Diane. Currently based in Singapore. I like to travel, take pictures, and I am obsessed about folding bikes. I only know how to ride ‘em; no idea how to fix ‘em or talk about bike-geek-level stuff! Currently using an apple green Brompton M6R as a commuter, a purple Peerless Aero-I as a market bike, and a power raspberry Express Tikit as a weekend ride.
You can reach me at unfoldandcycle[AT]gmail[DOT]com. 
hi Diane,
Great site! Thank you for the many wonderful posts!
They are really engaging and informative.
We met at Bukit Brown Ride, my first ride with LCSG. i ride a white brompton. i am
not sure if you would remember me. anyway, i have some questions about your experience with the brompton and a bike friday.
i am lusting over the kinda ridability that BF offers and I am thinking of a next bike: BF NWT or (even crazier) an AM TSR. since you have an express tikit, do you mind giving me
some insights on the express tikit? where did you purchase your express tikit and how much? do you ride your tikit more?
Asked Taiwoon also on the matter and he was such a great help, his experience with cycling and owning a TSR 9 really helped my thinking. i hope you could too.
Warm regards
Hafiz
Ey bro! Of course I remember you!
I haven’t seen you since BB! Join us again man! Hahaha
Ok, for your question. I can’t really answer that because the NWT is a 20″ non-folding (it’s a foldie but it’s more of a “packable” touring bike rather than a true foldie, do you get what I’m saying?) bike and the Tikits are 16″. Tikits are meant for commuting purposes, that’s why they’re designed to fold fast and be easily rolled when folded. The fold is not compact though.
The Express model is more of a “roadie” ish setup of the standard commuter Tikit. It has H-shaped handlebars, Capreo- hubs and 9 speed cassette, bar end brake levers and caliper brakes, skinny slick tires. Mine is a bit customized — I got it in a small size, chose the fuchsia color, and had Bike Friday thicken the tubing (Manila-proofing my bike hahaha).
It’s designed to go fast — I’m not fast as a rider, but compared to using the Brom this is generally a speedier bike. I use it mostly on weekends or after-work rides where I rarely need to fold the bike. I usually cycle all the way on it.
In terms of riding frequency — hmmm, it would depend on where I’m supposed to go with my bike. If, let’s say, it was a sporty/training kind of ride, then I would take the Tikit. If I needed the bike folded up, or taken on the train, or indoors, or if I knew it would be a completely leisure ride, or mostly for commuter purposes, I would take the Brompton.
Tikits are highly customizable. The frame is standard but you can get BF to fix it up to whatever purpose you need it for. Commute? Ok! Speed? Ok! Whatever, really. It’s up to you. I would suggest listing down what you want your bike to do; then you can pick based on that rather than picking a bike first.
I ordered mine at Lifecycle in Gemmill Lane. You can get it from them or from MyBikeShop at Jalan Mas Puteh. Showroom bikes’ starting prices are S$2.2k for the basic Tikit. Custom orders’ cost depend on the additional upgrades you want on your bike including painting. The total wait time if you custom order is around 8-10 weeks.
hi Diane! very extensive set of information! thanks so much for taking the time to explain it to newbies like me….
i wanted to join the rides since BB but i never really had the time… work is crazy and weekends are pretty much spent with wifey and kids…. and sending them for enrichment and stuff… so i tend to ride alone after the kids have gone to sleep….
i was not discerning enough to know that the NWT and the Express Tikit are “packable” touring bikes and true foldies…. anyway, you are right, i think i should spend time planning about what kind of ride i want for the next bike…. off my head…i want speed, h-bars (i kinda love ‘em), touring capability (i dream of touring europe in a bike… dream only i guess hahaha)…. while I love the space frame of the moulton, i kinda prefer the versatility of a foldie… and i love the fact that the BF is fully customisable (i am thinking purple… haha)…. btw: i love your express tikit; especially the handle bars….
anyway, you have been very kind… it makes me feel good knowing that there are many others who are obsessed with cycling and all things related… haha.
are you going tomorrow? anyway, we can continue our conversation at FB if you want…. i don’t use it that much though…. but here it is anyways… haniza.manan@gmail.com (we registered as a family, we are not really info the FBing that much), I’ll add you as a friend anyway if you do not mind….
