Folding Bike

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rotrax

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Last night I picked up a used folding bike from a gumtree ad-£20.00.

It looked OK in the single photo, it was dark when I collected it but apart from flat tyres it looked good for my purpose.

Took it from the back of the car today and found it in dirty with a little easily cleaned off surface rust but otherwise in almost new condition. No wear at all on the whitewall Metzler tyres or the brake blocks.

It is now cleaned and lubed, the 3 speed hub gear adjusted and it has been tested up the road, all good. Well pleased.

I have heard of the maker before, but not as a bicycle manufacturer.

It is Li-Lo!

Would have been nice if it was inflatable and took up even less space.................................
 
Here you go: https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...e-for-advertising-inflatable_60639442703.html

I recall the time when Brighton marina had a big clearout of all the bikes rusting away and clogging up the bike stands. They put notes on the bikes for a month or so, stating that if they weren't moved, they'd be removed. Most weren't moved, so one day a big truck came and some professional bicycle "thieves" for hire arrived, cut off the locks and loaded the ones that looked like they might have some remaining value into the truck. I don't know if they took payment other than that. The ones too far gone seem to have been tossed into the boatyard skip, and there wasn't much left to scavenge from those.

So please treat your new bike better than that, and if you don't want it anymore, don't just leave it locked up on a stand somewhere. :encouragement:
 
Yngmar said:
Here you go: https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...e-for-advertising-inflatable_60639442703.html

I recall the time when Brighton marina had a big clearout of all the bikes rusting away and clogging up the bike stands. They put notes on the bikes for a month or so, stating that if they weren't moved, they'd be removed. Most weren't moved, so one day a big truck came and some professional bicycle "thieves" for hire arrived, cut off the locks and loaded the ones that looked like they might have some remaining value into the truck. I don't know if they took payment other than that. The ones too far gone seem to have been tossed into the boatyard skip, and there wasn't much left to scavenge from those.

So please treat your new bike better than that, and if you don't want it anymore, don't just leave it locked up on a stand somewhere. :encouragement:
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No chance-it will be used on the boat for transport to the shops etc.

It folds up easily and quite small and we have dry storage for it. It should prove a useful addition to the cruising kit.

When First Mate has recovered from her new hip we can get her one too!
 
rotrax said:
No chance-it will be used on the boat for transport to the shops etc.

It folds up easily and quite small and we have dry storage for it. It should prove a useful addition to the cruising kit.

When First Mate has recovered from her new hip we can get her one too!
Click to expand...

I have a folding electric assisted one but frankly it is still too large to get it into the boat. I'm thinking of an electric scooter instead.
 
LiLo, maybe its specifically designed for either sleeping?, or usage near/in water :)

I, we only have one, have folding bike - fits neatly into a locker, into the dinghy - great addition to the cruising kit. The skipper does not like cycling, prefers fishing (my attention span is too short). I added a bike rack, neatly holds a milk crate and I have a basket on the bow (sorry - handlebars) - good for shopping. I also added bike lights (and pump).

Jonathan
 
Sybarite said:
I have a folding electric assisted one but frankly it is still too large to get it into the boat. I'm thinking of an electric scooter instead.
Click to expand...
My thinking as well.
Folding bike is comfortable but difficult to stow below deck and not too easy to dinghy ashore. I tried a non-electric scooter last year on my trip to Portugal but it /I couldn't handle the cobble / stone pavements / roads, it gives you jaw ache.
If I do go electric, it will definitely have pneumatic tyres, the only issue is it's UK legal status, the Government should get a grip of this but I guess they have other things on their mind!
 
We have had a pair of Brompton on the boat for years. They fit under the saloon table in a box we made.
We have cycled thousands of miles on them. We can get a full supermarket shop (1 trollies worth) on the bikes with a bag each on the rear carrier, the Brompton bag full on the bow and a small rucksack each. There are times when they are really useful and other times we don't use them at all
 
We have 2 mezzo's on board and would'nt want to be with out them. Often used for exploring and shopping.
Bromptons are the most space efficient of all the good folders, but more expensive and not immune to rust if stored somewhere wet.
 
seumask said:
Bromptons are the most space efficient of all the good folders, but more expensive and not immune to rust if stored somewhere wet.
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We store ours in cheap big plastic carrier bags to keep any water off. Has worked well so far.
We had to go for Bromptons as they were the only ones that fit through the lid of the cockpit locker. Very pleased with them, they are a great addition to our cruising.
 
LadyInBed said:
My thinking as well.
Folding bike is comfortable but difficult to stow below deck and not too easy to dinghy ashore. I tried a non-electric scooter last year on my trip to Portugal but it /I couldn't handle the cobble / stone pavements / roads, it gives you jaw ache.
If I do go electric, it will definitely have pneumatic tyres, the only issue is it's UK legal status, the Government should get a grip of this but I guess they have other things on their mind!
Click to expand...

Yes they must legislate you can’t have all this transport without legislation. Electric tax etc etc.
 
seumask said:
Bromptons are the most space efficient of all the good folders, but more expensive and not immune to rust if stored somewhere wet.
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Ours are 15 years old now, only ever been in a marine environment. They are quite noticeably rusty and need stripping right down for refurbishment. Still working well after many miles but starting to look a bit tatty.
 
I have two folding bikes on the boat. They are rarely used, take up a lot of space and I am thinking about flogging them on. I prefer to walk than cycle and if I want to cycle I'll hire a bike in the future.
 
Often there is no cycle hire where we use them!
2 Brompton's would often fit in the space one industry average 20" folder folds down to. There's quite a bit to making a real space efficient folder. I think Brompton has some design rights, hence few others really fold down as well.
 
rotrax said:
That is why I only spent a modest amount. If we find it usefull, we can get another and/or upgrade.

Getting the fresh croissant from our favourite pattisiere in Cherbourg will be easier and quicker!
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Our Bromptons are 15 years old. They are still worth what we paid for them all that time ago. They have a little rust but not life threatening. They survive on very little maintenance. Take up less space then any other decent bike that rides well. Would I in hindsight have chosen something else? No. If they were ever stolen we would replace with Bromptons.
Whether we use them a lot depends on where we are. Here in Curacao, they are getting lots of use. When we are in islands with dollar buses everywhere we take the bus. If we didn't have the bikes here, we would have to hire a car to get to some places
 
vyv_cox said:
Ours are 15 years old now, only ever been in a marine environment. They are quite noticeably rusty and need stripping right down for refurbishment.
Click to expand...

https://www.landauuk.com/products/latest-products/brompton-marine-bike/

I ordered one at the boat show. Having seen my motorcycle which had been rust free for 18 years suddenly decay as soon as it moved to the car park at Brighton marina and noting the rusty contraptions which were once bicycles in the racks on the east jetty, it will be interesting to see how this fares
 
Sandy said:
I have two folding bikes on the boat. They are rarely used, take up a lot of space and I am thinking about flogging them on. I prefer to walk than cycle and if I want to cycle I'll hire a bike in the future.
Click to expand...
Our last bike got blown into the river at Dubrovnik. Rather than buy another bike, we have bought a kick scooter from Decathlon. Its great. Makes trips to the toilet or marina office a breeze. Nice and compact. Easy to get ready to go.
Not sure I will bother with a bike
Tudorsailor
 
LadyInBed said:
At £1560.00 a taxi might be more economic! :)
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The £20.00 Li-Lo that started this thread is more like it for me! Been using it and fine tuning it, pretty much perfect now.

I spent £1600.00 last year, but not on a bicycle-I bought, renovated and installed an 8KW Westerbeke genset.

I cant ever see me ever spending that much for a bicycle!
 
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