Question About Folding Bikes

Proxy

Hi,

Apologies etc if this breaks the charter, I read it and it *seems* ok.. feel free to move. First post in Cycling.

I'm a beginner to cycling, in that I haven't actually cycled yet. Ever. I'm in my mid 20's I was wondering if it's a good idea to learn to cycle on a folding bike?

The reason being I tend to move between Galway and Dublin quite a bit, and a folding bike would be pretty easy to transport around the place in between. I don't plan on cycling between the two cities any time soon! Also I would be storing it in a small apartment that wouldn't be too convenient to store a bike.

That and any advice for an adult beginner is hugely appreciated.

Thanks!

thebouldwhacker

When you say ever do you mean you'll be learning how to cycle?
Either way not sure a folding bike would be the obvious choice unless you wanted it for a commute using bus/ luas etc or wanted to store the bike in a small area.
Its pretty easy to fit a bike in the back of a car once the wheels are off (less than 1 minute) and you can get a bike rack which are relatively cheap and very easy to use, presuming you'll be travelling Galway/ Dublin by car...

Proxy

Sorry - yes I would be learning to cycle, and yes I would be storing it in quite a small area that wouldn't be convenient to store a bike.

I would rarely enough travel between the two by car to be honest. Tends to be a variety of ways, hence i'd like it to be as convenient as possible.

thebouldwhacker

Well I have never owned a folding bike but going on posts here if you are buying one do your research, Dahon seem a popular brand.

As for learning how to cycle on one, I cant see it being a real issue as you plan to cycle one once you can cycle but for some reason I feel like saying learn how to cycle on a mountain bike, or a hybrid but I have absolutely no reasons bar perhaps the handle bars and wheels may make it easier.

There was a thread here a few years ago about an adult (I think she was in her twenties) who was learning how to cycle. Apparently it's a bit more difficult than learning as a child but dont let that stop you, just find a field and get confidence and learn the rules of the road before hitting the tarmac.

I for one would like to wish you all the best, its a great feeling cycling and you have many thrills and experiences ahead of you that I have lost in the haze of childhood. The feeling of learning a new skill like cycling and all that it brings while in adulthood would be a great journey. You should start a log in the sub forum to show your progress!!

Proxy

Ah, thanks very much. Yes i'm pretty excited about it; it's always been a bit of a hurdle. Tough to come out and explain to friends on holiday why I can't go on a bike tour (usually "what do you mean you can't, what's wrong with you??") But good friends are actually the ones instigating me into doing it. I'll have a search for that thread!

thebouldwhacker

There are a few tips and links here, let us know how your getting on, this time next year you'll be posting up about sportives and which carbon framed bike...
All the best!

Holyboy

Wow,good on you,once you get the basics down there will be no stopping you,so good luck:)As for folding bikes,well I love them,but I love any slightly unusual bike cause im a bit odd that way! But if you want a quality bike that is going to last a lifetime and also ride like an ordinary bike theres only one choice, Brompton, theres loads of others out there Dahon, Mezzo, Birdy, Moulton, Airnamel but Brompton are by far the best and they can be ordered bespoke which means you can have it built any way and colour you want, I suppose with guidance from a good bike shop if its your first bike! If thats out of your price range then the Giant halfway is a really nice little bike, though some people over here dont seem to like them for some reason.

Proxy

Thanks Holyboy - I had a look at Brompton there, from my preliminary research on buying they do seem to be a prominent brand but perhaps a little more than my budget would allow. Dahon also seem prominent, also Apollo as a budget brand.

Seems nobody foresees an issue with usng a folding bike, and I guess the physics are the same, I may well make a purchase in the next week or two. Here's to literally getting into the saddle...

penexpers

I've always found folding bikes to be slightly more unstable than full size bikes (I've owned 2 Dahons and a Brompton), so maybe might not be the best kind of bike to learn on. YMMV though.

Lumen

What is your budget?

There lots of types of transportable bikes. Most of the folders are designed around city cycling and mixed mode transport, but there are travel bikes (e.g. BikeFriday) which might be more fun. They're more "packable" than "foldable".

Expensive though.

happytramp

I think a folding bike will do just fine! Don't worry about getting anything to fancy since once you learn you may love it (in which case you could upgrade later) or not (in which case you'll still have it for emergencies but won't feel guilty for having spent a load of money and not using it) Either way, since I don't know anyone who has learned to cycle as an adult I would love if you would keep us updated with your progress! I'm sure you'll be fine though. Best of luck.

Amalgam

Bit of wobble in some of the folders, Brompton user myself, for the last couple of years. The Brompton doesn't transfer the energy you put into cycling well, what with the use of a rubber absorber on the rear frame fold.

