http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Touring on a cheap folding bike? en Wed, 13 May 2026 02:56:47 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=3#post-32907 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 23:08:57 +0000 crowriver 32907@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@kaputnik More like bottles of wine, milk.. :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=3#post-32902 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 22:26:51 +0000 kaputnik 32902@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Think crowriver is going to start buying a lot of 6-packs of fruit juice just to see how much can be carried on the Swift </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-32900 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 22:14:02 +0000 crowriver 32900@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Another shopping trip with the 'enhanced' Raleigh Swift. 24kg this time! 10kg on the front carrier/handlebars, the rest on the rear carrier in panniers/on top.</p> <p>Ooh, I'd be sorely tempted to do a spot of cycle camping soon if the weather wasn't so crap. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-32748 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 21:15:23 +0000 crowriver 32748@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A quick update for anyone who may be even vaguely interested. Went shopping with the wee folding bike this evening, loaded it up with a medium sized load (weighed when I got back, 22kg in total). I made sure that the weight was reasonably distributed (around 10kg on the front carrier/handlebars). </p> <p>The wee Raleigh performed admirably well. The ride was a little bit more sluggish, as you might expect. However steering and manoeuvrability were not compromised, being quite crisp and responsive. No real problem getting up to reasonable speed either. Nary a creak from the frame. I suppose this is the same design as Raleigh's current Shopper folding bike, so a balanced load seems to be the way.</p> <p>Bodes quite well for the potential of loaded touring, methinks. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-32564 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:09:21 +0000 crowriver 32564@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16542007@N00/5785777153/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2148/5785777153_03f8d8d961.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16542007@N00/5785777153/">Dundee to St. Andrews</a>.</p> <p>This doesn't really count as touring. Maybe 'light touring' at a stretch. Actually it counts as extended commuting. Yesterday my working day finished a little earlier than usual, and it was a lovely afternoon so I decided to cycle to the next station to get the train. Destination Leuchars! Here's the wee folding bike in the middle of Tentsmuir forest on NCN1. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-32212 Thu, 26 May 2011 22:58:27 +0000 crowriver 32212@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16542007@N00/5763167822/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2378/5763167822_49471a21f1.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16542007@N00/5763167822/">Dunsapie loch</a></p> <p>Test ride (unladen) at sunset. She's quite a good wee climber! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30690 Fri, 06 May 2011 10:58:29 +0000 cb 30690@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Only time I ever saw a Twosday was locked outside a hotel in Lerwick when we were going in for food.<br /> The owner(s) was quickly identified on the next table, boring his other half to tears with endless folding bike stories.</p> <p>Er, hope it was no one here. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30636 Thu, 05 May 2011 16:41:16 +0000 wee folding bike 30636@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A friend from the US and his wife did JogLe on a Twosday about 13 years ago. Their trailer broke a wheel near Thornhill which seemed fitting.</p> <p>They asked me for route ideas and I suggested Arran which they enjoyed. They weren't in a hurry. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30635 Thu, 05 May 2011 16:30:20 +0000 cb 30635@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Lots of LEJOGs listed here:</p> <p><a href="http://www.pewseys.co.uk/lejog_trip_links.htm">http://www.pewseys.co.uk/lejog_trip_links.htm</a></p> <p>Including a <a href="http://www.users.waitrose.com/~ianclare/brompton%20trip%20log.htm">Brompton trip</a> trip, which I remember reading before. On his first big day he did 97 miles instead of 73 as planned - he had used some crummy map measurer to measure the distances. That would be a bit of a blow to discover that particular flaw in your planning!</p> <p><em>Other sorts of folding (and collapsible) bicycles are available</em></p> <p>A <a href="http://www.england-in-particular.info/cycle/cy-mac.html">Birdy</a> one (not quite end to end actually) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30633 Thu, 05 May 2011 15:43:25 +0000 kaputnik 30633@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>On Bromptons too!!