Folding bikes - Brompton, Dahon, Mezzo etc - recommendations and chat
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newbie
undisambiguated
sir.clip said:
unless you're under 18 that's really odd. When I wanted to test a bike at London Bridge Evans couple of weeks ago all they wanted was to take a penny off my card (to prove it worked and I knew the pin) and to hold the card while I was out. Maybe I just look honest
Gixxer1000
cant wheelie a shaftie :(
beeboo said:you need a Dahon Cadenza!!
I had pretty similar requirements - needed a folder to get up and down stairs and store in the flat, but my commute is just shy of a 20 mile round-trip.
I was quickly steered away from small-wheeled folding bikes in the shop as I was told they weren't really suitable for such a long commute - they suffer much more wear-and-tear for a equivalent journey than a full size bike and I was told I'd be constantly replacing parts.
The Cadenza is a decent road-equipped hybrid which happens to fold in half. It's a bit bulky for getting up and down stairs, may depend on how narrow your staircase is - I manage on our narrow Victorian staircase but it's a lug.
What he said, currently scouring fleabay for one, bike oozes quality and v upgradable too.
Well all the decent folders I've seen are £500 and above, sometimes a lot more, for a bike that if you're lucky performs like a £200 normal bike
No, I did a fair bit of research a couple of years back when i was looking into getting one because of space considerations where I was living
Maybe, but as good as a normal bike of half that price?
editor
hiraethified
Big bikes are more comfortable to ride, have better gear ratios, are faster and more stable.
But I still love my Dahon folder.
You can get some excellent folder bikes for under £500, often with better gears/brakes than a £200 proper bike.
skyscraper101
0891 50 50 50
You can get brand new 'normal' bikes for £60/70 at Argos.
Haven't seen a folding bike come even close to this yet.
Haven't seen a folding bike come even close to this yet.
editor
hiraethified
Yeah, but they're really shit and weigh a ton.
One of the problems, price-wise, with folders is that great bikes like Bromptons rarely come up second hand, 'cos even if the owner isn't using them much, by definition, they don't take up much space. And they're such a great piece of engineering.
Doesn't have to be either/or, though. I've got a Brompton, a racer, a tourer and a Dawes with child-seat.
I'd seriously recommend A-B magazine though.
Doesn't have to be either/or, though. I've got a Brompton, a racer, a tourer and a Dawes with child-seat.
I'd seriously recommend A-B magazine though.
skyscraper101
0891 50 50 50
Depends what you're after though really. I figure most people who get folding bikes are less concerned with how great the ride is - more about how convenient it is to get from A to B.
If I could get a folding bike £60-70. I'd definitely get one.
Miss-Shelf
I'll meet you further on up the road
where do you put them all?
likesfish
You can't park here sir
depends if your doing 1 or two miles on the flat and it will fold properly why spend more?
horses for courses a cumbesome is always going to have better spec than a folder at the same price spec just like desktop will always beat a laptop you pay extra cause it folds
horses for courses a cumbesome is always going to have better spec than a folder at the same price spec just like desktop will always beat a laptop you pay extra cause it folds
editor
hiraethified
I'm not sure that they need defending, but the Dahon range are excellent folders.
If you shop around you can usually find discounted models from 2006/2007's range that offer great value for money.
Eme and I cycled from Plymouth up over Dartmoor to Princetown on our folders and they gave a great ride (I managed 40mph on the descent, although it was a bit scary!).
Here's me flying along the old Plym Valley line into Plymouth:
We've also taken the bikes from St Ives to Penzance and the joy of being able to take your bike wherever you want on public transport and then just unfold it and go can't be understated. I've done hundreds of miles on mine and it's proved a great investment.
editor
hiraethified
I don't use the bike daily but I can't see any reason why it shouldn't last for a reasonably long time. My folder has got 8 gears which seems ample for most cycling - after all, we managed to climb to the top of Dartmoor!
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
would you use it as your primary mode of transport? They always look a bit slow to me...
Wolveryeti
Detty Pig
I wasn't impressed by Bromptons. I rode a borrowed one and punctured its crappy, noddy-like tyres on my first ride. It was also slow as fuck.
Maybe I'd consider getting a folder if I was taking it on an Editor style public transport/bike jamboree... I would still feel like a shmuck paying so much for one and getting overtaken by joggers though.
Maybe I'd consider getting a folder if I was taking it on an Editor style public transport/bike jamboree... I would still feel like a shmuck paying so much for one and getting overtaken by joggers though.
