Bike for Commuting & Leisure, little space

[Unimaginative]

Hi all,

I realise there are many 'hi I'm new, what bike is best' posts, hopefully my requirements are going to avoid any flames

I'm changing job at the end of the month, so that rather than being 30 mins drive (via motorway) from work, I'll be 7 mins drive (local roads) from work. I therefore want the bike primarily for getting to work.

Secondly, I want to be able to take the bike to somewhere like the peak district and cycle around defined tracks, that sort of thing.

Finally, I have very little spare room at home and the area I live in is close to a major university so has the expected amount of low-level crime going on where you have many houses containing up to four television sets, computer, games consoles, etc. So, I am looking at getting a folding bike in order to store it in my living room; storing it outside would likely be an expensive mistake

I've just been to the JE James cycle shop in Chesterfield where I looked at the Dahon Cadenza (08 with the hub gears). Unfortunately I couldn't get a test ride as it had been raining earlier, but they did let me check that it fit inside my car boot. I intend to go back when it's better weather and try it out.

I'd be interested in any opinions on the Cadenza, or any other bikes that you think may be appropriate. Cheers!

 

[Amanda P]

Velovision mag had an article on a couple who used lightly modified Cadenzas to tour round India. (I think it was India). They felt the bikes were OK. So as I read your post, I thought - a Cadenza sounds perfect.

And then I got to the bit where you suggest a Cadenza...

Well, great minds think alike.

 

[TheDoctor]

It was indeed India. I saw the Cadenza at the York rally and they looked pretty smart - you'd not know they folded up looking at them.

 

[Unimaginative]

Thanks for the replies, I had already done some research online but it's easy to end up taking information from articles & reviews a couple of years old, hence working on information that is now out-of-date

What are people's thoughts on the hub gears compared with the normal sort? It seems that they're better due to lower maintenance, being able to change gear whilst stationary and the chain angle not changing. What are the downsides?

 

[Amanda P]

Downsides: unless you go for the highly expensive Rohloff 14-speed hub, you can't have as many gears as you might have with derailleurs. (But since there's usually quite a lot of duplication of gears with derailleurs, you probably won't miss them much unless you plan to go touring in the mountains or carrying camping gear).

Hub gears may be slightly less efficient.

You can't pick and choose individual gears as you can with derailleurs (although few people actually do this). You can tweak the whole range up or down, though, by changing the size of the chainwheel and sprocket.

I think that's about it.

Oh. They're rather unfashionable in some circles. If you care about that!

 

[TheDoctor]

I did a reasonable ride (60-odd km) recently with an 8-speed Nexus. Good gear range, easy shifting even when stationary, no problems at all. I'd not have fancied doing Ventoux on it, and it did seem to have most of the wieght towards the rear of the bike.