Folding mountain bike

ChowChow

Hi, I have some questions about folding mountain bikes, any advice much appreciated.
1) I'm want to buy two relatively cheap mountain bikes to keep in an apartment in France for the summer holidays. It has to be foldable and reasonably lightweight as there is not much room to keep them in the apartment. I'm not mad on the idea of the other types of folding bikes (the ones with tiny wheels) as I think they are too much of a compromise.
I had this one in mind, it weighs 16Kgs. Does anybody have any comments on bikes of this nature, or this one in particular?
2) Is there anywhere in Ireland that sell foldable mountain bikes for around 200-250E?


Thanks in advance...

ruprect

16kg is a lot, mine is about 12.5kg. If you take the wheels off a normal MTB it will be small in size, or you could hang it on the wall. To be honest I don't think that bike would last pissing time, you get what you pay for with bikes. I have heard of cheap MTBs like that with rear suspension described as "confirmation bikes", kids want them since they look "cool". they are inefficient and at that price it will have poor components.

If your budget is €250 I would look for a second hand one with no suspension & quickrelease components.

Morgan

Do you intend to use the bikes offroad? If not I wouldn't bother with a mountain bike - just get a normal city bike. You'd easily pick something up in France - shops like Decathalon are great value (and have their own bike range).

The bike you link to is an abomination a bit on the heavy side. It certainly not intended for any long cylcles (i hour +). It would be OK for going down to the shops though. Do you have any other storage option at the apartment - basement, garage etc?

ChowChow

ruprect, thanks I never even thought of something with quick release wheels. To be honest, I'm not a biking enthusiast that's why my budget is fairly low. The last mountain bike I owned was back in 1995 which I used to cycle 18 miles a day to and from college. The bike lasted well and only cost 150 pounds at the time, so I figure 200-250 euro would do the job again. I'd also be afraid of getting an expensive bike stolen.

@morgan, we live on the third floor and have no basement or such to store the bikes. I never heard of Decathalon, but I'll see if I can find one in Nice. The only local shop I could find was this one
but they look like they sell top-end equipment only. I would envisage some fairly long cycles (2 - 3 hours) somedays - I take it the really small folding bikes aren't worth a ****e for this? Thanks again...

Morgan

Yes, there's one in Nice (and every other French town by the looks of it).

http://www.decathlon.fr/FR/Product_arborescence/cycle-and-rolle/bikes/index.html

skidpatches

ChowChow wrote:

I would envisage some fairly long cycles (2 - 3 hours) somedays - I take it the really small folding bikes aren't worth a ****e for this? Thanks again...

it's not the size of the folder that matters there are some really sh*tty folders out there, and some excellent ones. the cheap folders tend to be heavy, don't fold very well, and ride terribly.

it's difficult to find a bike that does everything well - you're looking for a city bike that you can take off road, and be comfortable on a 3 hour ride, and then fold up and carry up the stairs. with the possible exception of a moulton (and that separates rather than folds and will blow your budget big time), no bike is going to give you all of this.

the folders that fold quickly into a neat package (e.g. brompton) are great for city rides and for folding/unfoldinng several times a day, but are not great for longer rides.

take a look at bike friday, birdy, airnimal, and maybe some of the dahons. they sacrifice some of the foldability for rideability. cycleways in parnell st sell the birdy - go in and ask to try one out. the birdy is suitable for light off road use, folds almost as well as a brompton, has a good range of gearing options and rides superbly.

though you're not going to get a lot for 250 bills, even second hand. unless you go to brick lane market in london on a sunday morning and don't ask for an original owners certificate

copacetic

have a look at the latest dahon cadenza, could be exactly what you are looking for. They reviewed it in cycling plus and said you couldn't tell it was a folder at all. It's not the most compact folded but not too bad. It's expensive compared to your budget but so are all the decent folders.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360028621

BeardyGit

daveym wrote:

have a look at the latest dahon cadenza, could be exactly what you are looking for. They reviewed it in cycling plus and said you couldn't tell it was a folder at all. It's not the most compact folded but not too bad. It's expensive compared to your budget but so are all the decent folders.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360028621

That's a nice bike Davey, but it's 4 times the OP's budget! :eek: And he wants two of 'em....

copacetic

Gil_Dub wrote:

That's a nice bike Davey, but it's 4 times the OP's budget! :eek: And he wants two of 'em....

yeah, but tbh I wouldn't go near a folder for the price he is looking for them for, may as well just cut a bike in half and impale yourself on it!

Capt'n Midnight

If you get a wall hook you could hang the bike up by the front wheel - so you can fit it in a smaller room or closet. ( bike in the shower ? )

why get two bikes when you can spend three grand on a folding tandem ?
http://www.foldingbikes.co.uk/bf_tandem_twos_day.htm

ChowChow

Many thanks for all the help and advice guys, much appreciated, plenty of options I can now consider.

Shaymoboy

Hi, I have the montague hummer which is the best folding mountain bike on the market. This is the preferred bike of the US army. Check out there site at http://www.montagueco.com/
The downside is they are a little expensibe retailing at around £700 sterling but if you can push your budget its money will spent.

Shay

copacetic

Shaymoboy wrote:

Hi, I have the montague hummer which is the best folding mountain bike on the market. This is the preferred bike of the US army. Check out there site at http://www.montagueco.com/
The downside is they are a little expensibe retailing at around £700 sterling but if you can push your budget its money will spent.

Shay

not to disagree, but who says it is the best one?

joey90

I have a folding "bike in a bag", might suit the job.

http://www.bikeinabag.com/TOURINGspec.htm

mloc123

If I wear you I'd wait and have a look out in France, from what I can remember even the big super or hyper markets have a huge selection of bikes. Look out for a local LeClerc, Champion etc..

Shaymoboy

copacetic wrote:

not to disagree, but who says it is the best one?

Hi copacetic, I guess it's my opionion based on my experience and research. I have tried the dahon models which are also pretty good but the hummer is the one I settled on myself. I have just published a review on my site at: http://bikesthatfold.com/content/view/20/

copacetic

Shaymoboy wrote:

Hi copacetic, I guess it's my opionion based on my experience and research. I have tried the dahon models which are also pretty good but the hummer is the one I settled on myself. I have just published a review on my site at: http://bikesthatfold.com/content/view/20/

cheers any other reviews? I like the look of the newest dahon cadenza although it is more of a commuter than mtn bike..

Shaymoboy

The Dahon Cadenza is a nice bike but also pricey as at http://www.foldingbikes.co.uk/dahon_cadenza.htm

It comes with slicks so its a good cross between a full blown MT and a road bike

copacetic

Shaymoboy wrote:

The Dahon Cadenza is a nice bike but also pricey as at http://www.foldingbikes.co.uk/dahon_cadenza.htm

It comes with slicks so its a good cross between a full blown MT and a road bike

thats not the current one, the newer one is much better (although still not cheap)

Shaymoboy

Another one worth looking at is the Slingshot folding frame but again very pricey. Full review at http://bikesthatfold.com/content/view/21/