I've been looking at folding bikes for my commute and travel, since I don't want to deal with unclipping in traffic and would like something easy to travel with. I'm also very petite so the bikes with small wheels are my only folder bike option (the big wheel folding bikes are too big for me). Dahon has some neat folding touring and urban bikes. Does anyone have folding bikes for similar reasons? Strengths, weaknesses? Any other brands I should check out as well?
Folder Bikes
Thu, 03/29/2007 - 8:08am
Thu, 03/29/2007 - 10:01am
#1
Folding bike guide
Here's a link to the Transportation Alternatives folding bike guide. At the bottom of that page is a link to the A to B magazine folder guide.
With a folding bike, you want to define your main priority, for example speed of folding, or light weight, or performance, etc. Folding bikes usually have to compromise in one area or another.
The Swift folder is popular, inexpensive, fast to fold, but not really compact. The Brompton folds quickly and compactly, but isn't super light and isn't really suited for something like paceline riding. Dahons are popular, relatively inexpensive, and there's a variety to choose from.
Read the TA page for more ideas and suggestions:
Thu, 03/29/2007 - 10:39am
#2
Both of your replies are really helpful. Right now I'm most concerned with performance, which makes Moulton look very attractive to me. If I travel with it, most likely it's not going to be on the subway but rather via car or plane. I'm wondering if smaller tires make it easier to maneuver in traffic as well. I also like the Dahons which is the first brand of folding bikes I've gotten to know. I also have seen that Giant and Trek make folding bikes and I'm wondering about the quality of those as well.
Thu, 03/29/2007 - 11:26am
#3
Moulton - not really a folder
"I have a Moulton APB and it breaks in two, but it isn't a folder. If you weren't using it for commuting and didn't need to break it down quickly, then a Moulton might work for you.
I think the Moulton is an extraordinary bike, and it rides like no other small-wheeled (or large-wheeled!) bike I've tried. The suspension makes it great for rough city streets, but also comfortable for long distances. Handling is superb. Mine is one of the heavier models, though - maybe about 28 pounds.
Also, you can pay quite dearly for that performance. I think the new stainless steel ""double pylon"" Moultons cost about $12,000! The February 2007 issue of Cycling Plus has a review of the twin pylon and they loved it.
Less expensive models, such as the TSR, are made by Pashley. They're really nice, too, and are more in the $3,000 range. Still, that's a lot more than the folders that sell for a few hundred dollars.
Here's mine:
http://web.mac.com/w.rentschler/iWeb/Bicycle%20Site/Moulton%20APB.html
"
Thu, 03/29/2007 - 11:49am
#4
I don't mind the fact that it's not a real folder. I just love that it's small and performs really great. I just emailed one of the dealers that the Moulton site specifies, who's up in Buffalo, to see what he has in stock and what kind of $$$ I can expect to have to save...
Thu, 03/29/2007 - 11:54am
#5
"Also my concern with getting a commuting bike is not so much breaking it down as it is getting something that is, in order of pref: 1) high performing, small and very maneuverable 2) CAN break down into something for travel on a car or plane, does not have to be light as I prefer performance over ""carryability"" 3) can take weather like rain or a little ice (not sure if there's a Moulton that can)."
Thu, 03/29/2007 - 6:06pm
#6
Bike Friday for sale
"Minda,
I have a fire engine red Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro that I'd like to sell. It's custom made for me - I'm 5'-3"" - and it's somewhat adjustable. It has 20"" wheels, 27 speeds, drop bars and is a performance bicycle. I've used it for several trips to Europe and it rides like a full size road bike. It comes with a suitcase that checks as regular (no extra fee) baggage on both domestic and foreign flights and is easy to take on trains in Europe. It also comes with a folding rear rack (easy to pack with the bike), a couple of sets of tires and tubes, and matching red bottle cages.
The bike does a ""quick fold"" for taking it into an office building, or a more complete fold with partial disassembly (seatpost, front wheel, stem and handlebars come off) to pack in its suitcase.
If you're interested in seeing it, call me at 212-581-0509 or email me through the link above."
Fri, 03/30/2007 - 8:45pm
#7
Swift Folder
The Swift is solid and tour-worthy--I have traveled with rear panniers on mine.
Folded, it's not as compact as the Brompton. It folds up quickly for stowing in a trunk or bus bay. Takes maybe 10-15 minutes to pack in a hardshell suitcase that is checked as normal luggage. Terrific for intercity travel.
I folded my Swift into a little square, sealed it in bubble wrap, and checked it onto an Aer Lingus flight as a lump. At Shannon airport, they kept my bubble wrap for 10 days on a shelf and I rewrapped it for the return.
Xootr is now licensing the Swift--you can also buy from the sweet designer who builds them in Brooklyn, Peter Reich. www.swiftfolder.com
Both offer 7 or so speeds for under $700. It's a fun bike to ride and makes strangers smile at you. Rides like a hybrid, not a road bike, if blazing speed is what you want.
Thu, 03/29/2007 - 10:07am
#8
I have a Dahon
I bought my gal a Dahon MU SL. She and I both love it. It costs about $900 and is alum, under 18 pounds, has a ??? 53 x 11-34 gearing, and is a nimble little creature.
