I've read this forum for a while, and all of you seem really knowledgeable so maybe all of you can help me choose a perfect folding bike.
I'll be attending college in Cambridge actually, and if anybody has ever been there, the terrain is flat and urban. I'm looking for a folding bike because I wanted to carry the bike with me into classes and up into my dorm room instead of leaving it on racks etc. Another reason I want a folding bike is because I'll be visiting San Francisco about once a month, and I'll need to bring a good mode of transportation with me.
That being said, what I'm looking for is a very light and compact size, which is top priority. My second priority is that the bike can handle the hills in San Francisco, and as a plus I would definitely like my bike to be comfortable, since Boston is right across the river I definitely will take the opportunity to ride throughout Boston on weekends. So far I've been looking at Bromptons and Dahons. I cant seem to find much information about the weight of specific Brompton models and I've been wanting a second opinion of the Dahon MU SL, the lightest Dahon they make. If anybody can give me advice it would be much appreciated!
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
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Dahon Mu SL from what I've heard is very good. Quite a few guys on dahon.com's forum rides one. Its very light with good parts & suspension hub. Though its fold is not as compact as Brompton. Brompton ranges from 9kg -13kg, depending the trim and options. So the stock Mu SL would be a lighter load to carry...19 lbs. So if you are considering these 2, it goes like this:
Brompton - Small fold and easy to carry around, more expensive, classy look.
Mu SL - Bigger fold that don't lock together very nicely for carrying around, but lighter. More versatile on the ride with its bigger wheels, its front suspension hub & more gears.
You want better fold? Or better ride? Take your pick.
mpoon2489
I definitely want a better fold, but when you say better ride, is that comfort or speed?
Money is not an obstacle btw, because I've been saving for a year for this bike :)
spambait11
Many find Bromptons to be comfortable and speedy. If you really come back to SF that often, then take a trip to foldabikes.com and try out a Brompton. Granted, his area of Palo Alto is pretty flat, but at least you'll get to check out comfort and speed. He also has a two-week return policy.
Though my Brompton is now a single-speed, I've had no issues riding up Hearst Ave. in Berkeley or around the SF State area. I've easily transported it on BART and the Muni lightrail. I've never taken the B. on a bus, however.
If you plan on doing some racing and are considering the Brompton, then that's another issue entirely. In most cases, for regular commuting, you won't lose out on the ride; many who think Bromptons don't ride well have never ridden one. I'd agree though that weight is a big deal with these bikes. If you have to carry it around a lot, then you might want to consider a lighter bike.
pm124
The Brompton will be more comfortable and give you a better fold, but will be heavier and have a lousy gear range for San Francisco hills. The Mu is light and very uncomfortable unless you like stiff road bikes.
If you are interested in a commuter and not doing anything fancy, you might consider the Dahon Curve SL, which is no performance bike, but give you a good gear range, good fold, and a light weight. You can also go for a Downtube Mini equipped with Capreo. J Gaerlan is selling them now (I'm having some wheels built by him.) If I were looking for comfort, a small fold, and light weight, I would go with the Curve SL.
If you want a quality performance folder, your only real option is a Birdy. I think there is an old silver 21 speed at Black Dog (about 23 pounds with an internal hub and rear derraileur). The newer ones will be a bit heavier, but able to carry nearly 100 pounds of luggage. They take a bit of getting used to for folding. (Smaller than the Dahon when folded, but bigger than the Curve.) Edit: My Birdy is 19-20 pounds, but is just an 8 speed like the Mu.
mpoon2489
I really dont need anything fancy, and definitely not 21 speed lol so I could benefit with hub gears.
If there was a 6 speed Brompton at 9 kg I think it might be perfect, but I'll check out the Curve SL. I'm only going to visit SF for 2-3 days out of a month and I'll mostly be in flat Boston riding between my dorm, classrooms, and restaurants. Fold size is really important though since I have to fit it on the cramped Boston T subway and my dorm room. I guess as important as the fold size is the fold speed since I'll probably be late to class sometimes and have to catch the train.
So what options would I have to choose to get a Brompton down under 20 lbs?
Check out this online brochure from the Brompton site. It has detail info on different options and how much they weight. However, it looks like its going to cost you to get the Brompton to the 9kg range, as you need to choose some of the higher end options like the Superlight frame, titanium seatpost, fewer speed gears, as well as stripping all the unnecessary add ons. But its doable, if money is not an issue, and if you can find a dealer that can custom made one to your likings.
It does sound like Brompton is a good candidate for you, while the Dahon Curve SL can be a cheaper alternative. There are some small funky ones too like the Mobiky and the Strida, in case you haven't looked at them yet. They are not particularly light, but they fold into some very handy form that you can easily roll around, like a mini shopping cart.
