http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Folding bikes are handy things en Wed, 13 May 2026 03:38:24 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-61604 Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:39:10 +0000 Darkerside 61604@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Glasgow sadly, but thanks for the offer. As it happens they have a folding Twenty; 'It's a green one with a picture of David Soul on it'. Sounds, uh, ideal...</p> <p>Sadly they're only open mon/tue next week when I'm away, so I won't be able to get across until the week after. Fingers crossed! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-61208 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:09:50 +0000 crowriver 61208@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Darkerside, can't remember if you're in Glasgow or Edinburgh, but if the latter I have a fairly stock (non-folding) Twenty you can try out if you want. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-61202 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:00:20 +0000 Darkerside 61202@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good recommendation, their website suggests they have a few. Might wander along... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-61193 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:10:29 +0000 wee folding bike 61193@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Common Wheel in Glasgow sometimes have 20s in folding or cumbersome flavours. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-61077 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:06:51 +0000 crowriver 61077@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There's an <a href="http://raleightwenty.webs.com/">entire community</a> of Twenty enthusiasts and customisers/restorers.</p> <p>The most famous proponent of the marque was of course the late <a href="http://sheldonbrown.com/raleigh-twenty.html">Sheldon Brown</a>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-61010 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:51:49 +0000 Darkerside 61010@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'll admit that most of my interest is based around:<br /> <ul><li>It's really small, so it'll fit in the bike cupboard alongside the 'bent and tourer</li><li>It's really small, so therefore surely doesn't count as n+1. n+1/2 at most.</li></ul> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-61008 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:46:13 +0000 chdot 61008@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Some people like <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=customising+raleigh+twenty">playing with Raleigh Twenties</a>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-61005 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:38:10 +0000 Darkerside 61005@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As a sly mention, I'm vaguely keeping an eye out for a folding twenty, as it would be a neat hack bike to not be concerned about abandoning in town. Just in case anyone sees one lying in a skip... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-60971 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:43:36 +0000 crowriver 60971@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yep. Ikea folder, given away to Ikea employees Xmas 2006 I think. Solid bikes, if a bit heavy. The so-called <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=746&amp;page=36#post-31512">cyrillic folder</a> is one too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-60969 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:42:41 +0000 Smudge 60969@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Back mudguard on my folder sheared today (no doubt due to Edinburgh's delightful road surfaces), so onto the mtb for the commute tomorrow for the first time in over a year, this is going to be culture shock!! (2.1" off road knobblies and a sit up riding position :-o) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-60960 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:14:06 +0000 wee folding bike 60960@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Took it out for a spin after boys went to bed. It goes, stops and shifts gear. It's a bit short fore and aft but that will let my auntie be more upright which is probably a good thing. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-60950 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 22:19:45 +0000 wee folding bike 60950@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes. It seems to fold in the middle then the steerer tube folds over the top of the saddle. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-60943 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:48:16 +0000 crowriver 60943@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Does it look like this?</p> <p><img src="http://justwilliams.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/ikea-bike1.jpg?w=655"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-60940 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:37:08 +0000 wee folding bike 60940@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I haven't had a close look yet. I'll check it all works before passing it on to my auntie and try to remember to take a photo. </p> <p>It is blue so that would be IKEA's colour. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-60938 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:28:30 +0000 crowriver 60938@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hub gear would certainly be less hassle. This is one reason why I now use the silver 'bucking bronco' AluBike folder almost exclusively in preference to the Raleigh Swift. Hub gears: only 3 speed, but that's usually plenty for city riding. The other reason is hub dynamo lights...</p> <p>The folding Twenties are good bikes. Odd rim size though, not many tyre choices in 451. Presume yours is a more recent Raleigh, maybe a Swift (alloy) or Stash (steel) or maybe one of the Ikea Raleigh folders? </p> <p>My other half gets on fine with her Swift mind you. Not needed very much maintenance, and neither has mine though it's seen a lot more use. Single chainring plus derailleur does not seem to create big problems. A proper half chainguard would be useful mind. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-60934 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:18:10 +0000 wee folding bike 60934@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm about to pass a rescued Raleigh folder on to my auntie who wants to take up cycling after a 40 year gap. It will fit in her car so she can take it to the park and get her sea legs back. Someone at work was going to toss it out so I volunteered to look after it. It had been siting under the bench since before Christmas. Yesterday I took the trailer with me and brought the folder home on it. </p> <p>I had hoped it would be a Raleigh 20 as they make good Q bikes and have hub gears but it's a derailleur of some kind. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5686#post-60922 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:46:45 +0000 crowriver 60922@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was reminded of this the other day. Had travelled out to West Lothian by train, taking the folder with me. Almost took a full sized bike, but thought I'd better bring the folder just in case space was an issue.</p> <p>I was glad I did, as on arrival at the station coming back, learned that the next three trains were cancelled due to overhead line problems. What to do? Mid-evening, tired, not looking forward to cycling all the way back into Edinburgh, though just about doable I would be home in maybe two hours rather than 40 minutes. </p> <p>So I doubled back and flagged a (First) bus, took the bike on folded, no problem. Stowed in the wheelchair space. Bus into centre, cycled from George Street instead of Waverley. Result! </p>