Folding Bicycles ...

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fireball

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We're seriously contemplating getting a couple of folding bikes to put on the boat whilst we're on holiday ...
Space is limited, and we may need to get them ashore in our 2.6m inflatable ... !
Don't want to go too expensive, but concerned about getting cheap tat that'll fall apart after the first ride ...

Anyone got some suggestions as to make and price?
 
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All the information you could ever want on folding bicycles, can you believe there is a Folding Society

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Didn't that company fold recently ?
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I've got two Bickertons which I bought s/h while anchored in Alderney two years ago and they are perfect for what you want. They are a classics and people stare as though you were driving a Ferrari! Great fun!!
 
Def a case of 'you get what you pay for.' If you are a serious cyclist and/or want the bike to last more than a couple of years, a Brompton is the best option. Good quality frame and components, folds very small and rides well despite very small (16 inch) wheels. Plenty of options (eg gears, lights, folding pedal (recommended) and seat post length).

I recommend six gear model (two chainrings plus three gears in the hub). I don't usually like hub gears but derailleaurs are too vulnerable on a small yacht and in a dinghy.

The small wheels take some getting used to but I have used mine from twenty mile rides on Jura in deepish snow and ice to longer rides in the heat of the Azores and consider it the best thing I've ever bought. Only downside is the (generally crude but good natured) jokes to which I'v been subjected from Iceland to Africa! I do look pretty silly on the bike.

Price depends on model but expect to pay around £450. See adverts in a bike mag or internet and you will get a discount.

Add a further £55 for a bag (don't get this from Brompton as the quality is poor. Carradice is an alternative supplier)

You will also need spares (another £50) as (and this is the case with all folding bikes) most spares are specific to the model and difficult to obtain.

See www.bromptonbicycle.co.uk and www.carradice.co.uk
 
would go for bromptons;fold well, lightish and compact and will sell v easily if you get fed up with them
 
We got a cheap one from Compass Marine ,about £70 if i remember correctly. Only one gear but rides surprisingly well.

For occasional use its fine.came with a side stand ,carrier and believe it or not a compass on the handlebar.
 
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We got a cheap one from Compass Marine ,about £70 if i remember correctly. Only one gear but rides surprisingly well.

For occasional use its fine.came with a side stand ,carrier and believe it or not a compass on the handlebar.

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I got mine from Halfords. 99 quid. 1 gear.

I thought that was a bargain, but, clearly, I was had!

But... has stayed in one piece and everyone keeps asking where I bought it.
 
Another vote for Brompton,if you're going to use them a lot,but if it's only for occasional use it's worth factoring £1000 for two bikes against taxi fares!
 
Hmm £1000 ... not for a folding bike or even 2 !!

Perhaps we will stay at the bottom of the market for the moment .... !! Any more experience with the cheap ones?
 
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got mine from Halfords. 99 quid. 1 gear.

I thought that was a bargain, but, clearly, I was had!

But... has stayed in one piece and everyone keeps asking where I bought it.

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Me too - lasted for ages - really good value.. A full size bike is better and when you take the wheels off and fold them against the frame they are pretty small.. They ride much better and are better value if you can stow the full size....

Michael
 
We bought a pair of Dahon six speed bikes - 20" wheels which are very good. Tried the Bromptons ad lots of others but found these the best for ride and ease of storage. You used to be able to get them through Halfords (order only) or direct from the importer we used http://www.cyclemotion.co.uk you will see that the name is 'Bickerton' - he is related to the Bickerton bike man. Have found them very good bikes - able to handle light off road as well as covering good distances around ports or harbours
 
Bike in a bag, 6 gears, no oily chain, 20'' wheels (anything smaller is no good outside the marina). One at a time in the inflatable, or you could jog?
 
We used a couple of basic three-gear shopper bikes for about three years - £25 each from the local free ads. In their bags (from compass) they fitted in a 2.6m dinghy and they were fine to ride long distances. However, stowing them onboard was a pain, so we changed to a pair og SEAGO six-speed folders. The smaller wheels take a bit of getting used to and they are slightly under-geared, but they win overall on usability because they stow so easily onboard and in a cockpit locker.
 
I got 2 from Compass, 130 pounds for 2, excellent value for money, they ride very well and are very well made, just need spraying with WD40 when wet to prevent corrosion. Highly recommended.

Peter
 
We also got two Dahons, about £250 each for the six speed Boardwalk model. Quite satisfactory; I use one at home occasionally but I would rarely use a folder in preference to a conventional bike.
We got them from Biketrax in Edinburgh; I think they do mail order.

Derek.
 
Thanks for the replies guys ... we're not after liveaboard type bikes (yet!!) so the cheaper ones may well suffice the occaisional (ab)use they'll get... but they will have to go on our 30'er along with everything else so packed size does make the difference ...
 
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