Folding Bikes - Why fold a Raleigh Twenty?

I am shopping for an inexpensive folder and--because I'm a big guy and like the vintage angle--had the Raleigh Twenty recommended to me by a number of people. I recently borrowed one to try it out and, though it's a nice ride and seems a solid bike, I found myself wondering when I would ever fold it.

I guess I imagined that I could take a folding bike inside different places in the city... maybe a movie theatre or the library, my university classroom... basically places I needed to go. My other bike (an old Miyata 1000LT which I really loved) was stolen and I thought that taking the folding bike everywhere would help with theft. Obviously this was a bit naive. Folded, the Raleigh Twenty and, I assume, many low-end folders are heavy and awkward and difficult to bring anywhere.

Also thought it would be great for transit but, to repeat, it's awkward, heavy, and doesn't seem to stand on its own.

Still, I'd hoped that it would be easier to stash inside my small, downtown apartment than a regular bike. But it turns out that this is difficult too. Anyone familiar with the Twenty may know what I mean. When folded, how is it supposed to stand? Do you balance it on the seat and the rear rack? Otherwise it just sits in an unorganized pile on the floor and doesn't really save much room.

I could see the Twenty's folding being a big boon for people who want to put their bikes in car trunks. That seems like a good use. Also, it does allow you to lock the body and the two wheels to a street post all at the same time. And finally, I could see it saving a little space for winter storage, but not really that much.

Apologies for the long pre-amble, but I am wondering if anyone has had similar thoughts... what good is the Raleigh's folding, anyway? Frankly, given the design of my apartment, I'd do better with a regular bike hanging from the walls. Is it just for tossing it in your trunk? Maybe this is why folders have progressed since the 70s :P

Why don’t you get a non-folding Twenty – it will save you unnecessary cogitation!

I think storage was a key issue. My mother would keep her folding Twenty in our shed as we didn’t have a garage…

The Twenty was not designed for multi-modal commuting like the Brompton, but for leisurely trips to the high-street, school fete, or for caravan holidays etc. It was a great and popular utility bike. On these forums you will come across a lot of people who have modified the Twenty, but I am not sure how many actually need to fold the bike regularly.

Just because it folds, doesn't mean you have to fold it...mine sits on its tires and kickstand just like the rest of the bikes in my garage. Occassionally I will fold it to put it in the car. They also made a non -folding version of the Raleigh 20, less common than the folders, I think.

I understand the vintage attraction of a Raleigh Twenty, I've got one. I fold it only occasionally to carry it in the back of my car.

If your main priority is to get an inexpensive folder, it might not be the best choice. Yes, it will be cheaper, if you stay with the original heavy stainless steel rims, with their poor braking performance. If all you do is overhaul the bearing races, replace the brakepads, cables, housings, tires, and chain, then lube and adjust the 3 speed hub, you'll probably have saved some money, but you'll still have a heavy folder that doesn't fold as small as even a Dahon, let alone a Brompton.

If you start upgrading things, (begin with alloy rims) you can end up with a very nice bike, that performs well, and is a lot lighter than it used to be. It still won't fold as small as a Dahon, and you'll end up spending a lot more money.

If you think that a folder might work for you, start by looking at the lower end Dahons, like the Speed D7, or if you can stretch your budget, the Speed P8. Downtubes have to be worth considering, too, but I only know those by reputation.

Also, even a super-light folder, say 20 pounds, is going to start to feel heavy if you have to carry it around in one hand for too far. A carry bag with a shoulder strap would be a good idea.

Times I fold my Twenty - rarely ;)
It's good to do it when I'm feeling lazy and had a puncture and can get my partner to come and get me or if if you want to make a really complicated 'don't steal me' fold around a fence or pole but you're right - it's not a great fold and no it doesn't really stand well on it's own or go very small.

What's good is the fact that it CAN fold. On peak overland trains in London you can take on a folder but not a big bike. In practice this means you often don't have to actually fold it but its ability to do it gets it a gold star license.

I've taken it on the Tube and busses a couple of times and conclude it's a nightmare and not anything I'd consider doing beyond an emergency (ie I went out and drank to much or someone stole my saddle AGAIN). For daily use I'd get something cleverer - maybe a brompton though with money I'd go mad with a Parry style Merc with ti and carbon bits as even a brompy is a bit of a heft...

I fold it to put it in a car trunk, as you said. Otherwise, I unbolt the hinge joint to pack it in a suitcase for travel. Much cheaper than a set of frame couplers :)

http://home.comcast.net/~cheg01/bars1.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~cheg01/end2.jpg

I fold mine when friends say, "What kind of bike is that?" And I say, "It folds up!" And then I fold it up and we all laugh and laugh...

