Folding Bikes
I stayed on the Centenary site in the New Forest the other week, and decided to take my folding bike as I thought this would be more convenient to transport and store. What do other members think of folding bikes compared to normal size bikes? Does anyone have a folding bike and what make would you recommend?
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I'm going to be in the market for a couple of electric folders shortly. Hopefully there will be some at the NEC to compare.
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CY, small wheeled bikes have a different 'feel' to normal bikes....IMHO less stable....TG and OH have them, used extensively, but i believe the replacements will have full sized wheels?....
again, IMHO, even if we didnt have our large garage, id still go for for full sized on a rack rather than folders to fit a smaller locker....the 'ride' experience is worth far more than any hassle of getting them on a rack, many of which can be set low these days, to make loading simple.
OK, i do a lot of miles on mine and perhaps if it were just a couple of miles to the shop every few days it would change things.....
remember, these are likely to be your transport when you dont/cant take the van out....
as i said in another post....try the full sized ones at 50 cycles (if you can) before the show, just to have something valid to compare against.
also, at the show, take as much time as you can testing anything on offer.....
remember, bikes bought at the show, rather than locally like 50 cycles, will require a return to depot to resolve any issues, rather than just around the corner.
good luck.
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I have a Dahon folding bike which I sometimes take. As mentioned the smaller wheels do give a different ride to a full size bike and so take time to get used to it before any serious excursions. I am pleased with my Dahon which is well made and I even use it sometimes at home instead of my full size bike for popping to the pub! I used to take a full size bike in the caravan but it was fiddly getting it in and out, much easier with the folder which I can easily fit in the back of the car.
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We have both folders and proper 700 wheeled hybrids. These days it is only the “proper” bikes that get taken. The folders, they are Dawes Kingpins don't take that much less “usable” space up as one might think, compared to the proper bikes with the front wheel quick released and bars dropped and turned. Even taking off one or both of the pedals [or replacing with folding pedals] is not too much an issue or even dropping out the rear wheels. One needs to think out the ramifications of these two compacting down options against the space they have to fit into.
The ride and pleasure our two types bring have no comparison so intended use consideration is IMO paramount. Pop to shops or 10 > 20 odd miles pleasure ride?
I read that Bromptons are claimed by some to have largely overcome the ride issue. I note their dealers have demo bikes which if interested in them I would definitely want to take up for at least a 5 mile “test ride”. These, in particular, fold very much more impressively than ours and I read about but have not seen are offered as e-drive versions/conversions.0 -
CY the best place to see bikes and try them out is at one of the motor home shows. Not many traders are prepared to pay the NEC fees to exhibit. I bought mine from A.S Bikes at one of the Warner's shows. I think the last show of the year is coming up at Shepton Mallet.
peedee
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Having always had full sized bikes, until we purchased a couple of folding electric bikes, my choice would be the full sized bike. But with all things it's a case of horses for courses. Folding bikes can be easier to store especially if you have to put them inside a vehicle. Unless you go for the ultra light bikes as seen in the BBC's W1A there seems to be no, if any, weight advantage over a full size bike. If the OP is happy with her folding bike stick with it but if you want to get into more serious cycling with longer distances full size, in my view, is better. Having said all that I am beginning to think that my relationship with bikes might not last a lot longer as the aging process takes hold!!!!
David
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These are the Bromptons that I read about, but the predicted prices with two to buy is eye watering even if justified; they certainly fold away as compactly as any I know about;
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Both my Mum & Dad bought folding electric bikes and to my knowledge they were never folded up. Nothing wrong with them but I'd say a non-folder is better unless it can't be carried. We always had them om a rear mounted bike rack anyway.
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Brompton folding cycles have long been considered the bees-knees in terms of folders, much beloved of regular city commuters.
Choosing a cycle to suit can be quite complicated. Depends on type of cycling and chosen terrain, and comfort for the individual rider is essential. I spent ages choosing a decent cycle, tried lots of different ones. My OH is a serious cyclist, has a bike for most occasions! Where we live is seriously up and down and it meant I couldn't keep up with my OH most of the time. However, thanks to a great tip, and help from a fellow CT poster, I invested in an electric conversion kit for my perfect bike model, and for £400, I can now get up the local Cotes! It did however add some weight to the bike!
Cycling is serious stuff around Yorkshire, certainly had a great boost and profile lift since TdeF.
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We looked at the folding bikes but as others have said the ride is so different, after a lot of research we went for the Kalkoff electric bikes from 50 cycles I am so glad we chose these as I was finding my normal bike a bit difficult (it's an age thing!!) OH can get 100 miles on a flat road with one battery charge, 55 if it's really hilly, mine is a bit less than that as I use the electrics more. The only down side I have come across is they are a lot heavier.
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Likewise we have folding bikes and never fold them!!! However we do fold the handle bars down to put them on the bike rack as it's easier to get the cover on.
David
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My wife has mobility issues and couldn't ride a two wheeler so I bought her a Jorvik electric folding trike.
she was a bit embarrassed initially but after having many people stop and admire her trike she buzzes about quite happily.
it was a bit steep price wise but worth it to see the smile on her face.
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That looks a fantastic bike monkey, have to say I am rather envious!
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Company are close to us, might pop in and take a look. I see they do one with a passenger seat on the back, would be brilliant to take my Mum out!👍
wish they did one to carry a Labrador!0 -
Cyberyacht, as BB says we have folding ebikes. We've had them 4 years and love them, we've covered miles and miles on them.
They got me back on bikes and helped me get fitter, we are looking at replacing them with full size pedelec bikes as we are using them more and more and want something that will stand up to it and allow us to do more miles between charges.
The other reason is ours are so effortless to ride we want something that will make us work a bit more if we want (never thought I'd want to)
We have folded ours on a number of occasions when taking them out for the day in the car. When taking the cars in for services/mot OH takes the bike and cycles the 7 miles back home.
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Cyber yacht just a 20 inch rigid or folder with 250watt motor motor than ample for needs about five hundred pounds I have two bikes one for m/home 20 inch .tesco hopper plus .rush 26 inch bycle at home when and go out for long rides the folder more than meets my needs on holiday and so much easer to mount on cycle rack on m/ home hope this helps oh the folder is tesco hopper but now sold Viking cycles
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Some of the classier models are silly money and whilst I know you get what you pay for, I'm more inclined to go for something that's fairly cheap and cheerful. I'll leave the Tour de France stuff for my son-in-law who thinks nothing of a 100 mile bike ride.
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CY I have the Evora electric explorer from bicycles4u.com. I bought it purely for touring based on reviews on other sites. It's as light as my previous steel framed folder. They don't seem to have that model any more but they have a similar style which is shaft driven for £649.
Very light, very easy to use, well priced replacement batteries.
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We have had our Bromptons for 15years and have done mileage in the thousands, here and on the continent they have never let us down and replacement parts are easy to obtain. Easy to ride,easy to fold to go on a train or in the back of a car. However the price (currently around a £1000) is only worth paying if you are going to get a lot of use out of them.
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We would agree with Tigi. We also own Bromptons and they get as near to riding a good full sized bike as you can get, primarily due I think to their long wheel base vis a vis other folding bikes. They are also probably the most compact of all folding bikes which makes them great for taking away in the car.
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We eventually bought a couple of s/h Carrera Cross City folders. Haven't had a serious ride yet though. The amount of space they take up in the garage, despite being folders, is disappointing. Perhaps someone will invent inflatable ones.
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