You quick release the seat post and drop it into the frame, release the handle bars and fold them in half, release the connection and fold the bike in half in the middle of the top tube. Magnets keep it folded. It takes under 20 seconds to fold/unfold. I also bought a bag - El Bolsa - into which the bike fits. It looks like you are carrying a large blueprint portfolio. Also, the flat, regular pedals are easily removable by hand for more compactness. Even with the pedals on, the MU SL fits under or along side a desk.
I bought the rear tubular rack with built in bungees. I should have bought fenders, and will soon.
This particular model has many “fast bike” features, great wheels and tires, shock dampening and an excellent saddle. It cost a bit more than some other Dahons, but you get more. Of course, Brompton and Bike Friday can have you paying 2 or 3 times what the MU SL costs.
Thu, 03/29/2007 - 10:45am
#9
That Dahon MU SL looks nice. Why did you choose that bike? Because of its very light weight? Does that affect performance in any (negative) way?
I also like the Dahon bikes in the Speed line, like the road (Speed Pro TT) and touring (Speed TR) versions.
Thu, 03/29/2007 - 1:53pm
#10
"""That Dahon MU SL looks nice. Why did you choose that bike? Because of its very light weight? Does that affect performance in any (negative) way?""
Weight and performance were the main criteria. Since I bought for my fiancee, we both wanted a light ride that she could carry more easily. Some of the folders are over 30 pounds - portable folders, but cumbersome.
Also, the MU SL moves. I commuted once through Prospect Park and a racer flew by me. I caught his wheel and did half a lap. I guess we were doing 20+ mph. It was smooth and the 53 x 11 (??) was mashing.
Of course, the MU SL is not a racer. It is a 20"" folder that can be hammered"
Thu, 03/29/2007 - 10:58am
#11
Folds Up Folding Bike Ride and Festival
Whether you ride a folding bike or are just folding curious, you are hereby invited to the seventh (?) annual Folding Bike Ride and Festival on Saturday, May 12. There's a small-wheeled bike race beforehand; last year I won the women's division by virtue of being the only entrant!
Bike builders, specialty mechanics, and lots of folding bike enthusiasts will be there. It's a lot of fun.
http://times-up.org/index.php?page=folds-up-ride
Hannah
Who will have to decide which of her two folders to ride for the event
Thu, 03/29/2007 - 11:43am
#12
That sounds fun. How long does it run? I have C-sig during the day.
Fri, 03/30/2007 - 10:31am
#13
Festival starts at 4:00 and lasts as long as people hang out
Usually at least an hour.
Fri, 03/30/2007 - 8:18pm
#14
S & S Couplings (bicycle torque couplings)
"Hi,
You might consider an interesting alternative. You could turn your regular bike into a folding bike with S and S couplers. The bike frame is CUTTED up at the
down and top tubes a little. At the loose ends a special coupler is installed. The ends when fasten together rejoins the whole frame. When dismantled, the frame, wheels and other components go into a 30"" x 26"" x 11"" suitcase. It would be checked in as REGULAR luggage with no fees to pay.
Estimate costs to retrofit a bike into S & S starts at 300-500 dollars, at an authorized builder. The nearest bike shop/builder that can do this is in Philly (Bilenky) and New Jersey (Bridgewater) and Connecticut (Richard Sachs).
Slight catch--this can be done on steel and titanium frames, maybe carbon fiber. Forget aluminum frames...
Hope this helps,
Alfredo"
Sat, 03/31/2007 - 7:43am
#15
Citizen Bikes & Wiki Entry about Folding Bikes
"Hi,
After riding this morning, I was reading Time magazine and noticed they didn't mention cycling as one of the 51 ways to reduce global warning.
Then I surfed the Time magazine web and found a related cycling article, about folding bikes.
There was mention about Citizen Bicycles. They are folding bikes, look like Dahons, but cost less (170-300, at least this weekend).
Clink on these links:
http://www.citizenbike.com/default.asp
http://www.citizenbike.com/citizen_bike_in_time_magazine.asp
Here's a wikipedia entry about folding bikes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folding_bicycle
Hope this helps,
Alfredo
"
Sun, 04/01/2007 - 2:48pm
#16
Brompton
The Brompton folds in thirds, so it's a more compact fold than Dahon. Easy to tuck under a desk.
You can check them out at Bicycle Habitat. There's a shop on the Upper East Side that trades in folders and has a ton of Brompton's on hand. A google search on Brompton will turn up their info.
Folders are fun to ride!
Sun, 04/01/2007 - 12:15pm
#17
anyone own a citizen bike?
I'm looking for a cheap folding bike just to run errands with around Manhattan, so light wins over performance. Has anyone ever ridden a citizen bike, and, if so, what did you think?
Thanks,
Allison
Sun, 04/01/2007 - 4:02pm
#18
one more thing--Bfold bike shop
"Hi,
I re-checked the Ciizen Bike website. The bikes are cheap, but the bikes are 30-35 pounds!
There's a bike shop in Manhattan that caters specifically to folders--Bfold
http://www.bfold.com/index.htm
bfold is an authorized dealer of Brompton, Mobiky, Swift and Bike Friday folding bikes. bfold is located near Union Square in New York City.
Bfold is located near Union Square at
224 E. 13th Street, Unit #1 (ground level)
between 2nd an 3rd Avenue in Manhattan.
New York, NY 10003
Regular STORE HOURS:
2pm to 7pm Tuesday to Saturday.
(Closed Sunday & Monday)
All other hours possible by appointment
Alfredo
"
