which folding bike?

wotayottie

wotayottie

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courtesy of a gammy leg, I need a folding bike which will go inside a typical cockpit loccker and not corrode overnight. plus gears and a carrier. suitable for an adult male of average size. all that of course and as cheap as chips

I seem to remember one sailing mag doing comparative tests but I cant find it in my collection.

any recommendations ? does anyone have one for sale?
 
A Brompton is the thing. The El Cheapo bikes in chandlers fail on the not-corrode-overnight test, and are not very well designed or executed. Brompton's aren't cheap and are hard to find secondhand, but if you want a well made, effective and reliable folder they are hard to beat. And fold smaller than just about anything else.
 
Unfortunately Brompton are way out ahead in every respect. But expensive. We had to wait 8 weeks to even get ours but they are amazing and draw comment from the French every time we are out on them. In France they are €200 more expensive and yet sell very well. They have a rear pannier for carrying things and you can get a large 25 litre front bag for shopping etc which clips on and off. Most come with dynamo lights etc. We carry 2 in a locker under our aft bed and they take up little room. GET A GOOD LOCK
 
Yep, have to agree with the others re Brompton. They really are fantastic bikes, beautifully engineered but hugely expensive if you add on all the 'extras', but worth every single penny in our view.

We've owned ours since the 1996 LBS and have used them ever since, including over nine years cruising, and they've done hundreds, if not thousands of miles since. Even now they look like new, the only visible sign of age being that the red paint on the 'crossbars' has faded a bit, not surprising since they have spent so much time in the Med and Caribbean.

The only thing that has gone 'wrong', was that after a couple of years or so, the rear wire mudguard support on my bike started to get surface rust. I rang Brompton's and two days later, replacements for the front AND rear supports arrived for BOTH bikes! Excellent service/back-up! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Very highly recommended!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

No connection etc,
 
Another vote for Brompton. I have actually got a titanium framed one. Not for boaty purposes. Commute every day, rain, shine or snow. Amazingly good to withstand the knocks and dings of crowded FGW peak trains. What is not titanium is aluminum of plastic except (of course) the chain which must be kept lubricated (obvious innit).

Would I spend >1K on a bike? Not sure... I got it discounted on a cycle-to-work scheme. Still expensive, but "only" 600squids. Hope it is still going to be with me when I finally sail off into the deep wide blue. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I have a Brompton which I use for riding around London not the titanium just the cooking version, but a superb bike, I took it to France on boat and then spent a week trying to get the rust off of it.
I then bought a 'sea sure' stainless, alright for buzzing around, doesnt fold as efficiently, keep banging my knees on the handlebars there is absolutely no comparison and no good for serious bike rides, compass do a surprisingly good folder - when we are away this year will donate sea sure to swmbo, whilst I use the brompton!
 
I seem to have found the Brompton enthusiasts club, but the prices of these bikes are simply silly (IMHO). There must be someone who makes a perfectly useable, practical folder for (sday) £100 to £150.

The E Bay prices of Brompton and the comments above suggest a bit of a bandwagon - HR style. Good bikes but overpriced???
 
"There must be someone who makes a perfectly useable, practical folder for (sday) £100 to £150."

Usable for what? If you want to ride longer distances, most cheap'n'nasty folders won't do it. Well, they will, but you won't enjoy the experience and you're unlikely to repeat it.

If you just want to get a mile or so from the boat to the pub, then almost anything will do.

(PS if you think Brommies are expensive look at Bike Friday or Airnimal)
 
On the subject of bikes on boats (but not folding as I can't justify the cost) I have tried evertyhing to stop the chain rusting after exposure to a bit of spray while the bike is tied on deck - without success.

Has anyone come across anything that will keep the chain from forming a solid belt of rust! (apart from leaving the bike in the shed)
 
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I seem to have found the Brompton enthusiasts club, but the prices of these bikes are simply silly (IMHO). There must be someone who makes a perfectly useable, practical folder for (sday) £100 to £150.

The E Bay prices of Brompton and the comments above suggest a bit of a bandwagon - HR style. Good bikes but overpriced???

[/ QUOTE ]

Have you looked at the prices of bikes these days? Entry level for a bog standard no frills non-folding road bike is around £200; folding bikes (because of increased complexity) are automatically dearer. I don't own a Brompton and have never ridden one, but I do live and work amongst the highest concentration of bike fanatics in the UK, and the word is that Bromptons are the only folding bike that is useable for serious bike riding.

Mind, many of my colleagues would regard £1,000 for a bike as entry level!

Incidentally, eBay these days is usually the top price!
 
If you thought a conventional cross bar could cause you pain this looks positively lethal!

white-01-b.jpg
 
I've got 2 folding bikes. Got them five years ago, second hand. Cost was £250 I think.

Only got them after constant pestering from girlfiend at time.

We split shortly afterwards and they've sat at home ever since.

Yours for £100 if you can collect from Port Solent.
 
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On the subject of bikes on boats (but not folding as I can't justify the cost) I have tried evertyhing to stop the chain rusting after exposure to a bit of spray while the bike is tied on deck - without success.

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A Dutch style fully enclosed chain case might work especially if combined with one of the heavy motorcycle chain lubricants.

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The Strida folder has belt drive. No rust. Mind you, it's like riding a clothes horse.

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Stridas are an ergonomic nightmare. The saddle gets closer to the center line of the axle as it goes up instead of further away. Additionally I'm not sure how long the unsubstantial steering bearings would last.

I have a Dahon, about half the price of a Brompton, when folded it is 30% larger than a Brompton but easier to fold/deploy.
 
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