Folding bikes

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mm1

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Hi all
Has any one got any ideas or experience as to which one to buy
Thinking that bigger wheels are better
Light weight probably aluminium
&easy to put together .
Regards mm1
 
Halcyon Yachts said:
Its got to be a Brompton...

Here is an excellent video where the Brompton is put to the test!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2G099tCs9g

Pete
Click to expand...

+1. We have two on the boat and they really are first class. A case of you get what you pay for. Sit at Waterloo for a couple of minutes and 90% of folders coming off the trains are Bromptons. ( I don't actually do that you understand).
 
dash300 said:
+1. We have two on the boat and they really are first class. A case of you get what you pay for. Sit at waterloo for a couple of minutes and 90% of folders coming off the trains are bromptons. ( i don't actually do that you understand).
Click to expand...

do not get me started on folding bikes on the train...........
 
bought a pair of folding bikes a few years back, never used one so sold that on feebay, to be honest only used the second just a handful of times....(more at home than on the boat, but at home I have another 2 bikes sitting in the garage I could have used quite happily, however the folding bike is parked in front of the other 2...). I think it is one of those things that seem a good idea at the time, my advice would be try and see if any of your friends have got one you could borrow for a couple of weeks, if you use it buy some.... if you don't, buy your friend a nice bottle of something as he just saved you a few hundred quid!

...or just buy a couple of used ones on ebay, if you like and use then upgrade to whatever folk recommend....http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PAIR-OF-MATCHING-FOLDING-BIKES-/181037271965?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2a26a98b9d
 
We have a couple of "shopper bikes" ones a Universal Stowaway the other a Dawes.Record day trip 31 miles!! Usually do about 20 miles.Used inland so probably not suitable for salty atmospheres.Wouldnt want one with smaller wheels (20 inches).Had deraillier gears previously,waste of space for me, found Sturmey Archer 3 speeds perfectly adequate.Keep them on the bows under a cover.If we didnt have the bikes would be a bit bored,
 
+1 for Brompton

They fold up and stow so easily, will last a life time and ride like proper bicycles. We have had two on board for past 7 years and use extensively.

Quality+Function
 
Bikes

Thanks all
I do like quality(after all I do own a fairline)but I am finding the premium you pay for a brompton hard to swallow given the limited use the will get!!
Has any one any info on the cheaper alloy ones as advertised with the swindleries
Regards mm1.
 
You could try the Dahon range.

They're middle market, in between the Brompton's at the top and the sad looking (and often rusting) versions they stand outside chandleries.

I've had two of these http://www.world-wheels.co.uk/09_vitessed7hg.htm for about 5 years. They have sat on the boat, in the cockpit, yet with a wipe over they look like new, nothing has broken or rusted. They're aluminium which helps and the wheels are a reasonable size. You get mudguards, a rack and a clever pump built in to the seat post.

If you wanted to take a look and try one let me know.
 
I too couldn't bring myself to cough-up for a couple of Brompton's, excellent as they may be.

We have two Dahon Aluminium framed and they are excellent value for about £300. We used them nearly everyday last season.
 
I bought a folding bike about 12 months ago and researched the market extensively. The first thing I decided was to go for an aluminium framed bike for lightness and corrosion resistance. The second thing I did was tried a few bikes with different sized wheels and quickly came to the conclusion that for me, a minimum 20" wheel was necessary as I just didn't feel that bikes with smaller wheels were stable enough for riding any distance. I also decided that the bike needed a reasonable set of gears (ie more than 3), a rack to carry stuff and mudguards to keep the s**t off your legs. I ended up buying a Dahon Vitesse 7G which has been excellent.
Except for one thing. Most folding bikes fold up in the same way ie with simple hinges in the middle of the frame and bar support. Thats fine but they're still quite bulky and I've found with limited space available in my lazarette, it's still quite a squeeze to fit it in with the other stuff down there. Also, although the Dahon is not heavy, when you're lifting a bike in and out of a lazarette, you do feel every kg. If I was to do this all again, I would splash out on a Brompton even though they are about 2-3 times the price because they fold down into a much smaller space and they'e a bit lighter. Of course having such an expensive bike means thats even more necessary to have a good bike lock and use it religiously. At least with the Dahon at £400, it would not be so devastating to have it nicked
 
Thanks every body.plenty of food for thought.
Think I need to try one or two as well,
Regards mm1.
 