Be sure to have a 'proper' cycle on one if you can, expensive mistake if you find it isn't your thing.

Not sure if this is available in Europe, but the Dahon Vitesse (sometimes also known as the Dahon Vitesse D7) is quite popular. It was the bike I had my eye on before momentary Tiger madness prompted a Brompton purchase..

Exactly this model:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R11S2DM1GIU

Shop around, prices vary wildly, some retailers take the piss, just because it is a folder.

penexpers

Amalgam wrote: »

Bit of wobble in some of the folders, Brompton user myself, for the last couple of years. The Brompton doesn't transfer the energy you put into cycling well, what with the use of a rubber absorber on the rear frame fold.

You can opt to not have the absorber installed.

tomasrojo

The smaller wheels of the Brompton makes balance harder; I tried cycling with a sliced pan under one arm a small distance and a bit of rough ground nearly unhorsed me.

But I'd say you could still learn. The Airnimal might be a good choice for you, since it has larger wheels; its slightly more cumbersome fold (you have to take off the front wheel) wouldn't be as big an issue for you as for someone switching constantly between train and bike, for example.

I've never tried any other folders, but I find the Brompton to be a very enjoyable ride. I often take it in preference to the tourer over shorter distances.


EDIT:

To say that the Brompton's steering is due to its small wheels is indirectly true but inaccurate. Small wheels, a low headset placement and a telescopic steering column allow for a compact folded-form but entail that the head-tube angle must be close to vertical, hence the sensitive steering.

http://www.boox.net/topics/bicycles/external/stein.dommel.be/brompton/sections/Tricks.html

Holyboy

Amalgam wrote: »

Bit of wobble in some of the folders, Brompton user myself, for the last couple of years. The Brompton doesn't transfer the energy you put into cycling well, what with the use of a rubber absorber on the rear frame fold.

Be sure to have a 'proper' cycle on one if you can, expensive mistake if you find it isn't your thing.

Not sure if this is available in Europe, but the Dahon Vitesse (sometimes also known as the Dahon Vitesse D7) is quite popular. It was the bike I had my eye on before momentary Tiger madness prompted a Brompton purchase..

Exactly this model:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R11S2DM1GIU

Shop around, prices vary wildly, some retailers take the piss, just because it is a folder.

Wow,your the first Brompton owner ive come across that has ever said anything negative about Bromptons and ive dealt with hundreds of owners! Dahon bikes are good in theory but the build finish is aweful,in the past ive had to fit shorter bottom brackets to new bikes and the likes just to get them working before they left the shop! Also spare parts were a huge issue with them,they just couldnt be got but the supplier changed last year from fishers to zyro so they might be a bit better with back up service.

Amalgam

Don't get me wrong, I love my Brompton. I just think it isn't proper to not outline the bike limitations. It is efficient in some tasks (folding and storage), but has less efficiency elsewhere, compared to even the most mediocre full sized bike.

penexpers - I find it hard to see a Brompton surviving in good health without an absorber of some kind, my bike is from early 2006, maybe things have changed. I don't know.

I had toyed with the idea of fitting a Birdy absorber, to replace the default Brompton part.

radia

If you want a folder, I'd encourage you to choose one of the models with larger wheels, for both speed and the stability reasons outlined above. I've cycled my brother's Dahon Matrix (26" wheels) a fair bit and found it grand - pretty much like cycling a regular mountain bike with slick tyres.

Lumen

radia wrote: »

If you want a folder, I'd encourage you to choose one of the models with larger wheels, for both speed and the stability reasons outlined above. I've cycled my brother's Dahon Matrix (26" wheels) a fair bit and found it grand - pretty much like cycling a regular mountain bike with slick tyres.

For airline transportation in checked luggage, the dimensions must not exceed 62 linear inches, which is W+H+D. These are often quoted as being US TSA restrictions, but in my experience most airport conveyors have bars which will block anything more than 26 inches high, and hub widths mean that two wheels will not stack in less than 10 inches (including case thickness), so you're basically looking at a box 26x26x10.

This means that anything approaching "normal" wheel sizes requires clever packing.

If you don't need to carry a bike as checked luggage, then you may as well just buy a normal bike. I've lived in a box room and still kept my bike indoors.

Proxy

Thanks all but I don't plan on using for flight check-in luggage!

Both Dahon Matrix, Dahon Vitesse (especially) and BikeFriday look great, thanks. But, i'll probably stick to whatever I find in my local Halfords. Blasphemy perhaps but remember it's just a first-timer bike!

I think i'm going to go folding but i'll also refer to the guys in-store. I'm going to learn within the next week with a couple friends on one of their bikes - here's to hoping it goes well...

