Folding bike at Tchibo

[Alan J. Wylie]

Next week's special offer at Tchibo:

<http://www.tchibo.co.uk/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/uk/-/GBP/TdUkDisplayProductInformation-Start;?ProductSKU=0005867>

Aluminium Folding Bike £179.00

This Folding bike has a robust aluminium frame and weighs around 17 kg
incl. the bag. It is suitable for people up to 190 cm tall and folds
up extremely small.

* Suitable for road use
* Frame: 3-year guarantee
* Height-adjustable gel saddle with quick-release lever and suspension saddle post
* Folding plastic pedals
* 2.4-watt halogen front light with integrated reflector
* Diode rear light with parking light function and Z-reflector
* Aluminium front V-brake
* 3-speed SRAM Spectro T3 hub gears with back-break pedals
* Aluminium rims with Nirosta spokes
* Wheel size: 20", 36 spokes
* Incl. a tough nylon storage and transportation bag, mini bell and pump

Measurements (b x h x d): approx. 85 x 40 x 65 cm
Colour: silver-coloured

--
Alan J. Wylie http://www.wylie.me.uk/
"Perfection [in design] is achieved not when there is nothing left to add,
but rather when there is nothing left to take away."
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

 

[John Rowland]

"Alan J. Wylie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Next week's special offer at Tchibo:
>
> <http://www.tchibo.co.uk/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/uk/-/GBP/TdUkDisplayProductInformation-Start;?ProductSKU=0005867>
>
> Aluminium Folding Bike £179.00
>
> This Folding bike has a robust aluminium frame and weighs around 17 kg
> incl. the bag. It is suitable for people up to 190 cm tall and folds
> up extremely small.
>
> * Suitable for road use
> * Frame: 3-year guarantee
> * Height-adjustable gel saddle with quick-release lever and suspension
> saddle post
> * Folding plastic pedals
> * 2.4-watt halogen front light with integrated reflector
> * Diode rear light with parking light function and Z-reflector
> * Aluminium front V-brake
> * 3-speed SRAM Spectro T3 hub gears with back-break pedals
> * Aluminium rims with Nirosta spokes
> * Wheel size: 20", 36 spokes
> * Incl. a tough nylon storage and transportation bag, mini bell and
> pump
>
> Measurements (b x h x d): approx. 85 x 40 x 65 cm

A beginner asks... is there any reason to buy a Brompton when this is less
than half as expensive?

 

[Tony W]

"John Rowland" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> A beginner asks... is there any reason to buy a Brompton when this is less
> than half as expensive?

Depends on what you want.

The Brompton is lighter, folds down significantly smaller and is generally
considered the best for round town commuting type use.

It is less good as a touring or off road folder -- there are excellent
examples of these -- normally at significantly higher prices from the likes
of Birdy, Bike Friday, Dahon and Arnimal (sp?).

For chucking in the boot for a two mile pootly along a suitable bit of quiet
road or track the Tchibo is probably fine. It is probably fine for short
commuting. There are other offers at or around the same price and quality
point.

YMMV

 

[Simon Brooke]

in message <[email protected]>, John Rowland
('[email protected]') wrote:

>
> "Alan J. Wylie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> Next week's special offer at Tchibo:
>>
>>
<http://www.tchibo.co.uk/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/uk/-/GBP/TdUkDisplayProductInformation-Start;?ProductSKU=0005867>
>>
>> Aluminium Folding Bike £179.00
>>
>> This Folding bike has a robust aluminium frame and weighs around 17 kg
>> incl. the bag. It is suitable for people up to 190 cm tall and folds
>> up extremely small.
>>
>> Measurements (b x h x d): approx. 85 x 40 x 65 cm
>
> A beginner asks... is there any reason to buy a Brompton when this is
> less than half as expensive?

It's very well equipped for the price, but it's extremely heavy and with
limited gears you certainly would not want to ride this in a hilly
place. At that weight you would not want to carry it far, either. If you
want a folding bike for commuting by train, this isn't it - it doesn't
fold small enough. But, having said all those things, it's a very well
equipped and practical bike for short range urban utility cycling in
relatively flat terrain. Depending on the quality of the components,
it's probably very good value for money. The chain case makes it
suitable for riding with ordinary office clothes, and the dynamo lights
should always work when you need them.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

((DoctorWho)ChristopherEccleston).act();
uk.co.bbc.TypecastException: actor does not want to be typecast.
[adapted from autofile on /., 31/03/05]

 

[Helen Deborah Vecht]

"John Rowland" <[email protected]>typed

> A beginner asks... is there any reason to buy a Brompton when this is less
> than half as expensive?

The Brompton folds fast and is not too hard to put on a bus/car/taxi/train.

The Tchibobomb weighs a ton and you'd need Schwartzenegger's muscles to
be able to cart it about.

It won't fold as fast either.

Bromptons hold their value well on the second-hand market; others don't.

Few Bromptoneers regret their purchase. Having given my original
Brompton away as I could no longer ride it, I *still* found myself
buying one for my boyfriend last year. Boyfriend loves it.

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email protected]
Edgware.

