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October 12th, 2006

Folding bicycles

I am thinking of buying a folding bicycle so that when I get bored of cycling around these housing estates I can nip onto the train and cycle around some other housing estates. I went to the Cycle Show at the weekend to see what is on offer.

a bike

This is the ‘A bike‘, the lightest and most compact folding bicycle available. Unfortunately the wheels are so small I cannot imagine it is ridable for anything other than the shortest of distances especially on the appallingly surfaced cycle paths which are the main way from A to B around here.

The Folding Society have done a report of the various folding bicycles that were available at the show. The general consensus amongst enthusiastic folders (What else do you call them?) seems to be that the Brompton (like Ian‘s) is the best one available. Unfortunately this and the other more trendy models are, I think, (a) rather beyond the reach of your average internet cartoonist and (b) more expensive than the sort of bicycle I’d want to leave locked up in a town such as the one I live in when I go to all the museums* and art galleries* etc. I’m aware that you get what you pay for, but something a bit more like one of these might be a more likely option.

*Humourous point that might have gone undetected.

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12 Responses to “Folding bicycles”


  1. Bimble says:

    My mum had a folding bicyle for many years (till it finally gave up) and they are very useful and quite cool.

    Though I would suggest getting the Alloy Folder out of the ones there. I know it’s £20 more expensive but it’s the best one there. It’s also the lightest (you will have to carry it sometimes) and this is because it doesn’t have full suspension. Which you don’t need. Unless you’re planning on doing some off roading, in which case you might want it. Though you don’t need it really.

    I also note that it’s out of stock, which means that everyone has bought that one and left the others on the shelf. Cause the other ones aren’t as good.

    October 12th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
  2. Neil says:

    I had been hoping to buy myself a folding car, but found the range was rather too limited.

    October 12th, 2006 at 1:21 pm
  3. Jamie Hollis says:

    My husband and I used foldables. Check out http://www.dahon.com/. We have been quite pleased with them and they have bikes in all price brackets. Bike Friday is also supposed to be quite nice, but more expensive.

    October 12th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
  4. lanark says:

    I consider myself quite good at folding cars, it’s the unfolding that I’ve not got the hang of.

    October 12th, 2006 at 2:24 pm
  5. MadPriest says:

    I said this would happen when you started talking about selling the camper. Slippers, pipe, cardigan and foldaway push bike.

    Another good man done gone.

    October 12th, 2006 at 3:55 pm
  6. Kirk says:

    I have a folding computer, it’s very useful. :)

    October 12th, 2006 at 4:10 pm
  7. Dave K says:

    Dave, I live just a few miles up the road from the Molton bike factory in Bradford-on-Avon. I’m sure I have a balaclava and a crow bar somewhere. Just say the word.

    Anonymous of somewhere mysterious near Bradford-on-Avon.

    October 12th, 2006 at 6:30 pm
  8. Youthblog says:

    Make sure you test ride what you are goling to buy as some of the cheap folders handle in a very scary way.

    eeek, that was a serious comment. I might be banned from commenting in the future :-)

    October 13th, 2006 at 8:44 am
  9. rain says:

    I have a folding table – it’s nice, actually.

    October 13th, 2006 at 12:29 pm
  10. Rob says:

    You are forgetting the main point of the folding bike…. They fold!

    I have no lock for my Brompton, but I still take it to the shops, library, train station, church, refinery*, festival** or restaurant. I fold it and take it in with me. You get some occasional odd looks, but that might just be me.

    They will nestle happily at the end of the pew, in the shopping trolley, under the table, beside the bookshelves, in the luggage rack etc. At only 11kg, the Brompton isn’t too bad to carry around, especially with it’s built in handle (or “saddle” as it is more commonly known).

    I certainly don’t want to have to leave it outside anywhere, even with a Lock-That-Weighs-More-Than-The-Bike to secure it.

    * It’s a work thing
    ** It’s a Greenbelt thing

    October 13th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
  11. Dave says:

    Thanks for the responses. Ian, you are of course wise.

    Rob – I do see your point, but what happens when you go places where you need to walk around not carrying a 13kg item – for instance the art gallery or the museum? I can think of quite a few times when, folding or not, I will need to leave it places.

    October 13th, 2006 at 2:48 pm
  12. Youthblog says:

    Oh no I’m going to have to be serious for the second time in one day.

    My Brompton goes everywhere with me and as Rob says you can take it into places with you. Although you countered with the cunning “Art Gallery” argument I can parry that one (despite having never been to an art gallery on my Brompton).

    It comes with a bag/cover thing. So I do the swiss army foldaway stuff outside, put the cover on and take it inside. I then put it (and sometimes lock it to something) in the cloakroom or under a table. This has huge advantages becauses any potential thieves inside a building are looking for wallets not bicycles! Genius

    My bike has gone to the Hilton Hotel lounge*, the Bodlean library** and Christchurch cathedral on this basis.

    *It’s a pretending I’m rich thing
    ** It’s a pretending I’m clever thing

    October 13th, 2006 at 3:21 pm