Folding bike, or a cheap hybrid/mtb?

olliec

I've not had a bike since I was a kid. I live in N London, and gave up my car recently in favour of a car club. The idea being that for local trips I'd walk or take the bike. But, problem is, I have no space in my flat for a bike - completely impossible

So I bought a bike, love riding it, a very cheap one off eBay, for £30. I got a cheap one so if it was stolen I'd not be that bothered, and also because it would live outside in the elements. When it was nicked after two weeks, I was just annoyed, and of course it makes me wonder how I can replace it, but without the same happening again.

The main lesson learnt was to spend much more on the lock than I did. The £10 Halfords cable was a waste of time, a rubber band would have been cheaper and just as effective. so when I get another bike, I will be getting a very good lock, and I have found many reviews now to help me do that. If I keep a bike outside it'll be chained to a very sturdy fence, but it's not in public, it's near a public footpath so easily visible, but near lots of windows, so noise would be noticed.

But what I'm not sure about is which options to go for out of two:

## Folding Bike - kept inside
Pros: I can keep this inside as they are small - I can make space for it. Lighter. Less security risk as kept indoors.
Cons: More expensive. Hassle of folding up/down. Dirt in my flat. Small wheels mean I need to pedal harder? they don't look v sexy!

## Hybrid/mtb - kept outside
Pros: No folding hassle. Cheaper. More fun, better for parks etc.
Cons: Stays outside, so gotta buy a cheap one as it will rust etc. Heavier.

My inclination is to get another bike off ebay for £30-50, and spend £60 or so on a decent lock, and perhaps a shielded cable too (for the other wheel), and a noisy alarm, and basically do what I can to reduce the chances of theft.

What would you do?

Cafewanda

Can't you get a hybrid and hang it on the wall, suspend from ceiling, hide behind sofa? Surely your flat isn't smaller than a cupboard? Get rid of the double bed, replace with a single, space problem solved!

Hope he doesn't think I'm being flippant.

rolf_f

Cafewanda wrote:

Can't you get a hybrid and hang it on the wall,

and hit it repeatedly with a stick (so would say a lot of forum members about a hybrid!)

If you haven't got a safe place to keep a bike unless it is a folder, I would get a folder. Mind you, I currently have four bikes cluttering up my dining room though one isn't mine :oops:

Cafewanda

Rolf F you and I could have been friends. Your loss :roll:



Olliec, sounds like a folder is your only option. Pity.

olliec

My flat is very very small, so storing a non-folding bike in it would cause big problems. I'll have a think about locations it can go, but if it was realistic I wouldn't be looking at other options.

What's the downsides with a folder? I've never ridden one.

Thanks for feedback, much appreciated.

rolf_f

Cafewanda wrote:

Rolf F you and I could have been friends. Your loss :roll:

Ohhhh, don't be mean! It's just a bloke thing - we either need our bikes to be dangerous things we ride off mountains or things with dangerous looking handlebars that go dangerously fast! Hybrids are just too sensible!

I've briefly ridden a Brompton. Quite liked it - accelerate quickly because of the small wheels. Still, aquired taste. Can you fit in a bigger wheeled folder? Probably best of both worlds but bulkier than a small wheeled folder.

stuaff

Right, first off, 'Small wheels mean I need to pedal harder'? Piffle. Yes, many lower end folders aimed at city use have lower gearing, but that's what you'd want anyway. And by lower gearing, I mean 'just the same as a bike with regular sized wheels'. And more expensive ones (like mine) can, and do, have gearing ranges as wide as any "proper bike". Smaller wheels do have slightly higher rolling resistance, but they're (naturally) lighter than equivalent larger ones, lower aerodynamic drag, and accelerate more quickly. They'll be as fast as you are. Fastest guys at the Smithfield Nocturne folding races were getting to over 32 mph.
Folding time? 15-30 seconds good enough for you?
Dirt? Cover it.
Sex appeal? How about http://dahon.com/intl/muex.htm for one example? (For info only- this is probably beyond your budget- but there are much cheaper versions).
Disadvantages? Dahons like mine hinge in the middle, so a little less rigid than a fixed frame (I do not mean flexy, or in any way unsafe- just less efficient for the racers among us). Bromptons have a single piece frame, so don't have that problem (I'm not debating the pros and cons of their designs here). Folders tend to be a bit heavier, because of the hinges etc. More expensive to buy, but they tend to hold their value better. I got both of mine second-hand, btw- I'd go that route and get a decent bike rather than one from Halfords/Argos catalogue etc. Cheap folders are among the worst kind of BSOs.

