Mezzo D9 test ride and review..
Just got back from a quick 15 minute test ride.. (couldn't go much further because of my bad knee and sheer unfitness!) so here's my impressions of the Mezzo D9 and a sort of review..
What a fantastic bike!! I absolutely love it and didn't want to get off it. It just feels so natural and almost like a full-size bike but with much better handling... (bearing in mind this is my first time on anything other than 26" wheels and so I have nothing to compare it with smaller).. It didn't feel strange at at all riding 16" and I didn't feel at all self-conscious as I thought I would. The steering is far more responsive but not "twitchy".. turning corners quickly and going up curbs is much easier than a full size bike and the bike feels altogether a lot nippier than riding a full size bike. Riding on footpaths feels much better. The bike took hardly any space up compared to my 26" and feels a lot safer riding past pedestrians with plenty of space between them and me..this feels much more suitable as a town bike.
As to the bike itself, it's really really nice...faultless. I did initially have some problem with the gears but that was down to my not being used to using gears! I couldn't figure how to shift the gears and was pressing on the down lever to go up a gear like a noob and then wondering if the chain was on wrong lol..I didn't see the little thumb "up lever" hidden away underneath the handlebar grip! Once I figured that out, the gears were super smooth and simple to operate. I hardly noticed them changing..shifting up and down felt instant, no big lag or noise like on my 26"...I put it through all the gears from 1 to 9 and back down and tried a VERY steep hill.. going up in initially in 5th gear and then quickly dropping to first as the incline got steeper...it was a struggle with my bad knee but certainly possible to make it all the way to the top without needing to stand on pedals...that would have been impossible on my 26" bike. Coming down I was in 9th gear and easily able to keep up pedalling so I feel the bike is highly geared enough (for unpowered riding at least).
The saddle is surprisingly comfortable and I don't think I would have any problem riding several miles on it. Braking was excellent, but then the shoes have been well worn in for me! I felt the bike was a lot more comfortable than my 26" and I didn't feel bumps or shakiness to the ride.. which was surprising considering the much smaller and narrow wheels..I would have expected it to be more uncomfortable and sensitive to bumps..but it just felt a lot more comfortable...perhaps I need it to ride it further a field though, the roads around my block are all in good condition..
Now to the fold and carry weight... I folded it up inside the flat prior to taking it downstairs, and I followed the DVD instruction. It was fine..it folded up nice and neat quickly. The only problem I had was locking the fold/front wheel which was a bit confusing and I'm not sure I did it right..however the fold did stay together for carrying. It's surprising how small it looked folded and how easy it was to carry. Unlike my 26" which I really struggle with on the staircase...the Mezzo was like a little cube which I was able to carry close to my chest and just walk around corners without any problem at all. It did feel quite heavy, but certainly nowhere the strain and struggle with the stairs my 26" is. Carrying it on and off a train or lifting in and out of car, would be no strain.
I dragged it along the tiled floor downstairs and it rolled along smoothly on it's little rack wheels like a luggage trolley by pulling the saddle. Unfolding it was super quick...about 10 seconds and I was ready to ride... the catches on the rear and handlebar locked with a reassuringly loud CLUNK and then it was just a matter of pushing the front wheel home into the drop outs and securing the QR lever and adjusting saddle height, unfolding the pedals, and I was off.
Folding it down when I returned back was a different story! That takes some practice and you have to remember the right order. I got it wrong and folded the back first and ended up making a right pigs ear of it. You have to remember the process is done in reverse.. the front folds first and the wheel comes out drop-outs and folds under the frame, then the rear unlocks and folds under, then handlebars unlock and fold down.. I guess it just takes a bit of practice.
All in all I would highly recommend the bike as a very nice folder and excellent ride. Everything about it feels right. Top build quality all round. It feels very sturdy. No creaks, no vibrations or movement anywhere which you get on folding downtube frames. As you pedal you feel all your effort is going into the back wheel and you move along quickly, just like a non-folding road bike.
I fixed up my HTC Desire onto the handlebar and used the Maverick GPS mapping Android app to track my journey route, distance and average speed..(very nice free app btw) which generated a
trip stats report.
I shot some video both from my Vado HD mounted on my shoulder..and also from my little MD80 camera mounted onto the bikes handlebar... no idea how these came out but will upload onto YouTube and post a link if they're any good!
I think once it's electrified it will make an excellent e-bike and I'm satisfied I've made a good choice with this bike.
