Perhaps you should go in for upper thigh strength enthusiasm, Uberuce, and grow yourself a pair of "Foerstermanns"
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff
Which folding bike to buy?
(54 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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Ok,how does next fri morning sound to everyone then?
Posted 12 years ago # -
New PY thread -
Posted 12 years ago # -
I've followed fimm's advice and paid Biketrax a call.
I've never been there before.
Luckily it was on Friday, after a hot afternoon standing at a funeral in too-small shoes. I was unsuitably dressed and my feet hurt. I wasn't in the mood for hanging around.
This was lucky because my goodness BikeTrax is a gigantic warehouse of temptation. I focussed on the Bromptons (and fimm's right, they seemed to know their stuff), and made sure my mind didn't wander to the Genesis Day One Alfine, to the nice saddles and to all the other shiny stuff.
It's the kind of shop where I think I could spend a lot of money very fast...
Posted 12 years ago # -
It's strange, though I seldom do it, I only really feel properly dressed on a folder when I'm in town and wearing a collar and tie ;-)
Posted 12 years ago # -
Posted 12 years ago #
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The Croix de Fer's coming out in slate grey next year. Very tempted to build something up from that frame or the Equilibrium's.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@Chdot, not in that pic ;-)
@Uberuce, I'm trying hard to resist the temptation to re-frame my Giant OCR with a Surly Pacer frame (that I can't really justify/afford) :-s
Posted 12 years ago # -
That Pacer is a handsome devil too, I freely admit. On paper the Equilibrium looks a better deal, though - heat-treated all-singing Reynolds 725 steel with a carbon fork over the Surly's bogstandard 4130 for £50 more.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Should probably have mentioned this:
http://www.atob.org.uk/folding-bikes/
Prices and specs might be out of date. Brompton haven't supplied bikes with SRAM hubs for a few years.
Posted 12 years ago # -
hmm, tempting, though I think their smallest may be a bit big for me... and I have a carbon fork in my parts bin if I wanted one on a pacer.
Have to say, I do like the "trad" straight top-tube on the pacer. I looked on ebay for a decent older frameset but there are too many ok framesets way overpriced as "ideal for converting to fixed" (even when they're clearly not!) :-(Posted 12 years ago # -
@chdot, lol, this could take some time, given that I wasn't at the BWC!
Posted 12 years ago # -
@Smudge - you seem to be implying that there is a picture of you on a Brompton with a suit and tie!!
I was merely offering 'style options'.
Here's another
Posted 12 years ago # -
lol, there may be... but I don't have one to hand, given my Brommie is in "proper" black, maybe I should take my style cues from the Blues Brothers :-))
Posted 12 years ago # -
Must load some images of Brompton luggage options - I clocked the digital weighbridge at Dover Eastern Docks at 180Kg with the trailer once , and had a calculated GVW of over 250Kg at the Moulton weekend in 1997 (1-speed hydraulic brakes & trailer).
Rear carrier suitable for carrying spare Brompton or spare person. Surprised Arellcat hasn't popped a post in, she has well tricked out 6-speed but finds standard saddle gives problems with seams (I agree on this as every time I've had to ride a standard saddle I get sore inner thighs)
Posted 12 years ago # -
NB My Brompton is in "whatever colour the replacement parts came in when I broke the last one".
Posted 12 years ago # -
@Tulyar, wow! Would like to see that, and I thought my LHT was heavy fully loaded for touring! :-o
Ref saddle, I ditched the standard one almost immediately and fitted a B-17 ;-)Posted 12 years ago # -
I once rode my Brompton while wearing my triathlon club cycle coat. Never again, I felt a proper wally. And some bloke asked me if I did triathlons on that bike!
Posted 12 years ago # -
So I would say Bromptons are a bit more limited for luggage options unless someone proves otherwise.
I have a custom rack for my Brompton that lets me attach a pair of panniers to the front, AM Moulton-style. I can even hang my 40 litre recumbent panniers from it, but that's a little ridiculous. A rucksack + Brompton C-bag is a very useful combination, or perhaps C-bag + Carradice saddlebag for on-bike luggage.
Rear carrier suitable for carrying spare Brompton or spare person.
Spare Brompton:
Spare person:
Posted 12 years ago # -
@Arelicat, Carradice saddlebags are very elegant and practical things, but especially on folders: due to the extra long seatposts there's usually plenty of room for a full saddlebag. I've an old Cadet/Junior on the saddle loops of the AluBike 'bucking bronco'; Also recently fitted a 'factory second'* Nelson to the Pashley Fold-it, attached to the lower part of the rear saddle springs.
For quick jaunts or errands a saddlebag is all you need. For the commute I add a rear pannier, sometimes two.
* Looks perfect to me, but Carradice's QC standards are very exacting it seems.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Well here's a picture of a plenty of luggage carrying potential spotted at the recent Brompton World Championships at Blenheim.
it belongs to Heinz Stucke, the intrepid world traveller.
Rob
Posted 12 years ago # -
I've merely stuck the carradice on the back of my saddle to save me taking a daysack tomorrow, looks a bit stickyouty and wide tbh, I'll maybe have to investigate what can neatly go on the rack, or maybe a front bag :-/
Posted 12 years ago # -
Took delivery of SRD's Dahon folder last night. It's a light wee thing; definite pass on the finger test, although since it needs folded up to balace it, it's got friendlier mass distribution.
So far all the riding I've done is from my flat to the Tesco along the canal, but I'll be riding it from Zazou to work tomorrow for a better feel of its capabilities.
Posted 12 years ago #
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