Aidy

In your situation, if I was only interested in bikes for commuting, I'd get a folder.

Of course, I'm not, and I chose where I live deliberately for bike storage space

If you wanted a bike for fun too, I'd get a full size bike, and find some way of keeping it inside. Aldi have some sort of contraption for hanging a bike off the ceiling in one of their specials coming up - is that an option?

fuelex

IMO the better they fold the worse they ride and vice versa.
Bromptons one of the best folders but I just didn't get on with it as a bike. 20inch wheels ride better but don't fold as good.

oscarbudgie

Dahon do some full size folding bikes

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/dahon-cadenza-8-speed-hub-folding-bike-id42059.html

snig

leaving any bike out side and it will get nicked,even a £50 lock can be broken very quickly if the bit of sh*t wants to nick your bike.I know you say inside is not an option but remember that the wheels come off very easy,and a pair of hooks on the wall and you have your own piece of modern art,

fuelex

oscarbudgie wrote:

Dahon do some full size folding bikes

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/dahon-cadenza-8-speed-hub-folding-bike-id42059.html

Just don't try to pick one up! They're seriously overweight.

Cafewanda

Rolf F wrote:

Cafewanda wrote:

Rolf F you and I could have been friends. Your loss :roll:

Ohhhh, don't be mean! It's just a bloke thing - we either need our bikes to be dangerous things we ride off mountains or things with dangerous looking handlebars that go dangerously fast! Hybrids are just too sensible.

You such a sweet talker

roger_merriman

Rolf F wrote:

Cafewanda wrote:

Rolf F you and I could have been friends. Your loss :roll:

Ohhhh, don't be mean! It's just a bloke thing - we either need our bikes to be dangerous things we ride off mountains or things with dangerous looking handlebars that go dangerously fast! Hybrids are just too sensible!.

mind you flicking though mags at a shop, i saw that andy wilkinson who has never been beaten in a 100 mile TT won the last one on the same bike he rides to work on, suspention seat post, hybrid. though i suspect he doesn't use the same wheels etc...

tgotb

StuAff wrote:

Right, first off, 'Small wheels mean I need to pedal harder'? Piffle.

+1. Another myth is that folding bikes are only good over short distances. My evening commute is ~13 miles on a Brompton, and I normally have no trouble keeping up with the hybrids (and all but the fastest roadies).

Only caveat is that you have to get a decent folder, which will cost you a bit. Bromptons are excellent and fold smallest, but there are other good brands out there. Bromptons last for ever and there's a good second hand market, but beware of stolen bikes.

When you get where you're going, treat your folder like a bag rather than a bicycle: put it in your shopping trolley, check it into a cloakroom, keep it under your desk etc. Far safer than any lock...

Aidy

That guy on the Brompton wrote:

StuAff wrote:

Right, first off, 'Small wheels mean I need to pedal harder'? Piffle.

+1. Another myth is that folding bikes are only good over short distances. My evening commute is ~13 miles on a Brompton, and I normally have no trouble keeping up with the hybrids (and all but the fastest roadies).

I'm slightly skeptical.
I've never been kept up with by a folder, I'm hardly the fastest roadie, and I'm often on a mountain bike. I own a Brompton, and it's good at what it does, but it's just not as fast. They win for overall journey time over short distances because of the lack of faffing with locks and garages and stuff.

Whilst I wouldn't say that folding bikes are only good over short distances, I would say that they were more suited to short distances.

stuaff

Aidy wrote:

That guy on the Brompton wrote:

StuAff wrote:

Right, first off, 'Small wheels mean I need to pedal harder'? Piffle.

+1. Another myth is that folding bikes are only good over short distances. My evening commute is ~13 miles on a Brompton, and I normally have no trouble keeping up with the hybrids (and all but the fastest roadies).

I'm slightly skeptical.
I've never been kept up with by a folder, I'm hardly the fastest roadie, and I'm often on a mountain bike. I own a Brompton, and it's good at what it does, but it's just not as fast. They win for overall journey time over short distances because of the lack of faffing with locks and garages and stuff.

