I’ve taken my ZiZZO Urbano out for two real rides so far — first for 10 miles, then later for 29 miles.

Why I Chose the ZiZZO Urbano

Before buying my bike, I was doing longer and longer rides on BlueBikes, and I started to run into a hard limit — not in my legs, but in dock coverage. Once you get past Arlington on the Minuteman Bikeway, there just aren’t any more BlueBike stations. There are 8.3 miles between the last BlueBike station on the Minuteman at Mill Street in Arlington and the terminus of the Minuteman Bikeway in Bedford.

Riding to Lexington was doable — it’s a bit farther from Arlington, and the return trip never felt stressful, even on a BlueBike.

But Bedford is significantly farther, and there are no docks past Mill Street. That meant I had to turn around before I was ready, which started to feel limiting as my rides got longer.

On top of that, BlueBike’s time limits and overage fees made me constantly check the clock. I needed a better setup — something that would let me ride farther, more freely, without worrying about where the next dock was or how much time I had left.

That’s when I realized: I’m ready to have my own bike.

I knew I wanted a folding bike and I’d been eyeing a Brompton for a while (and still want one someday!), but I wanted to see if there was a less expensive folding bike that could meet my needs right now — and maybe a bit into the future.

That’s what brought me to the ZiZZO Urbano:

• It seemed well-built, well-priced, and portable
• I don’t plan to fly with a bike for a while, so I didn’t need ultra-compact foldability just yet
• And if I really had to, I could always remove the wheels and fit it into a suitcase
• More importantly, it seemed like something I could bring on regional buses or commuter rail easily for day trips or weekend rides
• It also looked sturdy enough to handle light packed dirt trails, like the Reformatory Branch Trail, which really appealed to me

So far, it’s been a great match for my current needs.

First Upgrade: Saddle Swap

After the first 10 miles, I decided the stock saddle had to go. I’d seen a Reddit thread where other Urbano owners shared their upgrades — one person mentioned getting a super padded comfort seat and later kind of wishing they hadn’t. That made me pause.

So instead of the ZiZZO Comfort Plus (which some say is a bit too soft), I went with a RockBros saddle — firmer, but still comfortable. It seemed like the right balance for longer rides.

I planned to install it myself, but it was very tight. I’d watched a ZiZZO video on swapping saddles, and one comment under it stood out:

“The bolt holding the plate is extremely tight that I am unable to loosen it.”
— @hienbui2015

Reply from ZiZZO:
“Yes, the saddle binder bolt IS VERY difficult to remove (as it should be). It is torqued to approximately 22 Newton Meters… If you are not able to loosen the binder bolt, you can bring (just) the seatpost and saddle to a local bike shop and they should be able to loosen it up for you.” – Tony, ZiZZO Bikes

After reading that, I decided to go to a local shop. The mechanic used a much longer, more solid tool than the tiny hex wrench in the RockBros packaging (as expected). It was quick — and then I was ready to ride.

29 Miles in 90 Degrees

Before this, my longest ride ever — on a BlueBike or otherwise — was around 20 miles. I thought I might aim for 25 on this new ride, but I wanted to get all the way to the end of the Minuteman Bikeway and actually arrive in Bedford. So I went for it!

I figured it should be fine because BlueBikes weigh somewhere around 45–50 pounds, and the Urbano is about 24 pounds — half the weight, basically. And it was. The ride felt great overall.

I brought two bottles of water, and it was 90°F. I had to ration the second bottle a bit toward the end. I’ll definitely bring more water next time — maybe even four bottles — but carrying that much in my backpack sounds like a lot. I might experiment with how to manage that better.

The bike handled really well, and I felt strong during the ride. I wasn’t totally wrecked when I got back — though I did take a painkiller that evening to avoid a migraine. My body felt exerted, and I didn’t want the post-ride blood flow shift to trigger anything. But the next day? I felt great.

Stuff I’ve Learned So Far

• How to install a bell – Technically simple, but a surprisingly satisfying milestone.
• How to air my tires – Learned a new phrase (“airing your tires”) and how to use both manual and electronic pumps.
• Water matters – On a hot day, two bottles weren’t quite enough. I rationed toward the end and still felt it. I think you’re supposed to bring at least one 16 oz bottle of water per hour when riding on hot days. I’ll bring more next time — and maybe rethink how I carry it.
• The saddle wasn’t going to work for me – After 10 miles, I knew I needed a new one.
• Owning more than one lock = not overkill – A lot of riders use two for added security. Having more than one type of lock gives you options depending on where and how you’re locking up. Also: don’t just lock the front wheel — at a minimum, you should lock the frame and rear wheel.

Why I Have Two Bells

I did a lot of reading before picking a bell because I didn’t want something too piercing — especially not the sharp, high-pitched sound of the Spurcycle or the RockBros bell that mimics it. After watching a Crane bell comparison video, I really liked the tone of the Suzu — a beautiful resonant chime that I enjoyed. So I ordered it.

But I also got some feedback that made me think I should start with something a little more traditional — a bell sound people would instantly recognize and respond to. I considered a true double-ring option like this one, but ended up going with the Greallthy bell instead, partly because it would arrive sooner. It doesn’t ring twice unless you manually do it, but it has a nice, classic tone — and people do move when they hear it.

I haven’t tried the Suzu on the road yet, but I’m looking forward to seeing how it feels in real-world use.

Why I Have Two Pumps

I started with a floor pump — simple, quiet, no batteries to charge — and it worked well. But after a few uses, I found myself second-guessing whether I was putting in the right pressure. So I picked up an electric pump too, mostly out of curiosity. I liked that it showed a PSI readout on a screen, which confirmed that I had been doing it right all along.

Now I use both: the manual pump is great for its low-effort simplicity, and the electric one adds some peace of mind when I want to double-check the numbers. Honestly, I kind of enjoy using both.

Gear I Haven’t Used Yet

I haven’t tested out my Crane Suzu bell yet — just the other (Greallthy) one I bought.

I haven’t installed my new front and rear lights, but the stock lights are fine for now.

I keep forgetting to customize my Garmin screen to show speed, heart rate, and mileage together — adding that to the to-do list.

I also haven’t used either of my locks yet.

I originally bought the OnGuard Brute because I wanted something sturdy. It definitely feels solid… maybe a little heavier than I expected. At the shop, I saw a smaller Kryptonite Mini lock in blue that caught my eye, but after doing some research, I realized mini locks can be harder to use with certain bike racks or wider poles. So I decided to skip the mini for now and picked up a Kryptonite Kryptolok with a cable as a second lock instead.

Gear I’ve Bought So Far

Gear I’m Considering

These threads helped me when looking at potential gear upgrades:

• “I F***ing Love My Bike: ZiZZO Urbano X Upgrades”
• “ZiZZO Urbano: Recs for Pump + Pedal Replacement?”
• “Upgrades for the ZiZZO Campo”
• “Thank You to Everyone Who Recommended a ZiZZO”
• “Zizzo Urbano vs Liberte”

Closing Thoughts

So far, the ZiZZO Urbano feels like exactly right for where I am in my biking journey. It’s opened up new routes, eliminated the limits of dock-based systems, and given me the freedom to just keep going. I know I’ll continue learning, tweaking, and upgrading — but already, I think this bike is going to take me far.