The document summarizes the Tern Verge S8i folding bicycle. It describes how the author folds up the bike in Brooklyn and takes it on the subway. It then discusses how folding bike commuting has increased 60% in U.S. cities in the last decade. The Tern Verge S8i takes 10 seconds to fold up small enough to fit under a desk and can be brought on airplanes. Key features include a lightweight but durable design, an internal gear hub for quiet shifting between 8 gears, and hydraulic disc brakes for stopping power.

1. JEFFHARRIS
43
S
naking gently through the gridlock amid a cacophony of car
horns while riding my trusty Tern Verge S8i, I pull up on the
sidewalk near a subway entrance in Brooklyn. With one hand on
the seat, I unclasp the bike’s two joint locks located on the top tube and
handlebars, and in one swift, smooth motion, fold the front wheel until
it magnetically locks next to the back wheel. With one hand on the seat,
I roll the collapsed bike down the steps and into a packed subway car,
where I’m able to neatly place it between my legs.
Given America’s historic love affair with the automobile, it may be
hard to believe that the number of bicycle
commuters in U.S. cities has increased 60
percent in the last decade. One driver of the
movement is the folding bike that allows riders
to store their equipment while they move
seamlessly from the street to urban transporta-
tion. Sure, road bikes are better for long distances
and mountain bikes are essential for off-roading,
but both require storage racks and sturdy locks
to avoid theft. The gentleman commuter
should choose Tern’s Verge S8i folding bicycle
($2,100), a machine that adapts to his lifestyle,
rather than vice versa.
The Verge S8i takes about 10 seconds to transform into its small stature
and can be easily kept under your office desk. Additionally, many businesses
will allow it inside while you run errands, and the S8i can be stowed away in
the overhead bin of an airplane should you choose to bring it on vacation.
Smaller wheels and a step-through frame are the hallmarks of the S8i,
but it’s also fairly lightweight and durable and sports an impressive groupset.
Engineered to be ultralow maintenance, the S8i eschews a
traditional metal chain in favor of a Gates Carbon Belt Drivetrain, thus
requiring no messy oil that can splatter on your office pants. The
Shimano Alfine internal gear hub quietly
shifts between eight gears, and Shimano Deore
hydraulic disc brakes provide stopping power
even in slick conditions. Its Andros handlebars
can be adjusted by hand, with options to set up
high for a more comfortable ride, or down low
in more of a racing position.
Rounding out the bike’s features are front
and back lights that are powered by pedaling,
puncture-resistant tires and front and rear fend-
ers that protect from rain and road debris.
Visit ternbicycles.com
—Andrew Nagy
Tern Verge S8i Folding Bicycle
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