Advice on Folding Bikes

"marc_9" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I have been looking around for a good, cheap (hope this is not an oxymoron) folding bike.

Think someone involved in this newsgroup has said it before about lightweight bikes, but a variation
on that theme: good, cheap, folding - choose any two.

Quoted message said:

Already got a MTB but want something to take around with me ie. on the train, into work etc. Did a
bit of research and found that the Dahon Boadwalk D6 (Shimano Tourney, 6-spd) appeared relatively
attractive. Price hovers around the AUD$500 mark. Notice there isn't much choice when it comes to
folding bikes in Australia. Anyone with suggestions?

Sounds like a Birdy folder would be a great choice for you. Very quick and easy to fold, light and
capable of carrying panniers. Probably the Birdy Silver would suit town riding and commuting, but
they are not cheap. Contact Cycle Science in Whitehorse Rd. Mitcham.

Cheers Peter

Peter, Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately money is a problem for me, with a HEC debt, mortgage
and a very new family, I have to watch my budget. I had a look at the Birdy site. The folders look
great, but if my memory doesnt fail me, the prices hovered around the AUD$1000 mark. That is close
to double of what I am willing to pay. I also noticed another thing. I am around 6'3". Does this
effect what I can ride. Noticed how the Dahon bikes recommend riders be not taller than 6' 4".
Marc in sydney

"Peter Signorini" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

"marc_9" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have been looking around for a good, cheap (hope this is not an oxymoron) folding bike.

Think someone involved in this newsgroup has said it before about lightweight bikes, but a
variation on that theme: good, cheap, folding - choose any two.

Quoted message said:

Already got a MTB but want something to take around with me ie. on the train, into work etc. Did
a bit of research and found that the Dahon Boadwalk D6 (Shimano Tourney, 6-spd) appeared
relatively attractive. Price hovers around the AUD$500 mark. Notice there isn't much choice when
it comes to folding bikes in Australia. Anyone with suggestions?

Sounds like a Birdy folder would be a great choice for you. Very quick and easy to fold, light and
capable of carrying panniers. Probably the Birdy Silver would suit town riding and commuting, but
they are not cheap. Contact Cycle Science in Whitehorse Rd. Mitcham.

Cheers Peter

"marc_9" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have been looking around for a good, cheap (hope this is not an oxymoron) folding bike. Already
got a MTB but want something to take around with me ie. on the train, into work etc.

You probably already know this, but metropitan trains allow you to take bikes on board, and there is
usually somewhere in a workplace that you can put your bike - may take a little extra effort, but I
haven't had any real problems in nearly 10 years of solid commuting.

<...>

Tim

"Tim Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

You probably already know this, but metropitan trains allow you to

take

Quoted message said:

bikes on board, and there is usually somewhere in a workplace that you

can

Quoted message said:

put your bike - may take a little extra effort, but I haven't had any

real

Quoted message said:

problems in nearly 10 years of solid commuting.

Technically you have to pay a concession fare on a Melbourne train for your bike in peak hour (as
well as your own ticket). But I've never done that in 5 or 6 years of bike/train commuting.

It is a pain in the butt trying to bring a bike onto a full train though. I'll often wait for a
later train at peak if I miss 'my usual' just so I don't [censored] the yuppies... A folder would
just annoy me having to pack it up and unpack it getting on and off... horses for courses or
something... ;-)

hippy

hippy said:

A folder would just annoy me having to pack it up and unpack it getting on and off... horses for
courses or something... ;-)

Might be handy for trams though. OTOH for a commute I used to do, I walked 1km to the tram, taking
the tram for 2-3km before changing to a train. For the time it took to walk (approx 10min) and wait
(no more than 12min) for a tram to turn up, I could easily have beat the tram.

--
Jeremy Lunn Melbourne, Australia Homepage: austux.netaustux.netOpen ↗ jabber.org.aujabber.org.auOpen ↗ - the
next generation of Instant Messaging.

Hi Marc,

One of my bikes is a Dahon Broadwalk. I'd say it is value for $. Rides well. Comes with mud guards,
rack (that is useless for panniers), stand. I commutted on it for several months, and stored it
under the desk, before we changed offices (new offices have the desks too low to store it
underneath, and one of the bosses is "unfriendly"😉. Also have the backpack bag for it. Note: it
makes a large backpack - more like a suitcase.

