good quality 26" folding bike?

Ric said:

I'm interested in getting a decent quality 26" folder.

That might be a challenge. The closest is likely to be the Airnimal.

--
Guy
===
WARNING: may contain traces of irony. Contents may settle after posting.
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"Ric" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm interested in getting a decent quality 26" folder. It MUST clamp together in one piece when
folded (like a Brompton) - I had previously a bike which semi-folded (into a wobbly package) but
mostly dismantled and

it

Quoted message said:

was so inconvenient I ended up not using it much. Anybody know of such a machine?

To do what? Look at Dahon -- they have some 26".

dahon.comchoosing intl.htmOpen ↗

Whether they are made of cheese & jelly or not would be for you to check.

T

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ric said:

I'm interested in getting a decent quality 26" folder.

That might be a challenge. The closest is likely to be the Airnimal.

That's a splittable bike I think? I definitely won't buy another that doesn't fold into a tidy
package. I have seen one by a French company in Nice called Blanc Marine, which folds to my
requirements but unfortunately is not really very good quality

Ric said:

I'm interested in getting a decent quality 26" folder. It MUST clamp together in one piece when
folded (like a Brompton) - I had previously a bike which semi-folded (into a wobbly package) but
mostly dismantled and it was so inconvenient I ended up not using it much. Anybody know of such a
machine?

Have a look at Dahon & Montague

Tony

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

I'm interested in getting a decent quality 26" folder. It MUST clamp together in one piece when
folded (like a Brompton) - I had previously a bike which semi-folded (into a wobbly package) but
mostly dismantled and

it

Quoted message said:

was so inconvenient I ended up not using it much. Anybody know of such a machine?

To do what? Look at Dahon -- they have some 26".

dahon.comchoosing intl.htmOpen ↗

Whether they are made of cheese & jelly or not would be for you to check.

T

FWIW, my local H*lf*rds (Norwich) stocks Dahon 26" folders, so maybe the OP should check his local
branch just to have a look at the things. Not sure if they're widely distributed around LBSs.

NB: the big H*lf*rds may stock Dahon folders, but could I buy a 26x1.5 inner tube with a Schraeder
valve? "We don't do them, sir". Hardly the weirdest thing to want to buy, surely? Will visit a
proper LBS in town tomorrow...

Tony W said:

To do what? Look at Dahon -- they have some 26".

dahon.comchoosing intl.htmOpen ↗

Whether they are made of cheese & jelly or not would be for you to check.

Dahon make pretty solid machinery from what I've seen. What it doesn't do is fold in a super-compact
manner like a Brom, but OTOH if it folds enough to fit wherever the OP needs to fit it, that should
be good enough. I'd ask the "to do what?" question too. Sometimes smaller wheels aren't nearly the
obstacle some people assume they must be (look at what people do on BMXs, for example).

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

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

Quoted message said:

Dahon make pretty solid machinery from what I've seen. What it doesn't do is fold in a
super-compact manner like a Brom, but OTOH if it folds enough to fit wherever the OP needs to fit
it, that should be good enough. I'd ask the "to do what?" question too.

I asked the 'to do what?' question. It seems fundamental.

However, the OP was firm he wanted 26" wheels -- that limits his choice severely and rules out
compact folders such as a Brommie.

It sounds as if he wants a 'transportable' bike rather than a folding bike -- i.e. something that
will fit in the car and be pulled out for some fun.

Somewhat different from a true (compact) 'folder'

T

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

Quoted message said:

Tony W said:

To do what? Look at Dahon -- they have some 26".

I am thinking of taking a years sailing sabbatical next year and would not like the Brommie as my
only bike on my boat. I want another bike on my boat for doing long pleasure rides, fitness rides,
and going further afield, and also for riding offroad. I want something that stays in one easily
manhandled lump when folded to facilitate getting it on and off boat, into dinghy etc. I've tried
carrying a dismantled bike on my boat but it gets to be a real hassle loading all the bits into
dinghy, getting ashore etc.

Ric said:

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

Quoted message said:

Tony W said:

To do what? Look at Dahon -- they have some 26".

I am thinking of taking a years sailing sabbatical next year and would not like the Brommie as my
only bike on my boat. I want another bike on my boat for doing long pleasure rides, fitness rides,
and going further afield, and also for riding offroad. I want something that stays in one easily
manhandled lump when folded to facilitate getting it on and off boat, into dinghy etc. I've tried
carrying a dismantled bike on my boat but it gets to be a real hassle loading all the bits into
dinghy, getting ashore etc.

