Thanks
BK: Thanks for the tip on Aarons. I'll give them a call as well. A hub / clickbox / shifter just sold on eBay for only $68... alas, it wasn't configured for a disk brake.
Charles: Regarding a video for the Quest in a suitcase. Yeah, I could probably do that. There is definitely a learning curve involved the first few times one attempts to dis-assemble / re-assemble the bike. On my firs attempt, the chain got twisted up and it must have taken me 20 minutes of fiddling with it to get it unraveled upon re-assembling. The second time, I used a chain tool to completely remove the chain, but that turned out to be too much of a hassle. There is also a trick to disconnecting and re-connecting the SRAM DualDrive clickbox. It is pretty simple once you figure it out, but I monkeyed with it quite a bit until I discovered the secret code. I also didn't pay attention to which pedal came off which side, or which one had the reverse thread. I think I'll invest in some MKS quick release pedals with Power Grips to quicken that step. Not only do the stem and upper triangle tube need to be pulled up and out of the steering tube, but the stem needs to be removed from the handlebars, and the black inner upper triangle tube needs to be slid completely out of the lower outer tube (if not, the brake and shifting cables don't have enough freedom of movement to position the handlebars in the prper position in the case). Its also best just to completely remove the quick-releases on the shock and rear seat post, as they prevent the rear end from folding up when installed. It really doesn't take too long to dis-assemble, and the whole bike does fit into the Samsonite case that I ordered from Amazon - barely! I forgot to see if my helmet would fit in the case as well, but there are a few voids, so perhaps it will. If not, I saw a folding helmet online that would probably work, although it is supposedly illegal in the US - but I doubt I'd get a ticket for it. Re-assembly takes slightly longer, and may require some adjustment to the disk brakes if the wheel isn't positioned exactly as it was. There are a few tricks to this as well. Anyway, I wouldn't call this a quick-fold bike that one can unpack and by on the road within 5 minutes. My guess is that once I do it several times, it will likely be about a 30 minute job - at best. Still within reason though, and a lot more fun to ride than a Bike Friday, Dahon, or Burley. The fellow I bought the Quest from supplied me with some nice Park allen tools that are much nicer than either individual allen wrenches, or your typical allen set. You'll also need to carry a jar of hand-soap as all the tubes have a bit of grease on them. Several pieces of padding to keep the frame from getting scratched up are a neccesity as well. Once the case is closed, the bike feels quite secure inside, and the case seems stout enough to protect it from damage. Anyway, I hope that gives some idea of the process. If anyone has a need for a video, I could put that on my To-Do list. It would probably have to be a series of videos to keep the file sizes reasonable. Cruzbike does have a few videos of the process that I referenced, but they don't show the "complete" process, along with likely stumbling points.
Jeff
