airnimal

Adam Lea wrote on 23/09/2006 00:49 +0100:

Quoted message said:

I am contemplating buying a folding bike that would also be suitable for
fast, moderate distance road riding. I discovered that airnimal make bikes
aimed around this purpose. Does anyone have any experience with their bikes,
and are they worth their steep price tag?

You need to look at Airnimal and Bike Friday and, if you are in
reasonable distance it is worth a trip to AVC at the back of Bath
Railway Station where you can try them both.

I have the Bike Friday and yes they are worth it if you need a good bike
that folds. I had mine made to match the geometry of my Cannondale and
apart from the turn in characteristics of the smaller wheels, it rides
just he same but I can put it in a suitcase and take it on the plane,
train, car boot etc. Quite a few professionals and people like Phil
Liggett have Bike Fridays to take with them on their travels and keep
the training/mileage up.

If you want to fold it for daily commuting though its the wrong bike -
you need a Birdy or Brommie for that but they are much more commuter
bikes than what you are looking for.

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

Tony Raven said:

Adam Lea wrote on 23/09/2006 00:49 +0100:

Quoted message said:

I am contemplating buying a folding bike that would also be suitable
for fast, moderate distance road riding. I discovered that airnimal
make bikes aimed around this purpose. Does anyone have any
experience with their bikes, and are they worth their steep price
tag?

You need to look at Airnimal and Bike Friday and, if you are in
reasonable distance it is worth a trip to AVC at the back of Bath
Railway Station where you can try them both.

Its worth adding the Pashley-Moulton to the equation. In its two-piece
version its another alternative to the travelling bike; doesn't collapse as
small, but the split is quick, and one gains the suspension.

If I had a need to pack a bike into a case or small car boot, I'd look very
seriously at an airnimal.

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

Adam Lea said:

I am contemplating buying a folding bike that would also be suitable for
fast, moderate distance road riding. I discovered that airnimal make bikes
aimed around this purpose. Does anyone have any experience with their bikes,
and are they worth their steep price tag?

The frames retail for the same kind of money as conventional eight-tubes
-welded-together-in-Taiwan-with-a-load-of-marketing-slapped-on-top
framesets so they are actually pretty good value for money. And they
ride like a proper bike without the funny steering you get with 20"
bikes. Tyre choice and availability is limited though.

--
---
Marten Gerritsen

INFOapestaartjeM-GINEERINGpuntNL
www.m-gineering.nl

Tony Raven said:

Adam Lea wrote on 23/09/2006 00:49 +0100:

Quoted message said:

I am contemplating buying a folding bike that would also be suitable for
fast, moderate distance road riding. I discovered that airnimal make bikes
aimed around this purpose. Does anyone have any experience with their bikes,
and are they worth their steep price tag?

Quoted message said:

If you want to fold it for daily commuting though its the wrong bike -
you need a Birdy or Brommie for that but they are much more commuter
bikes than what you are looking for.

But if you want a daily folder that will also handle longer distances
get the Birdy. I've ridden mine for the odd fifty mile ride and had no
problems. You can put Schwalbe 28-355 Stelvios on it in place of the
40-355 tyres it comes with and make it an even faster machine. I have
a basic Red and the standard gearing is pretty fast. 11-32 rear and 56
front which is roughly equivalent to a 38 on a 700C wheeled machine.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Tony Raven said:

If you want to fold it for daily commuting though its the wrong bike -
you need a Birdy or Brommie for that but they are much more commuter
bikes than what you are looking for.

Though the hotter Birdies (i.e., the Sport) are pretty good as "real
bikes": light and stiff and well made with a sporty crouch riding
position and a fair range of gears.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/