Dahon Matrix. I've been considering boat bikes and this is currently top of my list. It will be a
sort of 'start of season' pressie to me from me. For Solent weekends it'll live in its bag on the
foredeck and for longer trips it'll get buried in one of the lockers.

Ah, you've made think boaty thoughts. I'll be day dreaming all evening now.

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

Quoted message said:

I am thinking of taking a years sailing sabbatical next year and would not like the Brommie as my
only bike on my boat. I want another bike on my

boat

Quoted message said:

for doing long pleasure rides, fitness rides, and going further afield,

and

Quoted message said:

also for riding offroad. I want something that stays in one easily manhandled lump when folded to
facilitate getting it on and off boat, into dinghy etc. I've tried carrying a dismantled bike on
my boat but it gets

to

Quoted message said:

be a real hassle loading all the bits into dinghy, getting ashore etc.

If you want a 'road' bike then I suspect there are several options:-

Moulton (separable) Aminal (sp?) (separable) Dahon A normal bike with those very expensive
connectors (see sjscycles) Birdy Bike Friday etc.

If you want an MTB then the choice is more limited

Dahon Matrix errrr.

T

Ric said:

I am thinking of taking a years sailing sabbatical next year and would not like the Brommie as my
only bike on my boat. I want another bike on my boat for doing long pleasure rides, fitness rides,
and going further afield, and also for riding offroad. I want something that stays in one easily
manhandled lump when folded to facilitate getting it on and off boat, into dinghy etc. I've tried
carrying a dismantled bike on my boat but it gets to be a real hassle loading all the bits into
dinghy, getting ashore etc.

Ever though of putting all the bits in a single bag or suitcase? The Airnimal, IIRC, comes with a
suitcase as standard designed to take it, and a separable will generally have higher performance
than a folder, all else being equal. To carry dismantled bike on tender, put case in tender, row
ashore, take case out of tender... But if you really want a fair performance folder that's all in
one to do everything I'd sooner take a Birdy Blue than a fold-in-two 26". 26" wheels might soak up
Serious Offroad better but OTOH the Birdy's suspension will make up a lot of the difference and
you've got 21 gears to make light of the hills. If you're going down the separable route then
something like a Moulton APB would be my choice: if you're not doing mad descent trails or boulder
fields it should cope with typical offroad fine.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Peter Clinch said:

Ric said:

I am thinking of taking a years sailing sabbatical next year and would not like the Brommie as my
only bike on my boat. I want another bike on my boat for doing long pleasure rides, fitness
rides, and going further afield, and also for riding offroad. I want something that stays in one
easily manhandled lump when folded to facilitate getting it on and off boat, into dinghy etc.
I've tried carrying a dismantled bike on my boat but it gets to be a real hassle loading all the
bits into dinghy, getting ashore etc.

Ever though of putting all the bits in a single bag or suitcase? The Airnimal, IIRC, comes with a
suitcase as standard designed to take it, and a separable will generally have higher performance
than a folder, all else being equal. To carry dismantled bike on tender, put case in tender, row
ashore, take case out of tender... But if you really want a fair performance folder that's all in
one to do everything I'd sooner take a Birdy Blue than a fold-in-two 26". 26" wheels might soak up
Serious Offroad better but OTOH the Birdy's suspension will make up a lot of the difference and
you've got 21 gears to make light of the hills. If you're going down the separable route then
something like a Moulton APB would be my choice: if you're not doing mad descent trails or boulder
fields it should cope with typical offroad fine.

Speaking of folding bikes, whatever happened to Bickerton? I bought one in the eighties and still
have it (although the bag it came with for carrying was nicked some time ago).

--
Paul Lydon Winster, Derbyshire, UK --> Remove the 'DELETE' in email address to reply <--

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

Quoted message said:

Speaking of folding bikes, whatever happened to Bickerton? I bought one in the eighties and still
have it (although the bag it came with for carrying was nicked some time ago).

Often seen on e-bay. A bit of a technological/marketing cul-de-sac. Superseded by Bromptons
and Dahon.

T

Tony W said:

Often seen on e-bay. A bit of a technological/marketing cul-de-sac. Superseded by Bromptons
and Dahon.

They ended up selling rebadged Dahons - the original Chocolate Biccie wasn't really up to the task
of transporting Heavy Things like my old man.

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
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