Need a folding bike

Domo

Domo

Domo

Soldato
Joined
11 Feb 2004
Posts
4,532
Location
Surrey, UK
Hi,
I work in London, but travel from leafy Surrey. I need a bike to get me 2 miles from house to station, then from Waterloo to Paddington.

Can't believe I've been using the underground for so long but with the Olympics on the horizon I really need to do something now!

So - folding bikes. Would prefer to keep budget under £500 but will make exceptions!
 
Second hand Bromptons gor for about £500 on eBay. For London I'd look at getting a single speed or a two speed one. The six speed ones are more expensive, more likely to go wrong, heavier and shouldn't really be needed in such a flat place (assuming you aren't climbing Highgate!)

Bromptons are lighter, fold smaller and a generally better in every area than their competitors.

I've been looking at them a lot recently. I've got no need for one as I ride from Surrey to London each day, but on the few days I do get the train I Brommy would be handy.
 
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I've used a Brompton on a try-before-you-buy scheme and I had it for 3 months in London. In terms of practicality and folding ability it is unbeatable and none of the other folders come close. To ride though, I found it squirelly and unstable and to be frank it scared me quite a lot. I'm quite used to riding small-wheel bikes and the Brompton is very unstable in comparison. The problem is once you've experienced the way it folds, it's quite difficult to go to another folding bike because none of them do it quite as well. The way you can lift it onto the train as a whole bike and flick the back wheel under so it stands up at full height but on a tiny footprint is unbeatable. Same goes for the reverse - you can just pick it up, flick the lever and the back wheel swings back. I just couldn't live with the way it rides, which is a shame. My boss has ridden a few and thinks the Dahons ride the best, but they do literally just fold in half.

If you buy a second hand Brompton, you'll notice they hold their value very well. I would say if you bought a second hand one in good condition and found you don't get on with it, you'll easily get your money back. Only get a new one if you absolutely know you want a Brompton and absolutely know you're happy with the way it rides.

An alternative strategy is get on Freecycle and ask around for a couple of adult bikes or pick some up cheap on Gumtree. Keep one locked up at each end. This is what I do :)
 
I've just sold my Brommy!
I had the S2L for a couple of years but it had to go because I wanted something faster and with more gears. I bought it originally because the bike was easy to store in my flat. The gears are good for London but not too hot up the hills (mine had a 54T chain ring) but I still managed to get it up Ditchling Beacon without stopping :D
Its replacement is a Giant Halfway 1 which is £250 less than the Brompton was, faster, better looking and a much better ride!
 
Jonny69 said:
An alternative strategy is get on Freecycle and ask around for a couple of adult bikes or pick some up cheap on Gumtree. Keep one locked up at each end. This is what I do :)
Click to expand...

This is precisely what someone at work suggested today! :)
Thanks for all the tips guys. Think I should go with gears since the ride on the home end of the train journey is very hilly (and they are steep SOBs!).

Intetesting re stability when riding, I had wondered.

I have got my eye on this:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tern/link-d8-2012-folding-bike-ec032582

Contrary to the opening £500 budget, I'm not sure about the $$$ involved + the mrs will kill me if she discovers I paid that for a little bike! :o
 
I've a Raleigh one. avoid. heavy and big even when folded

if you want one go with the brompton but they ARE an acquired taste to ride.

I picked up an old steel roadie recently for £40, and having spend another £40 on it it's now a nice little road bike!
as others have said, dump one at both ends and you're sorted, or some trains will have spaces for bikes (but not underground)
 
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