Folders

[Unfit Fifer]

Hi,



Am thinking about buying a decent folding bike (prb £500+) for 2 mile journey each side of a train ride.

I am just looking for some real life experience of folding bikes, I had a Dahon that was close to being full size and it was awful - Was as awkward on the train as a full bike and as pacy on the road as a folder.

My Main concerns are:

Tackling Hills on a three speed bike

Conspicuousness - You do not see many true folders in Fife / Edinburgh

General feeling of stability or lack of - Ride would be mix of cycle paths and normal roads

Life of running gear when exposed to rain / grit etc

Price - Are they really worth the money!



I already have two road bikes and a hybrid at home and this would be a work-around for really grotty days - Like today!

Thoughts!

 

[HLaB]

I've never had a folder so I can't really comment there. I just used to time so I got a train that wasn't so bad (luckily for me the train didn't get full up till my station, Dunfermline Town; if it had been a problem I might of thought of heading for Queen Margaret). I'd usually take the train in the morning (so I wasn't sitting sweating in the office) and cycle home at night. On the bleakest of winter days I'd use a locker at the station (but that doesn't help you at the far end).

PS I've seen tons of Folders in Edinburgh ;-)

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dNM-mzepi0[/media]

 

[fimm]

Hi,

Am thinking about buying a decent folding bike (prb £500+) for 2 mile journey each side of a train ride.

I am just looking for some real life experience of folding bikes, I had a Dahon that was close to being full size and it was awful - Was as awkward on the train as a full bike and as pacy on the road as a folder.
Get a Brompton.

I have a Brompton, and I live in Edinburgh.
My Main concerns are:

Tackling Hills on a three speed bike
I can cycle up Dundas Street on in in bottom gear (I ony have 3 gears) and the speed is reasonable in the top gear.

Conspicuousness - You do not see many true folders in Fife / Edinburgh
there are a few around - I'm not quite sure why this is a problem?

General feeling of stability or lack of - Ride would be mix of cycle paths and normal roads
It doesn't feel unstable to me - I have a front pannier which I think helps. I don't use it much off tarmac, but I think it would be OK on decent non-tarmaced ground

Life of running gear when exposed to rain / grit etc
I've just replaced the chain and rear cog after 4 years, I think, of near 5 days a week use. I should clean it more than I do.

Price - Are they really worth the money!
Only you can decide that. I would get another.

Hope that helps

 

[Unfit Fifer]

Thanks for the feedback.

My main worries (other than the £££££) is the lack of gears, effectiveness of built in lights and speed of fold.

The brompton appears to be the best bet - Just have to get it past the chancellor / wife.

That will be a fourth bike in the garage...

 

[Unfit Fifer]

Thanks for the feedback.

My main worries (other than the £££££) is the lack of gears, effectiveness of built in lights and speed of fold.

The brompton appears to be the best bet - Just have to get it past the chancellor / wife.

That will be a fourth bike in the garage...

 

[John the Monkey]

My Main concerns are:
Tackling Hills on a three speed bike

Depends in thehill, but my Brompton Wide Range hub goes up some reasonably steep stuff in second - 1st is very spinny, ime.

Conspicuousness - You do not see many true folders in Fife / Edinburgh

Nor in Crewe, although there are loads at the Manchester end of my joruney, mostly Bromptons, a few Raleigh Stowaways (or other 20" wheel type). I've seen a Dahon Jack once.

General feeling of stability or lack of - Ride would be mix of cycle paths and normal roads

Pretty good - the Brompton is a bit twitchier than a full size bike, but I barely notice it unless I think about it.

Life of running gear when exposed to rain / grit etc

Hub gear with wide-ish chain - pretty good generally, although it does get dirty from being so near to the ground. Needs a good rinse after riding on gritted roads, but so does anything.

Price - Are they really worth the money!

I have a tourer & a "fast bike" - I bought my Brompton for overwintering on, and I love it. Goes with me to places where I'm not sure of the cycle parking at the other end, can be chucked in the car boot for cheeky rides on days out with the family, gets on any train & fits nicely in the luggage racks. The fold is unbeatable, and the ride is surprisingly good. Most dealers will let you test ride one, afaik, they'll surprise you.