 

[PUSHERBOT]

On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 14:43:41 +0100, "John Rowland"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"Alan J. Wylie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>
>> Next week's special offer at Tchibo:
>>
>> <http://www.tchibo.co.uk/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/uk/-/GBP/TdUkDisplayProductInformation-Start;?ProductSKU=0005867>
>>
>> Aluminium Folding Bike £179.00
>>
>> This Folding bike has a robust aluminium frame and weighs around 17 kg
>> incl. the bag.

That's near 40lbs in old money. Blimey!

 

[Tony Raven]

John Rowland wrote:
> "Alan J. Wylie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Next week's special offer at Tchibo:
>>
>> <http://www.tchibo.co.uk/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/uk/-/GBP/TdUkDisplayProductInformation-Start;?ProductSKU=0005867>
>>
>>
>> Aluminium Folding Bike £179.00
>>
>> This Folding bike has a robust aluminium frame and weighs around 17
>> kg incl. the bag. It is suitable for people up to 190 cm tall and
>> folds up extremely small.
>>
>> * Suitable for road use * Frame: 3-year guarantee *
>> Height-adjustable gel saddle with quick-release lever and
>> suspension saddle post * Folding plastic pedals * 2.4-watt halogen
>> front light with integrated reflector * Diode rear light with
>> parking light function and Z-reflector * Aluminium front V-brake *
>> 3-speed SRAM Spectro T3 hub gears with back-break pedals *
>> Aluminium rims with Nirosta spokes * Wheel size: 20", 36 spokes *
>> Incl. a tough nylon storage and transportation bag, mini bell and
>> pump
>>
>> Measurements (b x h x d): approx. 85 x 40 x 65 cm
>
> A beginner asks... is there any reason to buy a Brompton when this is
> less than half as expensive?
>
>

For just a shade more you can get the well respected Dahon Boardwalk
under a Raleigh label at nearly half the weight
http://www.cycle-promotions.co.uk/folding.htm



--
Tony

"The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the
right."
- Lord Hailsham

 

[Ambrose Nankivell]

John Rowland wrote:
> A beginner asks... is there any reason to buy a Brompton when this is
> less than half as expensive?

There's Carreras at Halfords which are probably as good, from the looks of
them the other day. I was suprised.

--
Ambrose

 

[Ambrose Nankivell]

Simon Brooke wrote:
> in message <[email protected]>, Ambrose Nankivell
> ('[email protected]') wrote:
>
>> John Rowland wrote:
>>> A beginner asks... is there any reason to buy a Brompton when this
>>> is less than half as expensive?
>>
>> There's Carreras at Halfords which are probably as good, from the
>> looks of them the other day. I was suprised.
>
> As good as the Tchibo special, or as good as a Brom?
>
> I mean, I'm surprised that no one has yet come up with a cheap Brom
> clone that's as good, but Halfords?

The former.

Nothing like the same fold.

I don't know what the Brompton patents are, but they must cover it.

--
Ambrose

 

[Tony Raven]

Ambrose Nankivell wrote:

> I don't know what the Brompton patents are, but they must cover it.
>

Brompton patents have all expired. It has however been recognised as a
design classic and its main protection now comes from copyright and
design rights. There is an offence of "passing off" which is trying to
make people think your product is someone else's.
http://bikebiz.co.uk/daily-news/article.php?id=4694
http://bikebiz.co.uk/daily-news/article.php?id=4692

--
Tony

"The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the
right."
- Lord Hailsham

 

[Tom]

Tony Raven <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Brompton patents have all expired. It has however been recognised as
> a design classic and its main protection now comes from copyright and
> design rights. There is an offence of "passing off" which is trying
> to make people think your product is someone else's.

Someone should tell www.mercbike.co.uk this then.

Tom
--
Return address is dead. Real address is at
http://toomanybikes.com/address.jpg

 

[Tony Raven]

Tom wrote:
> Tony Raven <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Brompton patents have all expired. It has however been recognised as
>> a design classic and its main protection now comes from copyright and
>> design rights. There is an offence of "passing off" which is trying
>> to make people think your product is someone else's.
>
> Someone should tell www.mercbike.co.uk this then.
>

I think they might have. I had heard they were being allowed to sell of
their stock but not import any more but ICBW.

--
Tony

"The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the
right."
- Lord Hailsham

 

[Simon Brooke]

in message <[email protected]>, Tony Raven
('[email protected]') wrote:

> Ambrose Nankivell wrote:
>
>> I don't know what the Brompton patents are, but they must cover it.
>>
>
> Brompton patents have all expired. It has however been recognised as a
> design classic and its main protection now comes from copyright and
> design rights.

Yup, but the Brompton method of folding a bike frame is far from the only
method of folding a bike frame that small. You wouldn't need to make an
exact copy. The (admittedly more expensive) Birdy and the (now possibly
defunct? If so, a shame) Go Bike folded to within a few percent the
same, and folds are radically different while achieving the same or very
similar results.

You'd have thought someone would have seen a business opportunity in
getting the engineering of a frame really sorted and then getting the
bikes assembled in the far east.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

((DoctorWho)ChristopherEccleston).act();
uk.co.bbc.TypecastException: actor does not want to be typecast.
[adapted from autofile on /., 31/03/05]