</em></p> <p>Other sorts of folding (and collapsible) bicycles are available </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30632 Thu, 05 May 2011 15:32:24 +0000 chdot 30632@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>On Bromptons too!!</p> <p><a href="http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/lejog#post-2533668" rel="nofollow">http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/lejog#post-2533668</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30630 Thu, 05 May 2011 15:23:50 +0000 druidh 30630@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/lejog" rel="nofollow">http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/lejog</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30551 Wed, 04 May 2011 22:46:59 +0000 crowriver 30551@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@kaputnik The bike buddy looks like it won't fit this oversized downtube. I have some stainless steel jubilee clips on order, will try them next...</p> <p>@wingpig Maybe strips of inner tube would do the trick? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30549 Wed, 04 May 2011 22:33:34 +0000 wingpig 30549@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hmm. Maybe splint the bottle-cage tie-things so that the bits which should be along the larger-radius sides of the downtube stay there... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30548 Wed, 04 May 2011 22:33:29 +0000 kaputnik 30548@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crowriver perhaps a <a href="http://www.bikebuddy.co.uk/index.asp">bike buddy</a> might work for your bottle cage? The Mk. 1 is for where you don't have cage bosses. I've got the Mk.2 for carrying an oversize flask under the downtube of my touring bike. Well made, flexible and not too expensive. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30547 Wed, 04 May 2011 22:28:29 +0000 crowriver 30547@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16542007@N00/5688458236/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5303/5688458236_f34647a32e_m.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16542007@N00/5688458236/">Swift at stage 2 of modification</a> </p> <p>Replaced the stock tyres with a pair of Schwalbe Marathons. Ride is faster and surer as a result of higher tyre pressure and bettter tread pattern. Trying out a pair of double panniers hooked and strapped on the rear carrier, they just stay on the bike. The shoogley bottle cage has been strengthened with cable ties: will now hold a full bottle of water, but prone to budge sideways if knocked by a foot or object... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30404 Mon, 02 May 2011 18:35:08 +0000 crowriver 30404@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Some snaps of the Raleigh Swift project in progress below.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16542007@N00/5680813842/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5680813842_9342c3dc18_m.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16542007@N00/5680813842/">Swift in stock configuration</a>. Various improvised bags for commuting strapped to the rack or hanging from the bars. </p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16542007@N00/5680252499/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5680252499_d5c231dfeb_m.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16542007@N00/5680252499/">Swift at stage 1 of modification</a>. Rear rack swapped for a standard sized alloy rack. Full size panniers hooked on. Front rack is a Dahon traveller. A cheap handlebar bag, a seat wedge bag and somewhat shoogley bottle cage also added. Oh, replaced the basic stock bell with a nice push bell. Ching ching!</p> <p>I've also added Schwalbe Marathon tyres, but no pics of that yet. Next time I'm out with the trailer I'll take a pic of the articulated rig... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30400 Mon, 02 May 2011 16:15:34 +0000 tammytroot 30400@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Mmm, chain does seem a little slack now you mention it. Bike is new so maybe I can tweak the tension. ( bike is a proteam folder). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30399 Mon, 02 May 2011 16:11:25 +0000 tammytroot 30399@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks for the advice. Yes it is throwing off away from the wheel when changing to a higher gear/ smaller sprocket and the LBS said it was a chainline problem. Afraid my diy on bikes only extends to fixing p'''tures and tuning brakes/gears but I will google fitting spacers etc. I thought maybe a better chainguard would bounce chain back on but obviously not. Thanks again. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30398 Mon, 02 May 2011 16:04:44 +0000 crowriver 30398@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@tammytroot What make/model is it? </p> <p>My chain did bounce off one time while shifting gears under load. Simple enough to pop it back on the chainring. If it's a recurring issue for you, maybe the chain is too slack? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30397 Mon, 02 May 2011 15:45:53 +0000 wingpig 30397@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Could be a <a href="http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainline.html">chainline</a> issue.