14R
For constant travelling and "bringing inside classroom without people asking if you are caring a dead body", Brompton or Dahon Curve. Anything else may offer you a better ride, but carrying it around will not be fun...
grayvw
mpoon, there is someone selling a Dahon Speed D7 on boston.craigslist.org in Cambridge for $250. You might consider that before investing $$$ in a Brompton or new Dahon Curve SL.
mkb
There are a couple Dahon dealers around here if you want to wait until you get here to buy the bike. I have seen mostly Dahons and Downtubes.
For the sake of your rear end, at least get a suspended seatpost for biking on Boston roads.:cry:
invisiblehand
So what options would I have to choose to get a Brompton down under 20 lbs?
Hmmmmm, you would have to start out with the titanium components ... that would shave off a few pounds to the low 20s. I don't know for sure, but I thought that the flat bar Brompton was a bit lighter than the M-bar Brompton. After that, you would have to start thinking about swapping components, skinny tires, and the such.
mpoon2489
Hmm, I'm actually not sure if I'd pay $500 for just a few less pounds...
Does anybody have information on the folding times of the Brompton and Curve SL? I remember somebody telling me not to really trust what the manufacturer's times are. Also with skinny tires, what am I sacrificing? Is it comfort, stability, or speed/acceleration?
invisiblehand
I would like to add a little to Spambait's comments on the ride quality and the speed comments in general.
That some people find it comfortable and speedy is true. Some advocates--this is not a reference to SB--always likes to write that there are thousands of satisfied users in Britain.
My experience is that the large majority of cyclists describe the the ride as acceptable or OK compared to their full sized bike. Few describe the ride as "bad". In other words, given its purpose, it rides well. But the vast majority of cyclists would choose their regular bike over the Brompton. There is a reason why when someone completed a brevet on their Brompton that we were surprised and gave the guy a virtual thumbs up.
Whether you find it fast or "speedy" is relative and, of course, a matter of opinion. If you are a club cyclist and like to zip around on weekends; then my guess is that you will find the Brompton is slow in absolute terms. If you generally "diddle" around on a hybrid, then my guess is that nimble and speedy would be more appropriate adjectives.
Mind you, I am just trying to distinguish between the bike whose main purpose is transportation as opposed to recreation. From a utilitarian perspective, the Brompton beats a lot of full-sized bikes hands down.
Given your needs, the Brompton or the 7-speed Flamingo sound like great options. If you are willing to sacrifice a bit of a compact fold, you might want to consider a Birdy or a Downtube Mini since the gear range is so much wider and not much bigger in my opinion. The Birdy and Mini are probably lighter for a given cost than the Brompton as well.
You can definitely find a Birdy, Brompton, and Dahon Curve to test ride and fold. You might be able to find a Mini. The Flamingo is probably the same dimensions as the Brompton folded. We know that the 3-speed version is identical from that perspective. Since you saved your money to get the "right" bike, you might as well spend the time test riding the bikes. Especially since you spend time in San Francisco where there are certainly Birdy, Brompton, and Dahon dealers. There are some forum members in the area with Minis that might let you ride their bike if you ask nicely.
mpoon2489
would there be any dealers in New York City and Boston? I'll be going there first and I'll have to spend a whole month bikeless if I wait until I get it at San Francisco :(
invisiblehand
Does anybody have information on the folding times of the Brompton and Curve SL? I remember somebody telling me not to really trust what the manufacturer's times are. Also with skinny tires, what am I sacrificing? Is it comfort, stability, or speed/acceleration?
You can fold a Brompton/Merc in less than 30 seconds. With practice, you can get it closer to 15-20 seconds if you try.
I can fold my Mini in less than 30 seconds too. But I have not tried to do it quicker ... still doing mods on the bike.
Regarding the tires, the traditional answer is that you would be trading comfort/durability for weight/speed/acceleration. Stability is on the side of wider tires too--the contact patch is wider and road imperfections are handled better--but that doesn't seem to enter the conversation much.
invisiblehand
would there be any dealers in New York City and Boston? I'll be going there first and I'll have to spend a whole month bikeless if I wait until I get it at San Francisco :(
As a group, they carry Birdy, Brompton, and Dahon plus a few other models of folding bikes.
I've read this forum for a while, and all of you seem really knowledgeable so maybe all of you can help me choose a perfect folding bike.