The Montague is indeed a very nice bike and cleverly engineered. However, if I apply my "So what" test, the question arises, for poodling around a marina, why do I need one?
Take a look at the video of the bike in the trunk of the car - it's huge!
Sure, if I'm into mountain biking or tactical parachuting, they may have just what I need.
For tooling around the places where my boat takes me, my Dahon's do the job considerably cheaper..
 
I've been doing a bit of homework on folding bikes recently to the point where I nearly contacted the magazine about writing a feature for them. My thoughts thus far - and we haven't bought yet......

Ride before you buy. We got some cheap full sized folders sent over and having assembled one and found the pedal geometry made it massively tiring to ride we sent them all back. there were some quality issues as well but the main problem was the geometry. When you look into it the differences can be vast. What might work for you might not work for someone else. There are whole businesses based on ensuring the bike you buy is geometrically correct for you.

Full sized bikes such as the Montague are lovely in that when assembled you have a real bike with no compromise. The problem is they take up a fair amount of space and can be a bit fiddly to assemble. The Montague requires fitting a front wheel which takes a certain knack. The biggest issue is the price which starts at £500 plus. This buys a £150 bike if it didn't have to fold and by the time you've popped the front wheel off your non folder are you not going to be able to store it where the Montague would go?

Small folders. I agree with Mike's suggestion of a 20 inch wheel over a 16 inch or smaller bike. There are a number of occasions when you will find yourself off the tarmac and the smaller wheels react more to bumps. The steering also feels rather knife edge. Once again try the bike to make sure it fits you. You might think you're just unfit but a properly set up bike will make best use of the little energy you have.

I like the Tern range of bikes. The guy who designs them is the son of the bloke behind Dahon bikes and his Mum (ex wife) is also part of the company. I'm not sure the split was entirely amicable but the fact is they have a fresh range of bikes with some clever features. Magnetic catches to hold the bike shut, an ingenious main hinge lock and so on. Price-wise they are keen. I've been following the C7 20 inch bike, currently £280 at Evans Cycles it has been as low as £250 (£300 plus a £50 voucher for accessories). They do a possible contender for the Monague in the form of a Tern Joe C21 for just £335.

The Bromptons are just that bit too expensive for me, especially when you need to buy 3. I also struggle with those small wheels and the fact you look a bit of a tool riding them.

Halfords sell a few folders in their larger stores but the bikes are so poorly laid out and not a single one of their display models has ever been assembled properly so I dismissed them in favour of more specialised suppliers. Bikes are one of those areas where the specialists really do try hard and go the extra mile. No quibble returns, try before you buy at shops and great advice.

The other option and a bit of a curve ball are electric assist bikes. I've used them on quite long journeys in Europe (St Vaast & Villefranche) and they are the absolute business. You have all the convenience of a moped with none of the hassle. Prices are all over the place. Typically the thick end of a grand but then people like Tescos do one for £399. Geometry is less important because you are only going through the motions, the bike does all the work. They are undoubtedly heavier than non powered bikes but the ability to bash 5 miles out and still have wind to do another 5 back after lunch is tempting. If space allows it would be rude not to !

Henry :)
 
It depends on the space you have to store them in firstly.

We have a pair if Ridgeback folding bikes which work well probably about 20 inch wheels, they fold to a reasonable size, five speed, not expensive.

I am not a fan of very small wheels as i consider them dangerous especially after some vino collapso.

When we are in port for a few days leave them on deck chained to something substantial.
 
Wow thanks Henry
What a fantastic response & very much appreciated .
I am sure Richard will be in touch very soon re the magazine !!.
Will have a look @ the tern range.regards mm1.
 
We have two Bromptons on board which never get used, but before they went on the boat I took one on a long bike ride, 20 miles+, and it was very impressive. I remember hurtling down a hill overtaking a couple of mates on full size, non folding, bikes, without any worries about the strength or handling of the bike. I agree they can look a bit daft, but don't be put off just because of the smaller wheels.
 
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