Folding bikes - Brompton, Dahon, Mezzo etc - recommendations and chat
- Thread starter editor
- Start date
a_chap
When the world came apart, where were you?
Let's leave budget to one side.
How long would the ride be? A paltry few miles from where Mrs Chap parks her car to where she works. Currently she parks as close as possible to where she works and that means she's stuck in traffic for ages. I've suggested she parks on the outskirts and rides the last yard or two. Or three.
How long would the ride be? A paltry few miles from where Mrs Chap parks her car to where she works. Currently she parks as close as possible to where she works and that means she's stuck in traffic for ages. I've suggested she parks on the outskirts and rides the last yard or two. Or three.
editor
hiraethified
It's impossible to recommend a suitable bike without a budget!
Piers Gibbon
Well-Known Member
Well if budget is not a primary consideration then there's little reason not to just splash the cash on a 3 speed brompton... Order it in advance and so get it in her fave colour. Loveability may help solidify the biking habit...
Boycey
juvenile rave slut
2 speed with ti rear triangle ftw 
if the shop has to order it the lead out time can be a month or so but it's well worth it. and it's actually made in london, which is awesome. more people ought to make things in london.
[0]=39929]i'm not a fan of dahon and would only resort to them if the budget won't stretch to a basic brompton, even then i'd say to look for a second hand brompton. if the budget is there it's worth considering are the airnimal, less elegant folding mechanism but faster and more like a "proper" bicycle.
if the shop has to order it the lead out time can be a month or so but it's well worth it. and it's actually made in london, which is awesome. more people ought to make things in london.
[0]=39929]i'm not a fan of dahon and would only resort to them if the budget won't stretch to a basic brompton, even then i'd say to look for a second hand brompton. if the budget is there it's worth considering are the airnimal, less elegant folding mechanism but faster and more like a "proper" bicycle.
Piers Gibbon
Well-Known Member
Fwiw I now ride my brompton and a "real" bike regularly and genuinely prefer the brompton... Or I've got habituated or something... I prefer the nippy steering...
Ted Striker
Foot's on the other hand
This reminds me to drop a pic of my (pride and joy) Airnimal (if only for the looks on the LBS workers face when I show what I've done to my brakes 
)
)
DrRingDing
'anti-human wanker'
I've just got my mits on an old racer and the 'turning circle' is howdge compared to the Brompton.
Although I took the Brompton to the Lakes not long ago and rode it for miles up and down the hills in driving rain. That was hard work going up and I was out of my comfort zone doing proper speed on it on the way down.
Piers Gibbon
Well-Known Member
yeah I can see that miles and miles of up and (fast) down on a brompton would be out of its comfort zone...and mine
and good point on leg length - I am blessed with small but perfectly formed leglings
and good point on leg length - I am blessed with small but perfectly formed leglings
Piers Gibbon
Well-Known Member
i can't handle the tiny wheels- lanky fucker me
this bike in nude to show off the brazing is the nuts:
VERY NICE indeed...for the poster above looking for one for his girlf...I would recommend the other more upright (m?) style of handlebars - that's what I have and it's a great compromise
Placid Casual27
Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae
Ok a_chap here's my experience
I bought a 3-speed Brompton 8 months ago, cycle on it 4 miles a day (at either end of a train journey into London, so no more tubes or walking)
I genuinely LOVE it. More and more each day. It is solid, brilliantly engineered, fast and has good gearing. You soon get used to the small wheels
It is my favourite thing I have ever bought
I know Editor loves Dahon, the only Dahon rider i hvae spoken to since I got my Brompton told me he wished he'd got a Brompton as his Dahon keeps going wrong
Mine was £950. It includes rear luggage rack (v handy) and Eazy wheels (2 extra tiny wheels, adding to the two standard tiny wheels which mean you can push it along very easily for example on train platforms etc)
I now use it nearly every weekend for going to the shops, library etc I love it
I also love my full size bike on weekends but could happily survive just w my Brompton
I bought a 3-speed Brompton 8 months ago, cycle on it 4 miles a day (at either end of a train journey into London, so no more tubes or walking)
I genuinely LOVE it. More and more each day. It is solid, brilliantly engineered, fast and has good gearing. You soon get used to the small wheels
It is my favourite thing I have ever bought
I know Editor loves Dahon, the only Dahon rider i hvae spoken to since I got my Brompton told me he wished he'd got a Brompton as his Dahon keeps going wrong
Mine was £950. It includes rear luggage rack (v handy) and Eazy wheels (2 extra tiny wheels, adding to the two standard tiny wheels which mean you can push it along very easily for example on train platforms etc)
I now use it nearly every weekend for going to the shops, library etc I love it
I also love my full size bike on weekends but could happily survive just w my Brompton
DrRingDing
'anti-human wanker'
i can't handle the tiny wheels- lanky fucker me
this bike in nude to show off the brazing is the nuts:
That's the type I've got but with the titanium bits.....although I've got 6 gears. Yes 6!