I've folded it and put it in the car too but it works way better on the rack.

I've folded it for vacations and on a few occasions when I've biked to work but got a ride home. The 20"tires make it plenty small enough for me, otherwise,
juan

I thought about this again today. I took my car in for new tires, took my folded Twenty out of the back, and rode home. Then I went for a "real" ride on my Bianchi. :) Waiting right now to go back and pick up the car.

The Twenty really doesn't fold too well, but, in its folded state, it is pretty easy to roll it around on just the back wheel. Could be useful at times.

I have three Twentys. A brown and green on that fold. The third is brown and is not a folder. It has been modified to improve its preformance. Here is a very poor quality picture but you will get the general idea. Roger

... basically places I needed to go. My other bike (an old Miyata 1000LT which I really loved) was stolen and I thought that taking the folding bike everywhere would help with theft. Obviously this was a bit naive. Folded, the Raleigh Twenty and, I assume, many low-end folders are heavy and awkward and difficult to bring anywhere.

Also thought it would be great for transit but, to repeat, it's awkward, heavy, and doesn't seem to stand on its own. -rickyroy

Bike theft was the number one reason that I seriously looked at folders. Before the need became apparent, I was quite content with my old Phillips 3 speed from the 1960s.

Still, I'd hoped that it would be easier to stash inside my small, downtown apartment than a regular bike. But it turns out that this is difficult too. Anyone familiar with the Twenty may know what I mean. When folded, how is it supposed to stand? Do you balance it on the seat and the rear rack? Otherwise it just sits in an unorganized pile on the floor and doesn't really save much room. -rickyroy

I think this is a very subjective judgement. I find any sort of folder taking less space than a regular bike due to it's smaller wheels and the ability to fold even in half. I don't concern myself with how it stands as it becomes obvious when you place it on the ground.

I could see the Twenty's folding being a big boon for people who want to put their bikes in car trunks. That seems like a good use. Also, it does allow you to lock the body and the two wheels to a street post all at the same time. And finally, I could see it saving a little space for winter storage, but not really that much. -rickyroy

I think that the early folder's strongpoint was the fact that that it folded into a trunk or boot of a car. It did not need a special rack or a van or truck to drive the bike about. That means that any car could be used.

Apologies for the long pre-amble, but I am wondering if anyone has had similar thoughts... what good is the Raleigh's folding, anyway? Frankly, given the design of my apartment, I'd do better with a regular bike hanging from the walls. Is it just for tossing it in your trunk? Maybe this is why folders have progressed since the 70s. -rickyroy

I think of the old Raleighs as a great little bike that was way ahead of it's time. But it is nothing like my Boardwalk S1's more compact fold (the handlebars fold in then the bike is neatly folded in half). It is lighter by 5-6 pounds, has aluminum rims, and V brakes already installed as an stock parts. I bought the S1 as a similar type of bike to the Twenty with the improvements of today's technology added in, plus a Sturmey-Archer three speed hub placed in the rear wheel at my request. I agree that you should look in that direction when you buy another folder.

Do not worry about rambling on in this forum. This is the best way of communicating what you want in a folder. Then people here can be a better help to you.

I fold it to put it in a car trunk, as you said. Otherwise, I unbolt the hinge joint to pack it in a suitcase for travel. Much cheaper than a set of frame couplers :)


I'm quite certain I could have built a nice pair of Nexus 7 equipped Twenty's for what the couplers alone on our tandem cost.

Hmmm. I bought a 20 because I needed something I could fold and take on the train, and because they're VERY cheap here. I paid $40 for mine. I've yet to pick it up, but I've seen pics of it folded, and it looks to me as though it'll fold small enough for my needs. It'll fit in the back of my wifes Fiesta, it'll be relatively innocuous on trains and (sometimes) the underground, and it gets round South West Trains policy that small wheel folders only are allowed during rush hour. We'll see whether I'm right about it, and if I'm not, well, it was only 20 quid!

The rule on Long Island Railroad (LIRR) is: if you want to take a bike on a train during peak hours, it has to be a folding bike, and it has to be folded before you get on the train. Thus the Twenty is allowed. I agree that the folded Twenty is unmanageable; but the LIRR doesn't seem to care about that.

It'll be interesting to see whether a folded 20 is manageable enough when the carrier is 6'3. It doesn't have to go very far in it's folded state - I can fold it on the platform at Southampton, and unfold it on the platform at Waterloo. Other than that, I plan to be riding it.......