1,000 miles and counting!

Well on Wednesday morning, somewhere on my way to work (I know roughly where), I passed the 1,000 mile mark on my Dahon!  It's mad how the miles start racking up once you make the commitment to cycle regularly.  It did feel a little weird to be back on my folding bike after having used my hybrid for a week, but not for very long and no more so than when switching to any other new bike.

I had Monday off work and so I took the bike back to City Cycles in Leicester to have the broken spokes replaced and a general service.  When I went back to pick it up, they'd serviced the bike, sorted my back wheel and fitted new brake pads as well - all at no charge!  What a great bike shop. :-)

I reckon with 1,000 miles on the clock and counting, it's about time I did a proper review of my experience with the Dahon so far.  I'll get around to it in a few days or so.

And so I'm back commuting by Dahon and train.  Whizzing through the lanes dreaming of all of the lovely upgrades I'd like to do to it, if only I had the money...

And just to add the icing on the cake, when I got to the station this morning, my usual train was cancelled.  They only go once an hour and I had an important meeting to get to, so waiting for the next one was not an option.  To address the problem, the train company had arranged for a fleet of executive minibuses to take us all to our destination.  Popping the Dahon into the boot of one of them was no problem at all - on a full-sized bike, I'd have been left high and dry!

There's no doubt about it, folding bikes rule!

Customer service

I popped up to City Cycles to sort out the back tyre of my Dahon on Saturday.  To be honest, although I'm certain that it shouldn't have worn in the way it has, tyres being consumable and all, I was primed to have to cough up for the replacement.

However, after a quick chat with one of the guys in the shop, I was given a replacement tyre at no charge.  They'd have fitted it if I'd wanted them to as well but I couldn't leave the bike with them.  Not a difficult job to do though.

I fitted the new tyre today and it's a Michelin - a really good one.  It has a nice thick tread to keep out the worst of any puncturing objects and feels much sturdier and generally tougher than the Dahon one I took off.  It's also slightly narrower than the original so has less rolling resistance too.  I think they're only about 13 quid so I'll definitely be buying a matching one for the front wheel as well.

Maybe a set for the hybrid too...

Anyway I can't speak highly enough of City Cycles.  They're a Raleigh dealer mainly and as Dahon are a recent Raleigh acquisition, they are a little bit new to them.  However that hasn't stopped the few minor issues I've had  from being dealt with fairly and professionally.

A big thumbs up all round, I'd say.