in the train station. All in all, when riding the bike I feel like I am riding with a team of people who thought and cared about my ride. You can sense the people who designed, made and marketed this New World Tourist. All of you at Bike Friday are right there ... part of the bicycle. Thank you for everything as I await my second Bike Friday within the week....a Pocket Crusoe! Sincerely, Franklin Furlong