Thanks!

Lumen

Proxy wrote: »

i'll probably stick to whatever I find in my local Halfords...I think i'm going to go folding but i'll also refer to the guys in-store

This could end badly.

Proxy

Lumen wrote: »

This could end badly.

Oh dear. That doesn't fill with confidence! Perhaps i'll take my knowledgeable friend Keith along with me. It's great having a knowledgeable Keith around. Thanks Lumen.

Lumen

Proxy wrote: »

Oh dear. That doesn't fill with confidence! Perhaps i'll take my knowledgeable friend Keith along with me

Keith sounds good, everyone should have one of them. The problem with Halfords is that they sell both very good bikes and some unbelievable crap.

Proxy

Lumen wrote: »

Keith sounds good, everyone should have one of them. The problem with Halfords is that they sell both very good bikes and some unbelievable crap.

I suppose that makes sense. I've been computer shopping with people for the same reasons!

p

I have a mid-priced foldable bike and it's find. No need to a brompton on your first one. The foldable bikes are a tiny bit less stable that a big bike, but it has the added advantage of having no cross bar, and being closer to the ground, so that may make up for the difference.

I'd suggest this method for learning, as the real key to bike cycling is learning to balance and be comfortable, pedalling is relatively easier. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=61295450&postcount=13 (with a foldable bike this is easy too since you can just fold up the pedals rather than take them off)

Tetanus

I started back cycling (2 years ago) - after a break of many years - on a folding bike.

One thing I noted was that the folding bike, because of its smaller wheel size, felt a lot 'twitchier' than regular sized bikes. For this reason -- the OP might like to stick with a folder of at least 20inch. Dahon do a few different model folders which are based on 26inch wheels --- which might be even better for a complete beginner...

A slight plus of a folder --- is that most are of a 'step-through' design, rather than the diamond shape (high top bar). I'm guessing they don't make stabilisers for adults!! So this design, in combination with a lower than usual saddle ---- might make starting and stopping less unnerving for a complete beginner. If things go wrong --- you can plant your feet down or easily bale (on grass!!!). Only of interest for the very first few times you try riding -- but might make those early steps a little easier....

Proxy

p wrote:

with a foldable bike this is easy too since you can just fold up the pedals rather than take them off

I was thinking that about the foldable pedals. Thanks P!

Tetanus wrote:

I started back cycling (2 years ago) - after a break of many years - on a folding bike.

One thing I noted was that the folding bike, because of its smaller wheel size, felt a lot 'twitchier' than regular sized bikes. For this reason -- the OP might like to stick with a folder of at least 20inch. Dahon do a few different model folders which are based on 26inch wheels --- which might be even better for a complete beginner...

That's very encouraging and informative. I'm pretty much sold on getting a foldable now. Mainly due to being small, simple to store, simple to transport, and perhaps a little cause i'm a bit of a geek and they appeal to me as a gadget

I really can't wait to start pedalling.

Holyboy

Tetanus wrote: »

I started back cycling (2 years ago) - after a break of many years - on a folding bike.

One thing I noted was that the folding bike, because of its smaller wheel size, felt a lot 'twitchier' than regular sized bikes. For this reason -- the OP might like to stick with a folder of at least 20inch. Dahon do a few different model folders which are based on 26inch wheels --- which might be even better for a complete beginner...

A slight plus of a folder --- is that most are of a 'step-through' design, rather than the diamond shape (high top bar). I'm guessing they don't make stabilisers for adults!! So this design, in combination with a lower than usual saddle ---- might make starting and stopping less unnerving for a complete beginner. If things go wrong --- you can plant your feet down or easily bale (on grass!!!). Only of interest for the very first few times you try riding -- but might make those early steps a little easier....

Oh but they do make stabilisers for adults, to fit 20"-26" wheels but I'm sure he won't need them, I still say STAY AWAY FROM DAHON, they are pants,if you're on a budget the Giant halfway is a really nice bike, originally designed by the one and only Mike Burrows, bicycle industry genius!!

Tetanus

Holyboy wrote: »

Oh but they do make stabilisers for adults, to fit 20"-26" wheels but I'm sure he won't need them, I still say STAY AWAY FROM DAHON, they are pants,if you're on a budget the Giant halfway is a really nice bike, originally designed by the one and only Mike Burrows, bicycle industry genius!!

I stand corrected!!! Thats what I get for guessing.....

I've only had a go on a Dahon 26inch - but it did seem pretty well designed and specced -- but pricey..... I've no experience of their 20inch folders - but seem to recall that some of them use proprietary / custom 'bits' (but all folders are a little weird!). I don't think this is as much of an issue with the 26in models....