Still having difficulty choosing a folder

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

Quoted message said:

Brompton seems the obvious choice but I'm also curious with the Dahon
Speed TR 2004, as featured in the CTC shop.

It's 21speed but no ratios (or gear-inches) are listed.

What I think I'm looking for is a good touring bike which will
circumvent the difficulties of taking bikes on trains. Rapid folding
is not a priority, but I do want it fold rather than dismantle.
Luggage carrying capability and handling on-road is more important.

It is intended to be used for around one week at a time, carrying
hostelling/B&B type luggage.

Can anybody help me choose - feel free to recommend any other suitable
candidates youy can think of too....

If you want it for serous touring rather than nipping round town then the
strong impression I get is that a Brompton is not the best option. A Birdy
or Ainimal (sp?) might be closer to your needs -- but will consume much more
folding stuff.

Sounds like you need to do some test riding.

T

Richard Bates said:

Brompton seems the obvious choice but I'm also curious with the Dahon
Speed TR 2004, as featured in the CTC shop.

It's 21speed but no ratios (or gear-inches) are listed.

What I think I'm looking for is a good touring bike which will
circumvent the difficulties of taking bikes on trains. Rapid folding
is not a priority, but I do want it fold rather than dismantle.
Luggage carrying capability and handling on-road is more important.

It is intended to be used for around one week at a time, carrying
hostelling/B&B type luggage.

Can anybody help me choose - feel free to recommend any other suitable
candidates youy can think of too....

Thanks, Rich x

For your requirement I would look at the Dahon, Airnimal, Birdy and Bike
Friday (all available at www.foldingbikes.co.uk) rather than the Brommie
(said as both a Brommie and Bike Friday owner)

Tony

Richard Bates said:

Can anybody help me choose - feel free to recommend any other suitable
candidates youy can think of too....

I had a Birdy Blue for ages (it got wiped out in a crash last summer)
and really liked riding it. I'm not planning to buy another folder
right now, but if I were it would be a Birdy Grey I think. A speedhub
is great for a folding bike and the Birdys are a nicer to ride than a
Brompton. Bromptons fold smaller and probably a little more easily,
but I'd take the better ride of the Birdy, particularly if you expect
to put in some decent milage and/or ride off road a bit. The luggage
rack of a Birdy is fine for use with regular panniers (I used to use
my Ortlieb roll-tops with it.)

Richard Bates said:

Brompton seems the obvious choice but I'm also curious with the Dahon
Speed TR 2004, as featured in the CTC shop.

It's 21speed but no ratios (or gear-inches) are listed.

What I think I'm looking for is a good touring bike which will
circumvent the difficulties of taking bikes on trains. Rapid folding
is not a priority, but I do want it fold rather than dismantle.
Luggage carrying capability and handling on-road is more important.

It is intended to be used for around one week at a time, carrying
hostelling/B&B type luggage.

Can anybody help me choose - feel free to recommend any other suitable
candidates youy can think of too....

Thanks, Rich x

I went for the TR; my search criteria being almost exactly the same as
yours (although I'm more interested in long day rides than touring).

It's not as compact when folded as some (Brommie) and takes the form of
a small suitcase. A bit more awkward, though, as there are a few sticky
out bits. Folding is fine but you need to play with an allen key and get
the bars postitioned *just right*. Takes practice and a marker pen!

It rides very well. I did 50 miles of mixed terrain (roads & sustrans
tracks) and it was comfortable throughout.

Basically, you forget it's a folder. There is a *bit* of flex in the
stem but not much.

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

Quoted message said:

Brompton seems the obvious choice but I'm also curious with the Dahon
Speed TR 2004, as featured in the CTC shop.

It's 21speed but no ratios (or gear-inches) are listed.

What I think I'm looking for is a good touring bike which will
circumvent the difficulties of taking bikes on trains. Rapid folding
is not a priority, but I do want it fold rather than dismantle.
Luggage carrying capability and handling on-road is more important.

It is intended to be used for around one week at a time, carrying
hostelling/B&B type luggage.

Can anybody help me choose - feel free to recommend any other suitable
candidates youy can think of too....

Thanks, Rich x

Lots of reviews on http://www.foldsoc.co.uk/ , not that I've got a folder
just a bit of day-dreaming and window shopping.

