Folding bike for the boat - recommendations?

[johnalison]

Folding bikes can add a great deal to one’s cruising pleasure. We have had two on board since 1988 when they were uncommon and we occasionally heard people muttering about the Tour de France as we went past. As well as making it possible to explore without having to rely on buses, there are numerous places where a trip to the shops means a twenty minute walk, something that one would only do once a day, but just a few minutes by bike makes it a doddle.

Our first bikes were early Dahons with small wheels, but they were stolen when locked in Amsterdam. Our current ones are Di Blasi and twenty yrs old. I would like to have had Bromptons but balked at the price. Choice depends on price and the storage available. There are many perfectly good ones that just fold in half, with usually good-sized wheels, but which take up a lot of space. Our di Blasis fold into a large but slim package but the Bromptons fold smallest. We have five derailleur gears which are a great improvement on the three of the Dahons. Generally, the smaller the wheels, the more gears you need. Brompton and ours are never going to be ideal for cycle touring but I have had many enjoyable rides of up to ten miles or so, including fairly rough tracks.

There is a bit of a knack in riding with small wheels, and it may pay to try some out before choosing.

 

[dansaskip]

I often think it is false economy to go for the budget stuff, but of course it does depend on your means. I choose a Brompton because it folds down about the smallest and my boat is relatively small. Used it a lot, roads, tracks, dirt paths and all and don't believe it when people say you can't carry much. Used mine for lots of shopping, cans of paraffin etc and probably most extreme two sails - looks unwieldy but it worked.

 

[fredrussell]

Agree with all the others - if space is at a premium, it’s Brompton. Dahon have blatantly ripped off Brompton’s folding mechanism with their Curl models, but these are same money as Bromptons so no use here. I have a Dahon Speed - it’s an amazing ride, but folded it’s twice the size of a Brompton.
If storage size is not such an issue, a £200 second hand Dahon will be WAY nicer to ride than any of the no-name folders, of which there are many.

 

[Irish Rover]

of course it does depend on your means.

Ooch ?

 

[vyv_cox]

Our Bromptons were bought 20 years ago and have been used extensively. On our relative small boat by live aboard standards their small folded size is invaluable. They lie in the aft cabin beneath the cockpit sole, a space that is nigh on useless for anything else.

I recently joined a FB Brompton page and have been amazed at the achievements of some members. Distances up to 100 miles per day are mentioned, many of them off-road. We have never managed anything like that but find them comfortable for more moderate trips.

 

[geem]

Don't.

Bikes get used for the first few weeks, then never again, just taking up valuable storage space that other things that never get used could have been stored in.

That's says more about the rider than the bike.
Our Brompton bikes have been used onboard since 2004. How much we use them depends on which country we are in. Some places we use them all the time. Other places we rarely use them. We can get a whole supermarket trolleys worth of groceries on two Brompton bikes so at times the bikes are worth their weight in gold.
Some places it's great to have the bikes to do some site seeing and keep fit. If you are not prone to keeping fit take the bus?

 

[vyv_cox]

That's says more about the rider than the bike.
Our Brompton bikes have been used onboard since 2004. How much we use them depends on which country we are in. Some places we use them all the time. Other places we rarely use them. We can get a whole supermarket trolleys worth of groceries on two Brompton bikes so at times the bikes are worth their weight in gold.
Some places it's great to have the bikes to do some site seeing and keep fit. If you are not prone to keeping fit take the bus?

I remember buying five slabs of 24 beer cans at a mini-market in Skopelos. They offered to deliver them back to the boat but I explained that I could carry them on the Brompton. Both shop assistants came out to watch me load up and ride away!

 

[Blueboatman]

I brought one home off the boat (it's in Greece where roads are killers) and have just attached an electric hub to it. It is brilliant. I brought the 6 gear one home but with the e-hub I never get out of top gear. Plenty enough of exercise for me coming back up the hill home at half power. Cycle path practically all the way from the boat to the flat - I take the longer route for the safety.

My hub motor kit is being put into a shipping container somewhere east of Suez .. can’t wait to try it ! In about 6 weeks ??

