Folding Bikes

[taxing]

I was thinking about getting a cheap second hand folding bike, to cut a long reason short I could do with a bike that will fit in my boyfriend's car, I won't let him put my shiny new bike in there again because the first time it went in the mudguard bent.

I'm skint and don't want anything flashy, don't care about speed and don't care about how small it folds down as I won't be taking it on public transport, so does anyone in the know reckon a second hand Raleigh Stowaway or Compact would do the job? There are a few on fleabay at the moment.

Or should I give up on the idea of a folder and just get a normal beater bike that I don't mind taking the wheel off and chucking in there? I quite like the look of the old folders, and I like the idea of being able to fold it down quickly and without mucking around with a spanner, but if they're really awful I could be talked out of it. Maybe.

 

[TheBoyBilly]

If the Raleigh does the job you want, will fit in your 'other 'alf's' boot (modern folders will beat it easily on the fold), and is in reasonable nick for it's age (1970s) then go for it. I think it will be more than up to the task of gentle pootling about and short commutes. Just don't pay over the odds. It's a cute little bike. Good luck.

Bill

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

If you haven't seen it already, this might help you pick one. Good luck!

 

[Banjo]

I was thinking about getting a cheap second hand folding bike, to cut a long reason short I could do with a bike that will fit in my boyfriend's car, I won't let him put my shiny new bike in there again because the first time it went in the mudguard bent.

I'm skint and don't want anything flashy, don't care about speed and don't care about how small it folds down as I won't be taking it on public transport, so does anyone in the know reckon a second hand Raleigh Stowaway or Compact would do the job? There are a few on fleabay at the moment.

Or should I give up on the idea of a folder and just get a normal beater bike that I don't mind taking the wheel off and chucking in there? I quite like the look of the old folders, and I like the idea of being able to fold it down quickly and without mucking around with a spanner, but if they're really awful I could be talked out of it. Maybe.

A folder is a great idea.Goes in the boot of a car . I have a cheap one and its surprisingly nice to ride. My one is a single speed , may change it for one with some gears one day but it still does the job.

 

[TheBoyBilly]

There are of course many cheap folders out there. Another Raleigh too look out for is the Boardwalk (inc. Lite) which is a much more recent model, closer to (if not even re-badged) Dahons (I'm not too sure). You may be lucky to pick up one of these at a reasonable price. You will never regret buying a fold-up cycle. I have a Brompton and it goes with me everywhere. It wasn't cheap (£725) but in a year it has saved me a shedload of £5 taxi fares so has nearly paid for itself already.

Bill

 

[taxing]

I'm really surprised (and glad!) that everyone agrees that they're useful, I was expecting to be told that they're rubbish. There's a Raleigh Stowaway ending on eBay today that I'm going to bid on, and if I don't get it there are a couple of Compacts ending soon, so hopefully I'll get one of those. Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it.

 

[palinurus]

A folder is a great idea.Goes in the boot of a car . I have a cheap one and its surprisingly nice to ride. My one is a single speed , may change it for one with some gears one day but it still does the job.

Is that the Compass Marine job? they are reckoned (by A to B magazine) to be dead good value. For a while they were selling two for £150, but I think they are back to one for the same price now!

As for something like a Stowaway, why not? they'll cost peanuts on eBay. Friend bought one, tatty but a good runner, working dynamo lighting attached. Great 'round town hack. No-one is going to nick it. Well I might, I think it has a certain kind of cool.

 

[taxing]

Bit of an update for anyone who cares: I just won a Stowaway on eBay . It was only £38, I'm dead chuffed as my maximum bid was only £38.55, and someone bumped it up right at the last second, so if I had bid a quid less they'd have got it. It won't let me snag the link for just the picture, but here's the whole eBay page. I like the dark green with the white, and I'm going to stick artificial flowers on the sticky out bit where the front light would have been attached because I'm girly like that.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

That £38 will be most likely more sound than the cheap new £80 folders that are on the market.

One thing....check that the cranks don't have any play in them - if they do, get it looked at ASAP as it can be as simple as tightening/replacing the cotter pins (the lumpy bit with the nut on one end where the crank arm fits), but if left with play that isn't attended to, the cotter pins wear away the bottom bracket axle which, on '70s bikes of that ilk, tend to be quite soft steel

3-speed gripshift..."proppa old skool"

 

[Banjo]

Is that the Compass Marine job? they are reckoned (by A to B magazine) to be dead good value. For a while they were selling two for £150, but I think they are back to one for the same price now!

As for something like a Stowaway, why not? they'll cost peanuts on eBay. Friend bought one, tatty but a good runner, working dynamo lighting attached. Great 'round town hack. No-one is going to nick it. Well I might, I think it has a certain kind of cool.

Yes it was out of the Compass Marine catalogue but several years ago.Has done a few miles now and still going strong but I ride it gently as its obviously not designed for hard use and abuse.Rides better than you would expect.I have done a 25 mile ride on it but usually just short around town rides.


Taxing congratulations on winning the folder with a lucky bid.

 

[taxing]

It'll look a whole lot better at least, I'm not a fan of how modern folders look. I'm a vintage kinda girl. It's a bit odd that this bike is my age plus a half though.

I'll check that, thanks for the warning. I'm not sure whether to take it in for someone who knows what they're doing to have a look at it for me, or just have a look over it myself for anything obviously wrong. There's a new bike shop just opened near me and when I went in today the bloke was working on an old Universal folder, so I reckon he'd know what he was doing.

3 speed is a right step up for me, I'm on a single speed at the moment. No more avoiding Park Street!

 

[StuartG]

Also worth looking out for IKEA bikes on eBay. They were given away free to co-workers a few years ago and so do pop up occasionally. Some people think they are good. I've never tried one but google around and see what you think.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

3 speed is a right step up for me, I'm on a single speed at the moment. No more avoiding Park Street!

3 speed will pretty much get you anywhere in and around Hull...a 70's 3-speed "roadster" got me out and about around Brantingham and on a camping trip to Easington without too much trouble (OK, just a little but of pushing up Brantingham hill)

 

[taxing]

Bit of a bummer, the gears don't work. Conveniently left that out of the listing. And the rear brake doesn't either, so it's going to have to have a visit to the shop. I'm still pleased with the bike itself, it's a nice colour and all that, but it's a bit disappointing that I'm going to have to shell out more than I had planned to.

 

[mr_cellophane]

 Halfords have their Apollo 20" Folding Bike for £150 thats £50 off




Any comments (apart from the usual ones about Halfords)