Placid Casual27
Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae
A woman in my work has the titanium frame. It is MUCH lighter! But I think she told me it is about a grand more expensive
Placid Casual27
Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae
Also (sorry) good idea at the time when you order (and you can pick and mix the spec you choose) to get the front luggage block put on (it is what a Brompton bag will clip onto) - esp in summer so she / you can avoid having rucksack or whatever on your back. £30 for the block iirc and well worth it
Plus I agree w Piers Gibbon get the more upright handlebars (I think they are called M type, not the flat ones in that pic (and NOT the well weird looking ones they also offer!)
Plus I agree w Piers Gibbon get the more upright handlebars (I think they are called M type, not the flat ones in that pic (and NOT the well weird looking ones they also offer!)
Piers Gibbon
Well-Known Member
feel the brompton lurve!
it's funny, but I am undeniably fond of that folded chunk of metal over there...
it's funny, but I am undeniably fond of that folded chunk of metal over there...
Placid Casual27
Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae
Piers (or others), any experience on what is the best front luggage to buy for a Brompton? C or S? I like the mini Ortlieb but they are only 7litre capacity
Any tips welcomed!
Any tips welcomed!
Piers Gibbon
Well-Known Member
I wear a manly leather backpack instead ;-)
Private Storm
Smell The Glove
I use one of these: http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/brompton-t-bag. Can get a LOT in it and very sturdy, weatherproof etc. A bit big for carrying around by itself, but I only really use it on the bike. One downside is that I came off the bike not so long ago and the clip that attaches the bag to the frame has cracked. All still works ok, but I suspect it is going to break some time in the near future.
Placid Casual27
Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae
I got the C bag. It is utterly brilliant. £100 inc frame, 10% off, so £90 job done love it
han
love is the answer
I love my Brompton. I've got the C bag too and also a bag that goes on the (optional) rack I've got on the back. Yes, the standard handlebars which give a very upright riding position make it a veryy comfortable ride.
I slightly regret not going for the titanium frame though as it is quite heavy, but still, I've got the EZ wheels so can push it around, so I don't need to lift it that much anyway.
I slightly regret not going for the titanium frame though as it is quite heavy, but still, I've got the EZ wheels so can push it around, so I don't need to lift it that much anyway.
Piers Gibbon
Well-Known Member
yeah I wish I had been able to afford the titanium version too as bromptons are pretty heavy for carrying...if I win the lottery I'd buy another one and have a spare here so friends could come round and cycle round with me
Private Storm
Smell The Glove
Downside about Bromptons - toerags can walk off the train with your folded up bike and you don't notice 
editor
hiraethified
I some well-heeled type cycling through Brixton today on a lovely Airnimal folder.
*want*
http://www.airnimalfoldingbikes.com/
*want*
http://www.airnimalfoldingbikes.com/
editor
hiraethified
You had your bike nicked?Downside about Bromptons - toerags can walk off the train with your folded up bike and you don't notice
Piers Gibbon
Well-Known Member
noooooo!
Yes they are extremely portable..I think there is a market for an extremely lightweight chain thingy that just attaches bromptons to hand rails/radiators/desks - which of course would not stop an equipped thief but would stop opportunist toerags on public transport or a cafe or whatever. My personal preference would be for an almost invisible chain so that the thief gets rumbled by the noise/surprise and then gets dismembered by the crowd...
Yes they are extremely portable..I think there is a market for an extremely lightweight chain thingy that just attaches bromptons to hand rails/radiators/desks - which of course would not stop an equipped thief but would stop opportunist toerags on public transport or a cafe or whatever. My personal preference would be for an almost invisible chain so that the thief gets rumbled by the noise/surprise and then gets dismembered by the crowd...
Private Storm
Smell The Glove
Yes. Very gutted. Busy, slow train and distracted me meant someone just got off the train with it. Am thinking the same Piers, would probably have meant I still owned a bike right now.
editor
hiraethified
Man, that sucks. Really sorry to hear that. Presumably your reported it to the cops? There's got to be a good chance the thief would have been captured on CCTV, no?