Hafiz
Dude, I tried to find you but it says you’ve got restricted Privacy settings. Add me instead? Look for Diane Flaviano. I’m listed in LCSG or as Taiwoon’s friend.
i looked for u too but i can’t seem to find the add-friend button! haha and yeah, i changed settings… didn’t know it was private… see if u can try at another time. in the meantime take care n good night.
Hi Diane,
I have just got a Dimpa bag for my Brompton. Reading about the way you have used it for air travel has been a surprise to me. I had not known that it can be so easy to pack the Brommie safely and inexpensively at the same time. Thanks for telling your story. Best wishes from Germany, Guenther
Just discovered your blog and I’m enjoying reading all your posts! Just got a Brompton. Feel it was an upgrade from my Bike Friday Pocket Llama. Love all your adventures and suggestions. Thanks
Thanks!
Love your clever blog title!
Hi Diane
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. We are so inspired! After reading your blog, We got the courage to take public bus from Cebu to tanawan. But we are still apprehensive about safety at south bus station. How safe is it for tourist from Malaysia with luggages trying to board a public bus to tanawan at 3 in the morning? Really appreciate your advise as we will be there on 2 dec.
Hi! The Cebu South Bus Terminal is relatively safe. The place may look a bit seedy, but it doesn’t seem like there’s a lot of crime there. Think of it as places like KL Sentral or the bus interchange in Melaka. Just be vigilant against pickpockets and look after your luggage and you will be fine. Once you’re on the bus and your luggage is in the bus’ storage compartment, you’re ok.
Depending on the time of year, there may be a lot of other tourists with you on the bus at 3 in the morning. In any case, there will be lots of other people on the bus going south since I think that’s one of the earliest times the buses leave in the morning. Happy travels!
Thanks so much….we are counting the hours..Yippee..
Do you think it’s necessary to take seasick pill when we swim with whaleshark or for ferry rides? Normally how is the sea condition at visayas, do you know?
Hmmm… It depends how easily you get seasick. They feed the whalesharks in calm water so it’ll be relatively flat when you’re on the canoe. For the ferry ride, I don’t think you need to take one either as you’re on a giant barge and the water is mostly quiet.
Dear Diane,
I am Kay Teck from the Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC), a research centre based out of the Ministry of National Development of Singapore.
CLC will be publishing a non-commercial report on Principles of High Density High Liveability for Cities and would like to use your images at
http://unfoldandcycle.com/tag/nparks/page/2/
This project is a joint collaboration with the Urban Land Institute, a non-profit research institute based in the United States (www.uli.org/).
Would it be possible for us to use your image? If you are agreeable to allow us to use a higher resolution version of your photo, please also do let us know how you would like to be acknowledged in the photo credits.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you!
You can contact me at cheong_kay_teck@mnd.gov.sg And Copy my colleague at deocabillan@gmail.com
Sincerely,
Kay Teck
Hi Diane, I just bought a tern folding bike from mybikeshop in sin Ming. Would like to join a cycling group on weekends. Can I join your group? U can txt me at 81826398. Email tanpengkoon@yahoo.com.sg. Happy new year.
You can check out our ride info at lovecyclingsg.com or look up the same group on Facebook!
Hi Diane, I saw your post on changing out the Brompton shifters. My brompton is a 6 speed version with M handle bar. May I know how much it cost you to change the shifters?
As mentioned on the post, it’s S$110 for a pair.
Great site! Nicely written and being a visual person, I certainly appreciate the support those nice photos give on the articles. A kabayan based in Singapore as well and excited on the arrival of my first foldie. Hope to join your adventures one day!
Mabuhay!
Hi Diane, thanks so much for the post on changing the M brompton handle bar to a flat. I’m 5ft 1″ like you and just returned from looking at getting my first brompton (had tried an S model) – had exactly the same problem with the brake position. Was a bit gutted until I found your blog and realised maybe there is something I can do (I live in a tiny flat in London and no space for a non folding bike). Will let you know how the customisation goes! Any tips?