Megan

[email hidden] (marc_9) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I have been looking around for a good, cheap (hope this is not an oxymoron) folding bike. Already
got a MTB but want something to take around with me ie. on the train, into work etc. Did a bit of
research and found that the Dahon Boadwalk D6 (Shimano Tourney, 6-spd) appeared relatively
attractive. Price hovers around the AUD$500 mark. Notice there isn't much choice when it comes to
folding bikes in Australia. Anyone with suggestions? Regards marc in Sydney

I have a bikefriday, but not cheap. Love it, travelled all around Europe on
it.Carl Hemmings "marc_9" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have been looking around for a good, cheap (hope this is not an oxymoron) folding bike. Already
got a MTB but want something to take around with me ie. on the train, into work etc. Did a bit of
research and found that the Dahon Boadwalk D6 (Shimano Tourney, 6-spd) appeared relatively
attractive. Price hovers around the AUD$500 mark. Notice there isn't much choice when it comes to
folding bikes in Australia. Anyone with suggestions? Regards marc in Sydney

Tim Jones said:

You probably already know this, but metropitan trains allow you to take bikes on board, and there
is usually somewhere in a workplace that you can put your bike - may take a little extra effort,
but I haven't had any real problems in nearly 10 years of solid commuting.

On NSW trains you are supposed to purchase a child ticket for your bike. I read something (in
Australian Cyclist?) that suggested folding bikes did not incurr the charge since they became
'luggage' when folded. (Or so the 131500 information line said). I'm not prepared to argue this with
the train cops though, so I always keep my dahon folded up in it's bag whilst on the train.

-kt

Peter Signorini said:

Quoted message said:

I have been looking around for a good, cheap (hope this is not an oxymoron) folding bike.

Think someone involved in this newsgroup has said it before about lightweight bikes, but a
variation on that theme: good, cheap, folding - choose any two.

It wasn't me though.

I bought a $500 Dahon Broadwalk from Cheeky Monkey. It's a steel frame folder, and their 2nd-lowest
(price) model. At the time the only other was the $350 (single speed) piccolo. I understand that the
2004 models have changed around a bit.

Anyway, it's very comfortable to ride, and folds up quite well. It's not as compact as a Brompton -
but you can whack it in a bag or stick it under your desk. When I'm not being lazy, I ride to the
station, train to Sydney, then ride up through the CBD from central station. I guess I don't ride
that far, but for my body (6' tall cro-magnon) it seems to fit quite well, and is very cruisey...
Hmmm, maybe it would fit even better if I were 5'8".

As far as quality goes - I haven't had any significant problems with it - I jammed up the gear cable
in the folding mechanism stripping the plastick of the cable housing. Had it for about six months.

If I had to fault it - I'd say the 7-speed gears were a bit on the low-range side, and the long stem
under the handlebars is a bit flexy during heavy braking downhill with a 95kg rider 🙂

BTW: Their propaganda reckons it's about 15 seconds to unfold, I'd say this is more like 25 seconds
(literally).

Cheeky monkey also have Birdys, so if you're nearby go for a test-ride. The bromptons can be seen at
Clarence St Cyclery.

cheers, -kt

"kingsley" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

On NSW trains you are supposed to purchase a child ticket for your bike. I read something (in
Australian Cyclist?) that suggested folding bikes did not incurr the charge since they became
'luggage' when folded. (Or so the 131500 information line said). I'm not prepared to argue this
with the train cops though, so I always keep my dahon folded up in it's bag whilst on the train.

-kt

I checked with 131500 once by phone and once by email, and my husband rang them too. Each time they
said that there is no specific policy on folding bikes, but that if you can fold it up and carry it,
it becomes luggage. Tried telling this to the ticket seller at Newcastle though and he continued to
insist I buy a concession ticket for the bike. I've got a Brompton. It's a great folder, and a
pretty adequate bike. I wouldn't choose to use it for touring, but for commuting it's excellent. I
got it from St John St Cycles in England because it worked out slightly cheaper than from Renegade
Cycles in Lane Cove.