FOLDER: Financial implications?

nappy501 · June 2007

Hi Everyone,

I recently crashed my car and have decided not to replace my car. I already have a bicycle that I had from a teenager, a Raleigh Athena, which I only ride now with the children.

It seemed a good idea to invest in a folding cycle for when I get off public transport.

I have had lots of advice, such as buy a name such as Brompton, Dahon and stay away from the Chinese imports.

Originally, I had about œ50 to spend. I now have around œ100 as the insurance company have paid out.

I now have quite a difficult decision to make. Nothing I have been advised to buy falls anywhere near the œ100 mark. I have been looking on Ebay and thinking how awful can they be?

So my question is would I be better just buying an old folding shopper that just breaks in the middle for œ15 or should I go for one of these imports.

I have been to Halfords and 16 kgs does seem like a lot to pull/carry. I have also felt the Dahon they sell at œ299 which is quite heavy.

I really only need one at the moment for a train journey on a Tuesday. Our train station is a 40 minute walk away and cycling would be really helpful. But I go with one of my children, so I would also need to get her one. I was thinking of an old shopper for her and an import of me.

So should I buy 2 old shoppers? Should I save my money and continue walking to the train station?

Regards

Cunobelin · June 2007

Where do you work?

Would your employer be willing to assist with a "CycleSCheme"or similar assisted purchase?

He that buys land buys many stones.
He that buys flesh buys many bones.
He that buys eggs buys many shells,
But he that buys good beer buys nothing else.
(Unattributed Trad.)

palinurus · June 2007

Firstly: http://www.atob.org.uk/Buyers'_Guide.html

Do you need a bike at the other end of the journey? (if walking is possible then you could perhaps obtain a couple of S/H bikes of some kind, preferably something that won't attract much attention- like an old fold-in-half shopper perhaps- and leave them at the station).

Old fold in half shoppers can make for fine transport, but they aren't very good at folding and weren't really designed with trains in mind. They certainly weren't designed with carrying in mind.

marinated · June 2007

You can pick up new Raleigh folders for around œ50 - œ60 on eBay. They're the ones that Ikea gave to their staff.

They seem fairly decent, particularly for the low cost.

.

nappy501 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Cunobelin

Where do you work?

Would your employer be willing to assist with a "CycleSCheme"or similar assisted purchase?

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hi
I work in Doncaster and live in Lincolnshire. I actually manage fine on the bus to get to work. It is a 10 minute walk to the bus station and about a minute and a half at the other end (no sweat). The public transport system is quite good in Doncaster, so I make work visits by bus.

I am an agent for the council not an employee, so they probably do, but I'm probably not entitled.

Regards

nappy501 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Palinurus

Firstly: http://www.atob.org.uk/Buyers'_Guide.html

Do you need a bike at the other end of the journey? (if walking is possible then you could perhaps obtain a couple of S/H bikes of some kind, preferably something that won't attract much attention- like an old fold-in-half shopper perhaps- and leave them at the station).

Old fold in half shoppers can make for fine transport, but they aren't very good at folding and weren't really designed with trains in mind. They certainly weren't designed with carrying in mind.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It would help if we could ride at the other end, it is not far (about a 10 min walk), but we have to get changed and get back to catch the last train at 8.10 pm.

Our station is small, no ticket office and the platform is accessible by ramp. So there would be no problem getting them on the train. You have just reminded me to check with the train people what their rules are on carrying bikes.

I've never seen any bikes there and it is a bit out of the way. I can imagine them been wrecked just for the fun of it.

So are you saying I would be better off with an old shopper, than a new import? I know the shopper will last because they have done a few years already. I have been told such horror stories about bits breaking off, not being safe (which really worries me)

I have looked at A to B they did not list anything under œ200 (I won't count the Universal which appears to be a very expensive shopper). I have been keeping an eye out for second hand, but folders appear to keep their value well.

Regards

nappy501 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by marinated

You can pick up new Raleigh folders for around œ50 - œ60 on eBay. They're the ones that Ikea gave to their staff.

They seem fairly decent, particularly for the low cost.

.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Now I have been looking at those, but I could not find a review on them, only that they were not made in the same place as the other Raleigh folders. I have been waiting for someone to say if they have one and is it okay.

I have been looking at these:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=018
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=005
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... &rd=1&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... &rd=1&rd=1

The Sweet Pea, looks cute, I am not very tall, so would be idea, but I fear to will go out of my price range. The last one has no brand name, but I was tempted at 7 kgs. However, it goes out of my price range with the ridiculous postage cost.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts, it has given me some more to think about.

Regards

jay_clock · June 2007

To be honest I would be wary of spending too little on a folder. I have a Dahon worth œ500 (paid œ300 in the US) and it is lovely, but for œ100 the quality is generally poor.