Whilst I wouldn't say that folding bikes are only good over short distances, I would say that they were more suited to short distances.

Depends which bike you're talking about.....and the rider of course. My Cadenza is basically a 26" hybrid that happens to fold. My Jetstream is lighter and has a bigger gear range than that...Both are perfectly suitable for long runs. Then there's the likes of the Airnimal Chameleon.........

prawny

Aidy wrote:

That guy on the Brompton wrote:

StuAff wrote:

Right, first off, 'Small wheels mean I need to pedal harder'? Piffle.

+1. Another myth is that folding bikes are only good over short distances. My evening commute is ~13 miles on a Brompton, and I normally have no trouble keeping up with the hybrids (and all but the fastest roadies).

I'm slightly skeptical.
I've never been kept up with by a folder, I'm hardly the fastest roadie, and I'm often on a mountain bike. I own a Brompton, and it's good at what it does, but it's just not as fast. They win for overall journey time over short distances because of the lack of faffing with locks and garages and stuff.

Whilst I wouldn't say that folding bikes are only good over short distances, I would say that they were more suited to short distances.

I've followed a brompton through traffic at 21 mph. In fact one of only three half decent battles I've had on my commute has been with the same guy on a brompton, and he has a 10 mile commute. Hi Waving Sausages!

stuaff

fuelex wrote:

oscarbudgie wrote:

Dahon do some full size folding bikes

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/dahon-cadenza-8-speed-hub-folding-bike-id42059.html

Just don't try to pick one up! They're seriously overweight.

I have one. It's not that lumpy, plenty of bikes are heavier than that (and I'm a weakling!).

rolf_f

Cafewanda wrote:

You such a sweet talker

I know

Besides, I can't reallyfairly take pops at hybrids considering I commute on road on a knobblied MTB (though not much knobbly left on the back!). I even like commuting on it though I suspect I'll be getting some slicks for it soon which seems a bit wrong. I may assuage my guilt by buying it a pair of lightweight knobbly Contis at the same time.

Cafewanda

Don't do that. Get a hybrid. You know it makes sense :evil:

ex-pat scot

roger merriman wrote:

mind you flicking though mags at a shop, i saw that andy wilkinson who has never been beaten in a 100 mile TT won the last one on the same bike he rides to work on, suspention seat post, hybrid. though i suspect he doesn't use the same wheels etc...

In the 1994 Mersey Roads 24hr champs, he blasted past me on his 1" slick tyred MTB en route to victory.

Mind you he did cheat and use tribars!

The following year he reverted to a road bike- and still blasted past... That time I kept him at around 20 yds for a good 90 mins or so.

He's probably still using the same bike, 15 years on.


I am.

ex-pat scot

Sorry - back on topic.

I have a lovely Titanium Brompton and it's surprisingly quick.
The wheels roll fast, especially if you pump the tyres hard. (and you can, because there's the suspension block to take out the resulting road chatter).

It's still not quite as fast as my geared road bike, but I suspect that might be as much to do with the slightly-less-aero position, my tendency to Brompt in a suit, the laptop bag attached to the front carrier etc.

Brompts can be expensive to buy, particularly the titanium sparkly ones (the finish is dull matte, but you know what I mean). They keep their value incredibly well- have a gander over on eBay to see what I mean.

Any bike left outside WILL be nicked. The best lock in the world won't stop a toerag with a set of allan keys dismantling the rest of the bike, leaving you with frame, rims and tyres.

There are intelligent solutions to the "indoor bike" dilemma. I used to have 2 tandems (OK a little excessive) wall mounted high up in my kitchen.

olliec

So I went to a bike shop on Saturday and had a look at a few, ended up going with a Raleigh Boardwalk Lite, which is a folding bike, has a Dahon mechanism, folds nice and small and weight is ok. It's a compromise - I'd prefer something with bigger wheels and tyres for rough ground and parks etc, but the Raleigh is good build quality, rides well, folds easily, and lets me do local trips easily without a car. And as an added bonus I can take it on the London underground.

Thanks for all the tips guys, much appreciated. when I get a bigger flat I will probably look to get a full-size bike too.

Ollie