Hello everyone,
I'm looking at buying a folding bicycle and have no idea where to start. What's a good brand? Do any of you have one? What do you think of it? Good/bad/ugly? I'd love to hear people's thoughts or any advice you have for a bike shopper! Thanks!
Forums:
bmichel
October 16, 2008 - 6:58am
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The overall best folder is
The overall best folder is the Brompton. I'm
happy to give a test-ride to anyone who might
be interested.
Bill Michel
Mountain View
MLisette
August 21, 2010 - 9:28am
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Q Brompton - riding on Coyote Creek Trail and the like?
Hello good people,
I am wondering if a Brompton would be suitable to ride on fairly groomed bike paths in Santa Clara County, esp. Coyote Creek Trail or any Baylands Trails.
I am thinking of purchasing a Brompton to use for urban commuting with public transit, and for urban bike trails.
A Brompton is obviously not a mountain bike, so any thoughts on urban trails that would seem ride able on a Brompton but which people think are no-gos on a Brompton would be welcome.
thx
MLisette
Paul Metz
August 25, 2010 - 12:32pm
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Wondering if my replies are
Wondering if my replies are getting marked as spam...
Wide tires help on unpaved trails; how wide are the Bromptons? Not sure how sturdy the tires are.
I've used my non-folding road bike on the Guadalupe; it's not as stable as on road, but I can handle it. Depends how comfortable you are on a regular road bike on such trails.
Any bike should be fine on paved trails.
rjustman
October 16, 2008 - 11:19am
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Apologies for my ignorance
Apologies for my ignorance but why do you think Brompton the best? I'm a little overwhelmed by all the websites and information out there so would love to hear personal perspectives if you don't mind sharing. Thanks!
steffie
October 16, 2008 - 3:42pm
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Bromptons are nice bikes if
Bromptons are nice bikes if you need one that folds down very compactly but they are quite expensive. I came across this folding bike buyer's guide a while back that was quite helpful in helping me sort through some of the choices out there. I ended up buying a Xootr Swift which doesn't fold as compactly as a Brompton but it provides a far superior ride and is hundreds of dollars less expensive.
Visitor
October 30, 2008 - 8:13pm
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We brought our Bromptons to
We brought our Bromptons to Sunnyvale from the UK. We love them for their convenience. We've taken them on a couple of cruises (two fit inside the wardrobe in the cabin) and on the train from Chicago to SF. We can fit them easily in the back cargo space with luggage of our Focus Station wagon and take them on trips most places.
However I probably wouldn't try and go more than 30miles on one without making some changes to make it more comfortable.
CarrieW
November 6, 2008 - 6:57pm
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I have bought two bikes
I have bought two bikes recently, and have come up with this plan. First, decide exactly what you want to use the bike for and determine a budget. When I decided I wanted a folding bike, I spoke several bikers about the pros and cons of their folder, as well as why they decided on that particular brand. (People like to talk about their bikes).
My concerns were: easy folding (I ride the train), price (Even secured bikes are frequently stolen from my work), speed (I chose the 20" tires), and fun.
I decided on the Breezer Zag 7, it is a local Cali made bike with a Dahon body. Plus my work was offering a $100.00 off coupon to promote commuting.
I checked out the Brompton's, a nice bike, but expensive. Dahon is also nice with a plethora of body styles and options, and available at a lot of local bike shops.
But price was my determining factor. Yes, I am a proud cheapskate. Good luck on your search
Ian
September 11, 2010 - 9:17am
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Bromptons
I have a brompton and the fold on it is amazing...
it's still the king for small folding but some of the newer Chinese manufactures are catching up.
i have schawalbe tires on it that have Kevlar in them so they are very sturdy.
the issue with small tires 16 inch is that they go way deep into holes. I've never had a problem with the brommie but it is by no means an off road bike. nor is it designed to be. i have zero complaints about it.
besides it fits in the shopping cart at costco. what more needs saying?
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