Julia

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Brompton seems the obvious choice but I'm also curious with the Dahon
Speed TR 2004, as featured in the CTC shop.

It's 21speed but no ratios (or gear-inches) are listed.

What I think I'm looking for is a good touring bike which will
circumvent the difficulties of taking bikes on trains. Rapid folding
is not a priority, but I do want it fold rather than dismantle.
Luggage carrying capability and handling on-road is more important.

I don't think a Brompton's what you want at all. I'm not fond of the
handling at all, myself, and the amount of fore-aft flex is wearying on
moderate rides, which makes my shoulders ache.

If you want a test ride, I can sort you out with that. I'm not around in the
week for the next few weeks, though.

A

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 20:06:10 +0000 someone who may be Richard Bates
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

What I think I'm looking for is a good touring bike which will
circumvent the difficulties of taking bikes on trains.

Then the Birdy and Bike Friday are a good place to start looking.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

Richard Bates said:

Brompton seems the obvious choice but I'm also curious with the Dahon
Speed TR 2004, as featured in the CTC shop.

It's 21speed but no ratios (or gear-inches) are listed.

What I think I'm looking for is a good touring bike which will
circumvent the difficulties of taking bikes on trains. Rapid folding
is not a priority

In that case the Brom is /not/ the obvious choice. The Brom does fast
and compact fold better than anything, and it rides okay, but it doesn't
ride as well as others.

The Dahon looks good for what you want. Personally if I was getting a
Do Lots Of Things bike I'd probably go for a Birdy Blue (or Grey, if I
was richer). The full suspension is very good and lets the small wheels
get away with lots more. There's a choice of handlebar stems for either
an upright or "sporting" riding position, with the latter if you shut
your eyes you'd be hard pressed to tell you weren't on a "proper" bike.
R&M do a good range of accessories, including front and rear touring
racks.

The Dahon isn't quite so neat a package, but by all accounts it works
well and does cost less.

People do tour on Broms, but part of the fun is using something which
isn't supposed to do that sort of thing (I've been MTBing on mine...
silly me!), and there are better machines for the job.

Just appearing is a new folder called the Mezzo which people are making
excited noises about, and I await a full review with interest. Designed
by Jon White, who did the innovative PRST1 mountain bike, looks good...
http://www.chwhite.btinternet.co.uk/html/mezzo_d_9.html

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/

The Airnimal Rhino looks very capable and it is a British company - disks, full suspension - it has got it all. Wish I had one.

Peter Clinch said:

Just appearing is a new folder called the Mezzo which people are making
excited noises about, and I await a full review with interest. Designed
by Jon White, who did the innovative PRST1 mountain bike, looks good...
http://www.chwhite.btinternet.co.uk/html/mezzo_d_9.html

I've been keeping an eye on this one too, it has a similar theme in its
design to his full suspension mtb and an intruiging front fold. I'm
wondering what the reach will be like for tall people, since I'm
increasingly in the market for a folding bike that won't mind enthusiastic
riding and be able to cope with bad roads. The close-up shots of the Mezzo
suggest that it doesn't have any suspension on the rear swingarm; will the
seatpost provide any form of spring?

A further, albeit still frustratingly difficult to source, alternative
folder is the GoBike. I'm doing my best to get one without the total price
soaring right into Birdy territory.

Becky

Richard Bates said:

Brompton seems the obvious choice but I'm also curious with the Dahon
Speed TR 2004, as featured in the CTC shop.

I'm very happy with a Dahon Impulse21 which I bought in November for a
very similar application - modular commuting and touring with trains. It
is similar to the Speed TR but has a more upright posture. If you prefer
the sportier posture, the Speed TR is great too.

Check out my review of the Impulse 21 on google:

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/uk.rec.cycling/browse_frm/thread/5a5580e488d4ee40/2e7c1401f1bc77c9?q=roselli+impulse+bicycle&_done=%2Fgroups%3Fq%3Droselli+impulse+bicycle%26&_doneTitle=Back+to+Search&&d#2e7c1401f1bc77c9

EFR
Ile de France

Tony W said:

Sounds like you need to do some test riding.

Dahon Speed TR test ride arranged for Saturday...

...oh I quite like the trailers too