Modifying the CARiBIKE Urban

        CARiBIKE had a great idea going until someone decided to turn it
into a kid's MTB or a sit up and beg bike for little old ladies to ride to
the shuffleboard courts. Even so, it was a good starting point for a
folding light touring bike.
        I have a 700C touring bike but wanted something that I could fold
up and beat those awful airline bike fees. I figured the savings on a
couple round trips would come close to paying for the bike. I haven't had
the opportunity to take it on an airline but I did on AMTRAK where it would
fit in the overhead storage. In fact, it will even fit without folding.
        It came with a 14~28 freewheel and a 48 tooth front ring which was
way too low a high gear so I switched to a 12~28 Sachs 7 speed freewheel,
chain and matching shifter. That gave about an 80" top gear which works out
OK for me because that's about all I ever use anyway. The 34" low gear is
suitable for no more weight than I'll be carrying on it.
        I've done two short overnight camping trips on mine hauling tent,
sleeping pad and bag plus stove and a bit of food. One was about 28 miles
one way and the other close to 40 each way. I've also ridden it on a few
club rides and several shopping trips. It's so neat to ride that I often
take it when I would have driven had my regular touring bike been the only
thing available.

        Here are other things I changed:

        Tires: I replaced those awful low pressure knobbies with Conti Top
Touring 2000, 37 X 406. I run them at 85 psi and they get along very well.
There are other suitable tires available but these came at a good price. 
        Pedals; went to toeclips to match those on my regular bike.
        Handlebars: off with that heavy gaspipe thing and back on with an
alloy MTB bar with bar ends.
        I switched to a V brake on the rear because my heels were hitting
the ends of the cants. I see the new ones come with V brakes.
        Saddle; now sporting a San Marcos saddle (Brooks Pro look-alike)
that I had laying around. Not the greatest but much better than that thing
it came with.
        
        The original handlebars, saddle and those folding pedals were so
heavy that even with racks, the bike now weighs about half a pound less
than when it came.

        Racks:

        Rear, Blackburn MTB 24. It's made for MTBs with 24" wheels. Fits
very well and bolts right on using clamps around the seat stays. 
        Front, Blackburn Mtn Front. Modified it to where the legs that were
made to attach to the middle of the forks on a full size bike now attach to
the screws on the fork tips. Made a bracket to support the top of the rack
to the bolt that held the front reflector. Made it from a piece of 1/8" X
3/4" alumnium stock from a builder's supply. Cut off the legs that were
originally made to attach to fork tips so they would clear the ground
better. Now carry most of the weight in front panniers. Rides great and
improved handling considerably. 

        Water bottle: It came without lugs for bottle racks so I bought one
with a cage using a velcro strap to attach it to a frame tube. It fits
either the seatpost or the stem.

        CatEye HL-500 battery headlamp and flashing tail light. The CatEye
is adequate for local night riding but one would want something a bit
brighter for highway use.

        For my two overnight trips, I carried the sleeping bag, tent poles
and Therm A Rest pad on top of the rear rack. The tent fabric went on top
of the front rack and everything else into the two panniers with lots of
room left in case I needed it. It actually steers and handles better with
the load on the front than it does unloaded.