Commuter Bike Technology

The commute to my new job in Jersey City requires 3 trains: F to the A to the PATH at World Trade Center. The commute generally isn't bad - maybe 45 minutes all in - but I sorely miss the days when I biked to my job at UBS in midtown. I stopped after I joined Lehman because of their 24x7 business-formal dress code, and the hairy eyeballs I'd get whenever I entered the Lehman building in running or biking gear. Now that I've landed at a place where I can dress comfortably, I want to bike to work again.

I'm evaluating a couple of folding bikes: Brompton and Bike Friday. I went to bfold (in the basement of the same building I lived in when going to college), met Steve, and test-rode the bikes.

General comments:
* Folding bikes are like clown cars. Everything feels miniature, except the rider, who feels like a jackass.
* They both fold up really quickly.
* The ride is bumpier than a full-sized bike.
* You can bike pretty fast on both.
* They're very expensive.
* Folded, they feel a little bigger than I'd expected.


Brompton
Con: Made in the UK.
Con: 3 gears.
Con: All custom parts.
Con: Weak bell.
Con: Weird handle-bars with a deep dip in the middle.
Con: Heavier.
Con: Slow to assemble.
Pro: Not made in China.
Pro: Most compact fold-up.
Pro: Sturdier - metal pedals.
Pro: Additional little wheels to facilitate wheeling it around when it's folded.
Pro: Simple folding mechanism.
Pro: Securing mechanism feels more secure.

Bike Friday Tikit
Con: Not so compact fold-up.
Con: Cheaper feel - plastic pedals.
Con: Harder to carry and wheel.
Pro: Made in the USA.
Pro: 8 gears.
Pro: Standard parts.
Pro: Great bell.
Pro: Flat T handlebars.
Pro: Can be wheeled around on it's front wheel when folded up.
Pro: Heavier.
Pro: Simple folding mechanism.
Pro: Fastest to fold up.