Other pros include readily available spares and superb luggage (I favour the C bag, but the system is really good).

 

[John the Monkey]

My main worries (other than the £££££) is the lack of gears, effectiveness of built in lights and speed of fold.

Just use regular lights - I do.

The fold is quick (15-20 seconds, if that).

You could always get a 6 speed too - but test one, and see how you find the range of the 3 speed.

 

[HelenD123]

I've seen people have two cheap bikes for your sort of journey and just lock them up at either station. That avoids having to take a bike on the train.

 

[fimm]

I also just have ordinary lights on mine. The rear one is just under the seat and stays there most of the time, but the one on the front has to come off for the fold. It isn't easy to fit multiple lights, I have to admit, though I sometimes get another on the front.

Folding took me about a week to get slick - it was the pedal that I took the longest to get the hang of! - but it is very quick once you get the hang of it.

I'd suggest that you do a bit of a google for folding bike comparisons as there are sites out there devoted to folding bikes of all kinds!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Get a brompton. Figure what gearing you need and if need be order one from them, rather than buying what the shops have in stock, as by doing so you can opt for lower or higher gears than standard. Battery lights, that you probably already own, folding takes seconds and the ride, and engagement with slightly different muscle sets to normal, well you get used to it.

btw you may be surprised what you can climb if you don't have a lower gear.

 

[Unfit Fifer]

Thanks for all the views.

I think I will take a wander to Bike Trax and see the Bromptons in the Flesh.

anyone have any dealings with Bike Trax, Tollcross, Edinburgh?

 

[jay clock]

Don't know which Dahon you had, but it might have been the 26" wheel version. I have the Speed p8, a few years old, hardly ever use it, but it folds ok, and although it feels a bit "foldy" on the road, I have done rides of up to 45miles on it, and hills are no problems.

Decathlon do a folder that I think is a Dahon at heart and good value..... http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/folding-bikes-38954545/

 

[Downward]

Just picked up a Folder as we have moved offsite at work so need something to tootle between offices.
As I have a decent Commuter Hybrid and a Roadie for the nice weather I wanted as cheap as possible for probably 8-12 miles per week.

£150 later - Folds easy about 2 clips, lower seat et voila, fits in car boot and weighs maybe about 8 or 9 kgs

Viking Safari Alloy Folding Bike 2010 (Black)

• FRAME: Lightweight alloy tubing, 20” wheel folding frame, with quick release mechanism.
• FORK: Hi tensile fork.
• GEARS: Shimano 6 speed, with Shimano Revoshift gear lever and Shimano 6 speed freewheel.
• CHAINSET: Single with alloy cranks and a clear chainring chainguard.
• WHEELS: Viking 20” Double wall 36 hole alloy rims and alloy hubs.
• TYRES: 20” x 1.75” all black tyres.
• BRAKES: Alloy ‘V’ style, with alloy brake levers.
• STEERING: Alloy Riser bar with an alloy stem with a quick release folding mechanism.
• SADDLE: Viking comfort design saddle, alloy seat post.
• FEATURES: Comfort grips, alloy kickstand and right side folding pedal.
• FRAME SIZES: 13”
• COLOUR: Matt Black frame and Fork.

 

[fimm]

Thanks for all the views.

I think I will take a wander to Bike Trax and see the Bromptons in the Flesh.

anyone have any dealings with Bike Trax, Tollcross, Edinburgh?

Yes, that's where I got my Brompton from. No complaints about the service. I think Brompton try to be quite choosy about who their suppliers are. I think BikeTrax have other folders too, IIRC, so you could try one of those too.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Just picked up a Folder as we have moved offsite at work so need something to tootle between offices.
As I have a decent Commuter Hybrid and a Roadie for the nice weather I wanted as cheap as possible for probably 8-12 miles per week.

£150 later - Folds easy about 2 clips, lower seat et voila, fits in car boot and weighs maybe about 8 or 9 kgs

Downward are you sure about the weight? If you don't mind could you please measure it? I would expect it to be in excess of 12kgs. The reason, is that the lightest current Brompton, the S2L-X, weighs nearly 10kgs.