Thanks to all who warned me off the iffy folding bike.
I looked online at better and better ones, til the price got into 4 figures
and I decided I didn't want one. Then I saw the 2006 Dahon Speed D7 for £250
at a local (ish) bike shop (~280 in Hlfds?) and did an impulse buy. Added
stubby bar ends, spds,cheap wireless 'puter & rear panniers (it comes with
rack & mudguards.) On the 16 mile ride home I decided when I got back to
change the pedals to mixed clipless/platform ones so family members could
use it with ordinary shoes.The route home covered the longest climb in my
not-too hilly area, and a short but steep one which I usually avoid. Got up
both in the seated position. The low gear's not as low as my hybrid, the
high's about the same as the hybrid but not as high as my Cannondale Tourer
(which is daftly high), but the 7 speed covers most stuff. It's a bit like
having a 21-speed stuck in the middle chain ring, but a bit better than
that. I only had to stand up once on my holiday in Scarborough, that was on
the moors somewhere. The longest ride I have done was the second one, at 57
miles. My average speed was a bit slower than usual, but I was in the
Yorkshire wolds, so I reckon it would have been about the same on my other
bike. It was comfortable, and convenient to bung it in the car without
putting the seats down - I could take wife & sons on an outing in the car,
then abandon the car 30 miles from home and wife drives back. I can't do
that without using a rack for my normal bike. It solves the problem of where
to keep the bike in the holiday accommodation - just leave it in the back of
the car. The original plan was to leave the bike at my sister's flat in
Scarborough so I wouldn't have to bother transporting it to & fro, but I
found it so convenient, I've brought it home. Let her get her own bike.
Thanks again for all the advice.
--
Martin Bulmer