bikeworkshop
Old School Grand Master
I've probably had a hundred or 2 folders over the years, and ridden nearly all of them, so I'll offer my ha'pennysworth:
If you want it to fold, small enough to get on a train, then you need a folder!
A good fold demands a hinge in the middle, small wheels and a short wheelbase. Not improvements for riding if you don't need them.
(Minivelos ride better but will not get on a bus without a lot of trouble
)
-There's a size restriction to bikes taken on as hand luggage-
One of my favourites was the Cresswell Micro.
Small, light and simple. sold them new in the 90s.
I do a lot of miles on a Dahon mu, it's light, derailleurs, vbrakes. quite a good ride, reasonably standard.
Tern are very similar.
(There are a few T/D frame designs. As usual, a check of original rrp tells you quality. Frequently found used by other brands)
If I'm off to London where public transport is as common as the hills are rare, I'll borrow a shop brompton if we have one.
Nasty heavy bikes, awful up or down hills, but boy do they fold!
Moultons don't fold... but some come apart.
Kingpins, raleigh 20s, cool paint schemes. You'd struggle to put them in the boot of your car because they exceed euro weight limit for manual handling
None of these would be small enough to pass the bus/train test, but could be smuggled on by a determined rider.
You can include a bsa parabike in this category.
Strida? What a laugh. Brilliant in so many ways. Trendy belt drive, drum brakes. Light as a feather.
Don't wheelie though, or ride off kerbs, you'll break the front hinge catch and faceplant. Seen it happen.
Bickerton?
Worth its weight it scrap alloy.
Giant Halfwit is a good one.
Be warned, as a mature gentleman poised on any of these in the urban environment, you look like a plonker.
I was riding a brompton through London, past one of those mirror glass buildings hedge fund managers like so much, caught sight of a middle aged plonker in ratty old clothes riding a small- wheeled bike.
"What a to55er" i thought, moments before realising i was looking at my reflection.
No idea why. i think the reaction's built in.
If you want it to fold, small enough to get on a train, then you need a folder!
A good fold demands a hinge in the middle, small wheels and a short wheelbase. Not improvements for riding if you don't need them.
(Minivelos ride better but will not get on a bus without a lot of trouble
)-There's a size restriction to bikes taken on as hand luggage-
One of my favourites was the Cresswell Micro.
Small, light and simple. sold them new in the 90s.
I do a lot of miles on a Dahon mu, it's light, derailleurs, vbrakes. quite a good ride, reasonably standard.
Tern are very similar.
(There are a few T/D frame designs. As usual, a check of original rrp tells you quality. Frequently found used by other brands)
If I'm off to London where public transport is as common as the hills are rare, I'll borrow a shop brompton if we have one.
Nasty heavy bikes, awful up or down hills, but boy do they fold!
Moultons don't fold... but some come apart.
Kingpins, raleigh 20s, cool paint schemes. You'd struggle to put them in the boot of your car because they exceed euro weight limit for manual handling
None of these would be small enough to pass the bus/train test, but could be smuggled on by a determined rider.
You can include a bsa parabike in this category.
Strida? What a laugh. Brilliant in so many ways. Trendy belt drive, drum brakes. Light as a feather.
Don't wheelie though, or ride off kerbs, you'll break the front hinge catch and faceplant. Seen it happen.
Bickerton?
Worth its weight it scrap alloy.
Giant Halfwit is a good one.
Be warned, as a mature gentleman poised on any of these in the urban environment, you look like a plonker.
I was riding a brompton through London, past one of those mirror glass buildings hedge fund managers like so much, caught sight of a middle aged plonker in ratty old clothes riding a small- wheeled bike.
"What a to55er" i thought, moments before realising i was looking at my reflection.
No idea why. i think the reaction's built in.
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