</p> <p>If it's towards the chainguard/away from the frame/towards the right-hand pedal, presumably it's only happening when you're in a smaller-rear-sprocket gear? Depending on where there's any space/leeway you could use appropriate spacers to either nudge the cassette cluster outwards a little or do the same to the chainring, or vice versa, so that the chainring is roughly in-line with the middlemost sprocket so that it's less laterally-bothered by being in top or bottom gear; if the chain is being pulled too far away from the ideal line of the chainring when in a higher gear it could be enough to persuade it to slip off under load. A smaller clearance between chainguard and chainring might just make it clank and scrape without stopping it from unshipping. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30396 Mon, 02 May 2011 15:35:59 +0000 tammytroot 30396@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Took the wee folder for a bit of a pootle. Thirteen miles (approximate) took 2 hours. Changed the saddle for a better one. One obvious issue was the gear changes which every now and again threw the chain off the crank. Have adjusted the derailleur but still keeps happening. Part of the problem seems to be too much clearance between the plastic/ polythene chainguard and the crank. Went into LBS to see if I could get a better guard, but they said nothing could be done?? Seemed strange but I have no experience of this kind of bike. Anyone know how to stop this? It only happens under "load" never when changing gears on stand. Overall I quite like the bike but I can see putting the chain back on every. Few miles will get annoying very quickly.<br /> Any suggestions? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30375 Sun, 01 May 2011 19:37:04 +0000 crowriver 30375@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@cb <em>I had to mount it slightly offset, so it looked a bit odd, but folding bikes look a bid odd anyway.</em></p> <p>This may give me a way out of this conundrum. I did consider mounting on the handlebar stem, but got set on putting it on the frame, like you're 'supposed' to. I'll persevere a bit longer, stainless steel jubilee clips next. Hopefully that will work. The stem could be the perfect place for a <em>second</em> bottle cage... :)) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30371 Sun, 01 May 2011 19:25:54 +0000 cb 30371@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Does this not interfere with the fold?"</p> <p>I had to mount it slightly offset, so it looked a bit odd, but folding bikes look a bid odd anyway. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30366 Sun, 01 May 2011 19:04:44 +0000 crowriver 30366@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@cb <em>I've got a set of those bottle cage clips. I've used them on the stem of my Birdy. </em></p> <p>Interesting. Does this not interfere with the fold? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30357 Sun, 01 May 2011 15:44:52 +0000 cb 30357@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've got a set of those bottle cage clips. I've used them on the stem of my Birdy. It was a bit fiddly to set up but worked well once it was up and running. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30348 Sun, 01 May 2011 12:00:11 +0000 wee folding bike 30348@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>When I was at the wind farm on Royal Avoidance Day a guy asked if I had any zip ties with me. His chain ring had come loose from the spider and he was trying to tie it on with strong. I'm not sure how he managed it as the bolts seemed to be in place and I didn't see it moving. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30345 Sun, 01 May 2011 11:28:27 +0000 chdot 30345@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Don't know how easy it would be to tighten them properly on a tube with the cross section of a flattened ellipse."</p> <p>Tighten to approx diameter (off bike) and squeeze - or stand on!</p> <p>With a decent screwdriver should tighten nicely. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/2425679493/"><br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3205/2425679493_0bb438c15f.jpg"><br /> </a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30344 Sun, 01 May 2011 11:17:29 +0000 crowriver 30344@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@chdot <em>I think proper metal jubilee/hose clips with a bit of inner tube would be even better.</em></p> <p>I've considered this, but rather like the 'Elite' clamps, jubilee clips are designed for a circular cross section tube. and tend to be quite thick at the larger sizes. Don't know how easy it would be to tighten them properly on a tube with the cross section of a flattened ellipse. Cable ties are a bit more flexible... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2826&page=2#post-30337 Sun, 01 May 2011 09:47:53 +0000 gembo 30337@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>thanks crowriver and chdot - I nearly forked out for that/ I have many old inner tubes, jubilee clips and cable ties I will set to work. I have a crudcatcher on bake of the shiny red but cheap halfords bike that has many shims but still wobbly so will add more innertubes to that too from the one I cut up</p> <p>Spent many unhappy times in Dundee station waiting on trains - very windy. </p>