Folding bike on a budget?

helenf80

Hi everyone,

Merry Christmas!

I am going to university next year and I was planning on getting a car, but I have only been driving for 2 years and obviously insurance isn't exactly cheap. I have found out about the train and season tickets etc. But I still need to get to and from the train station.

I have been looking at reviews online and these say a Brompton is the way to go but I really won't have £800+ to spend.

I'd like to know if anyone has a cheaper brand of folding bike and what they think of it. Any problems or complaints? Does it fold easily? Is it quite light to carry?

I only have to cycle about 1.5 miles a time so no huge long journeys.

Many thanks x

Altarf

http://www.atob.org.uk/folding-bikes/folding-bike-buyers-guide-uk/

There are Bromptons, and there is everything else (and a lot of those are not much cheaper than a Brompton).

A Brompton is designed to be folded, and then be carried as a folded package (so for example, all the oily bits are in the middle). With the others, they fold, but that is merely due to someone welding a couple of hinges into the frame, and when folded you end up with a loose collection of bits that is a nightmare to carry and store.

Two alternatives -

- Buy a "disposable" bike (£10-20 from ebay, gumtreee, police auction, etc) and a couple of good locks. Leave it at the station, and plan that you will have to replace it as it will occasionally be stolen or vandalised.

- Walk. A mile and a half isn't very far. My office is that far from the station. When I don't cycle I walk, and it only takes 20 minutes.

dandelionclock30

I've never had a folding bike myself, but I wouldnt pay £800 for a Brompton.What I would do is get a cheap folding bike off ebay for £100 or so if not walk.

kerby_crawler

at 1.5 miles a throw, I reckon a folding bike is likely to add to the logistical problem rather than solve it!

barbarawright

Folding bikes aren't light (20 pounds minimum in a clunky bag) Will there be somewhere safe to leave it at the university or will you have to carry it around all day? Which might not be convenient - a library, for example, might have luggage restrictions but not necessarily the right sized lockers for one. I certainly wouldn't want to carry one far.

Keith

I love my Brompton, I had a cheaper brand before it but the handle bar stem snapped and I ended up in the road.

However, I have a three stage commute - cycle - train - cycle. If you are just doing a to b I would buy a normal bike and good locks.

mynameisclare

I used to ride a Dahon, which are much cheaper than Brompton. It also came with things that Brompton make you pay extra for*, like mudguards and pannier rack. And gears.

It didn't fold down quite as much as a Brompton, but it folded properly, not just one hinge in the middle. I didn't use it on public transport though, so can't say how easy that would be. I bought it because I lived in a small flat with no space for a normal bike, and I could fit it in the space under the sink!

*At least they did when I bought my bike

johnmc

The main considerations are where you can safely "park" it and the time taken to walk to it, unlock, put all the kit on etc.

You could probably walk there as quickly and no risk of punctures.

If you must have a bike then have a look on Ebay for lightweight folding bikes.

dandelionclock30

How far is the total distance?
If its within a reasonable cycling distance then you would probably be better off getting a secondhand road bike/hybrid off ebay or Gumtree and a couple of decent D locks.
Dont secure a bike with a cable lock on a university campus as it will be stolen.Its really easy to cut through them within seconds.

Lorian

I have a dahon speed 5 and it's a good budget folder. As someone said it doesn't fold quite as small as a Brompton. It is however quite a quick bike, and light. I can fold It in a few seconds.

I bought mine second hand on ebay, with just a few miles on it.