Do you really need a folder? Could you get away with a cheap bike from the FreeAds which you chain up at the station?

my trip round Corsica: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/corsica

nappy501 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jay Clock

To be honest I would be wary of spending too little on a folder. I have a Dahon worth œ500 (paid œ300 in the US) and it is lovely, but for œ100 the quality is generally poor.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Thank you for that.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
Do you really need a folder? Could you get away with a cheap bike from the FreeAds which you chain up at the station?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Our station is a bit out of the way. I have never seen a bike chained there, although I have seen people getting on the train with their bikes. Because I have never seen a bike chained there I have a suspicion it wouldn't last long.

I have checked with the train company:
Most of our services can carry two cycles for free.
# We treat folding cycles just like normal luggage, with no restrictions on how many we can carry.

Regards

hubgearfreak · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by nappy501
I have checked with the train company:
Most of our services can carry two cycles for free.
# We treat folding cycles just like normal luggage, with no restrictions on how many we can carry.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

i'd definitely go for the freecycle option.
some or most days you'd be able to get your bike on the train, and when the train has its regulation two bikes, you can lock it up.
a freecycle bike is free, so if it does get wrecked, it's no great loss.
having it at the other end will save a bus trip, and you could save this bus money up towards getting a decent folder. i don't think i'd want to ride any of those on your ebay links.

good luck in your search

nappy501 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by hubgearfreak

i'd definitely go for the freecycle option.
some or most days you'd be able to get your bike on the train, and when the train has its regulation two bikes, you can lock it up.
a freecycle bike is free, so if it does get wrecked, it's no great loss.
having it at the other end will save a bus trip, and you could save this bus money up towards getting a decent folder. i don't think i'd want to ride any of those on your ebay links.

good luck in your search
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Well, thank you for that. I was thinking of asking on Freecycle if anyone had an old folding shopper for my daughter.

Is that everybody's opinion on the Ebay links, even the Ikea Raleigh?

If that is the case then I think I will get 2 old shoppers for now and save up for a Brompton.

Regards

Richrd2205 · June 2007

nappy,
a friend of mine rode one of the Ikea Raleigh (well, badged as such) bikes &, despite not being a cyclist, found the riding position awful. From what he said, the (virtual) top tube length is far too short for almost anyone. I'd be cautious, from what he said, the geometry is poor...
So, yes, freecycle!

maryinoxford · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by hubgearfreak
some or most days you'd be able to get your bike on the train, and when the train has its regulation two bikes, you can lock it up.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Would you have time? Many trains only stop for about a minute at small stations. If you're on the platform hoping to get the bike on, and you can't, then depending on distance to bike rack, railings etc, you could be very tight for time to lock the bike and still get the train.

The older I get, the better I used to be.

knucklehead · June 2007

I bought a ikea folder for a friend a few months ago and they are terrible. The top tube length is way to short, its a tone weight, the cranks/bb are crap and too long for the wheels meaning you hit road when turning and the connections where not very sturdy.
Why not try a unicycle if your only going a short way? Much easier to store and no folding neccessary.

hubgearfreak · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by maryinoxford
Would you have time? Many trains only stop for about a minute at small stations. If you're on the platform hoping to get the bike on, and you can't, then depending on distance to bike rack, railings etc, you could be very tight for time to lock the bike and still get the train.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

good point - - you're brighter than i am[:I]

sjcpcp · June 2007

The saying 'you get what you pay for' applies to folder more than any other type of bike. Pay œ1000 for a folder and most of them will ride like 'normal' bikes.
There's also plenty of OK bikes at œ500 such as Dahons, or Dahon licenced bikes (Trek, Specialized etc). Dahon's are also often reduced in price so they can be found even cheaper.

As the prices fall the bikes ride less like normal bikes and are normally heavy and badly made. I would think that rather than buying a œ100 folder a œ50 hack bike left at each end of the line would be better.

As for trains only stopping at stations for 1 minute, well arrive 5 minutes early and you'll have plenty of time to lock your bike!

nappy501 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by sjcp

As for trains only stopping at stations for 1 minute, well arrive 5 minutes early and you'll have plenty of time to lock your bike!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hi there,

The train company says that they allow two bikes on a train and folders don't count as they are treated as luggage. The difficulty is if you can't take you bike on the train because there are already two on.

Last night we did the journey by train for the first time. The guard told us they actually take more than 2 bikes because they are very quiet that time of evening. So the only problem would be if I bumped into a 'jobs worth'.

Also I posted on Freecycle and someone has an old shopper in their shed which I am going to look at now.

Thanks again.

emu · June 2007

Hope you get a bike from Freecycle. I picked up a bike for my daughter which was in fab condition. Also got a bike for a colleagues son. Definitely a good option if you're not cycling far and leaving a bike at a station.

On a slightly different note - I know I moan about my Brompton (or rather cycling and the attitude of others) but it's been a great investment. I bought it so I could put it on a train but I use it for so much more. Pottering around Croydon, trips to the park with the kids, put it in the car if we're going to a park further afield. It's been great really.

FOLDER: Financial implications?

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