which (folding) bike?

souter

Hi,
my wife has been persuaded to aquire a bike (yay!), and is looking at a folding bike as we're short of space and she will only use it occasionally.
Dahon get good reviews here, but noticed evancycles are selling some falcons for ridiculously low prices e.g. http://www.evanscycles.com/products/falcon/mayfair-2009-folding-bike-ec000521
Anyone have any experience of these?

tomasrojo

I have a basic Brompton (3 hub gears, M-type handlebars, no rear rack, front pannier mount).


Looks like this, pretty much:



I think it's an excellent bike. It's a very reasonable and quite fast ride on the road, I've found. By reputation it folds down faster and smaller than the competition.

It was about 900 in cycleways, 650 with the C2W scheme. I did get a few extras, such as the longer seat post, the front pannier mount, a touring pannier for same and a Brooks saddle. If you got the bare-bones basic model, it would take the price down from about 900 to about 800, I think.

DualFrontDiscs

tomasrojo wrote: »

I have a basic Brompton (3 hub gears, M-type handlebars, no rear rack, front pannier mount).

Jealous

Bluefoam

Bromptons seem to have the best reputation, followed by dahon. I'd be reluctant to buy outside those brands.

souter

Yup, I'd pretty much copped Brompton > Dahon > Others. The thing is she'll just be using it for the odd pootle up the Howth coast road, the foldability is for storing it in the house between times.
She was initially shocked when looking at standard bikes and I wouldn't countenance any under 400e, so she's not up for spending much.
So, little usage, only out in good weather, I'll be maintaining it - how bad could a folding BSO be? Hmm, Halfords have equally cheap ones I might have a gander at (don's asbestos suit).

p

You should look at things under 400 - if she's not going to use it that often, it's not worth it. Wait till she's using it every week before getting an upgrade. No need to be a bike snob now!

I have a camper foldable bike that I use every day cycling to work. It's not a bad bike, but lately I find it a bit tiring to cycle, because of the small wheels and riding position.

3DataModem

By a really cheap bike (or borrow).

Then if she starts using it regularly and really does need a folder, get a brompton.

I have a 6 speed brompton with rear carrier and built-in dynamo, and i love it.

tomasrojo

3DataModem wrote: »

By a really cheap bike (or borrow).

Then if she starts using it regularly and really does need a folder, get a brompton.

I have a 6 speed brompton with rear carrier and built-in dynamo, and i love it.

Probably good advice to borrow a suitably sized bike and see whether your girlfriend is going to really stick with it.

On the other hand, you can probably both use a Brompton. I only use the Brompton two or three times a month, because I have a touring bike. But it's so handy for trips to meetings in bad parts of town, or when I have to get a train or bus somewhere (though I learnt the hard way that you should put the bike in a bag before getting on a bus).

So what I'm saying is that if you think that you might have use for a folder, you could treat it as a purchase for both of you.

tomasrojo

souter wrote: »

So, little usage, only out in good weather, I'll be maintaining it - how bad could a folding BSO be?

From what I've heard, very cheap folding bikes have atrocious handling. So you could end up injuring yourself in emergency situations or on bad surfaces.

John Forester claimed that he couldn't even look over his shoulder riding an early Dahon. Mind you, he is a curmudgeon of a high order.

tomasrojo

DualFrontDiscs wrote: »

Jealous

Maybe not quite as life-changing as a Christiania, but I wish I'd bought it years ago.

DualFrontDiscs

tomasrojo wrote: »

Maybe not quite as life-changing as a Christiania, but I wish I'd bought it years ago.

Obviously can't comment given that I don't have both, but I do love the idea of the Brompton. Particularly for combining cycling with public transport or when on holidays/ traveling etc.

DFD*

*DesperateForDiversity.