 

[geem]

I remember buying five slabs of 24 beer cans at a mini-market in Skopelos. They offered to deliver them back to the boat but I explained that I could carry them on the Brompton. Both shop assistants came out to watch me load up and ride away!

It always staggers me what we can carry on them. I once bought a dog crate in Curacao. Rode through the streets of Willemstad with it strapped to the back.
Did the same with an inflatable paddleboard and yes, several,slabs of beer but I think you beat me with five?

 

[dgadee]

My hub motor kit is being put into a shipping container somewhere east of Suez .. can’t wait to try it ! In about 6 weeks ??

Is that the Swytch one? Odd business model where you wait for months and have no idea when it will arrive. I went with the Whoosh one (Q70).

 

[Blueboatman]

Experimenting, I built a trailer for my fold up .. and it worked pretty well
proved good enough for a larger petrol lawnmower weight or 4 30cm pavia slabs ?( or a whole Monitor windvane )

- this was before I had access to welding and machining and indeed quick detach wheels so it looks pretty rustic /daft , has an oak /plywood ‘ chassis ‘structure with ex disability walker aluminium parts that tie to the bicycle saddleback , yet is still lighter than anything you can readily buy at sub £150ish …
Next time around I hope to fit q/d wheels and eliminate the chassis bits , like a proprietary Y Trailor ( see internet/you tube )
And they are very good indeed at lugging beer , canoes , camping shells , w h y ..

 

[Blueboatman]

Is that the Swytch one? Odd business model where you wait for months and have no idea when it will arrive. I went with the Whoosh one (Q70).

Aye.. waiting
That looks really good too
Introducing the Woosh Brompton cskit

 

[V1701]

I wouldn't buy a new Brompton they've got ridiculously expensive now but I'd definitely buy a second hand one again because they hold their value so well. They do fold up way smaller than most others, which are often surprisingly bulky and they ride better than you would expect given the tiny wheels. Quick release removable pedals can help quite a lot with manoeuvring & storage. Sold my Brompton for what I paid for it 5 or 6 years previous & now have a full size Montague folder because I have the space for it...

 

[V1701]

A colleague of mine has a Swytch kit on her bike, had a go and was surprised how good it was. If you tell it the wheels on the bike are smaller than they actually are you can go a lot faster! She's had a few problems with it but the company were responsive and sent her replacement bits no problem...

 

[dgadee]

People with money buy them but don't use them and then sell on. Mine were 2nd hand and unused from an architect who bought them from a client to make some pennies The further you are from London the cheaper, I think. Bangor in NI was very cheap.

 

[fredrussell]

Not to show off or anything but Years ago I had a ‘Birdy’ folding bike by Reise and Muller. Amazing bit of German engineering and at the time considered the pinnacle of folding-bikeness. Due to incredible innovation it folded to… twice the size of a folded Brompton!

 

[Blueboatman]

D day landings had folding bicycles -highly desirable ‘ icons’ now

I have sailed with two full size ordinary bicycles striped one each side of the cockpit dodgers . Well oiled they remained fine-ish…

 

[[194497]]

Moulton make superb folding bikes including some with stainless steel frames, which would be perfect for marine use but for the fact that they are about the most expensive bikes I have ever seen. But their more basic bikes, while still pricy, are a bit more reasonable and the design and quality are superb.
Actually they are strictly speaking separable not folding, but they do pack down quite small.

 

[geem]

After 18 years of use on two boats I finally decided to refurbish our Bromptons. I did this during covid lockdown.
I stripped the bikes down to the frames and had them blasted and powder coated for £100 each. Whilst I was at it I changed lots of the bolts to titanium. You could buy a kit off Ebay for £50. New mudguards, etc and good for another 20 years.

 

[sailorman]

I am about to post the sale of two unknown, but not Bromptons, folding bikes in the For Sale sub-forum. I prefer to walk than cycle and they came with the boat but never used. Before I do I need to check them out as they have been in the shed for a couple of years.

very useful 4 shopping trips