I'll be attending college in Cambridge actually, and if anybody has ever been there, the terrain is flat and urban. I'm looking for a folding bike because I wanted to carry the bike with me into classes and up into my dorm room instead of leaving it on racks etc. Another reason I want a folding bike is because I'll be visiting San Francisco about once a month, and I'll need to bring a good mode of transportation with me.
That being said, what I'm looking for is a very light and compact size, which is top priority. My second priority is that the bike can handle the hills in San Francisco, and as a plus I would definitely like my bike to be comfortable, since Boston is right across the river I definitely will take the opportunity to ride throughout Boston on weekends. So far I've been looking at Bromptons and Dahons. I cant seem to find much information about the weight of specific Brompton models and I've been wanting a second opinion of the Dahon MU SL, the lightest Dahon they make. If anybody can give me advice it would be much appreciated!
My sister attended and graduated engineering school in the same area. I would have recommended a folding bike to her-in spite of the badly clogged with traffic streets that that city has. The number one bike that I would recommend to her is the Brompton. The compact fold and relative lightness (just as long as you don't clutter it up with unnecessary accessories) that my own little bike offers plus adding the reliability and easy maintanence of the hub gear system makes it an attractive bike for taking it everywhere with you.
I also have 2 other folding bikes from Dahon: a Boardwalk and a Piccolo (the predecessor model to the new Curve).
When I bought my Brompton, I expected some sort of major problem to deal with like my Dahon Boardwalk had. None of that was true. Except for minor adjustments and a relatively few additions of new bike parts to upgrade it a bit, I had no problems with that bike. Absolutley nothing. That is one of the most outstanding differences between the Dahon and the Brompton companies. The Brompton seems to be more like a hand crafted work of art and the Dahons are more mass produced and orientated to a larger population.
My Brompton is a very sturdy little bike. Some idiot accidently kicked it when I was riding on a crowded bus. No damage. As for perfomance, that is a subjective topic and one that I could only address by my own experiences. I chose the Brompton for it's extremely compact folding abiltiy. And having the closest regular bike feel rather than a kiddie cheapie bike feel. I have used it on most terrain except for very steep hills (I cannot go over these even on a regular standard bike). I love the way it handles and fits me in an upright sort of way. I am a sedate quiet rider (most of the time for traffic and personal reasons). This bike suits me fine. But even on the official Brompton Web site, it is stated that "Bromptons are not for everybody". The best advice I could offer anyone interested is to 1. borrow one from a friend and try it out or 2. (Better) go to your closest Brompton Dealer and ride the Demostrator. The one I used had 6 gears and was the higher end model (I bought the Companion model). And there are some things that reading, the Internet, or even sighting one on the street cannot answer like direct experience does for selecting the best model or even if this bike is right for you.
And feel free to visit my World Of Folding Bicycles series listed below to get a better idea of both Dahons and Bromptons differences and simularities.
spambait11
My experience is that the large majority of cyclists describe the the ride as acceptable or OK compared to their full sized bike. Few describe the ride as "bad". In other words, given its purpose, it rides well. But the vast majority of cyclists would choose their regular bike over the Brompton.
Actually, this is a really good summary assessment, and more accurately depicts my experience as well.
For the OP, maunakea is initiating a group buy for a Brompton-like bike in this thread (http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=317468). I say "Brompton-like" because the specs he's proposing are going to be really good. If you want something custom, you should bring it up in that thread.
SesameCrunch
Whether you find it fast or "speedy" is relative and, of course, a matter of opinion. If you are a club cyclist and like to zip around on weekends; then my guess is that you will find the Brompton is slow in absolute terms. If you generally "diddle" around on a hybrid, then my guess is that nimble and speedy would be more appropriate adjectives.
I found this paragraph to be very succint and spot on! Ride comfort depends completely on one's reference point.
Well said Invisiblehand!
Dahon.Steve
'm looking for a folding bike because I wanted to carry the bike with me into classes and up into my dorm room instead of leaving it on racks etc. Another reason I want a folding bike is because I'll be visiting San Francisco about once a month, and I'll need to bring a good mode of transportation with me.
I'm going to be different with this answer.
When I was going to college, the books alone weighted about 15-45 lbs! I could barely carry this load on my back but did it because there wasn't another choice.
I don't think you'll be bringing the bike inside a classroom unless your're allowed to roll it unfolded. You'll have to explain to each professor and the campus administration why you're bringing an unfolded bicycle inside a class. Good luck.
The Brompton or any folder will weight between 25-29 lbs. In other words, you'll be lugging about 40-70 lbs on your back and arm to each class every day. This will get old real fast. I estimate you'll have to carry this bike about 1/4 mile each day as you change classes, use the bath room, walk up/down stairs, head for the cafteria, walk between buildings, etc. Then there are the stares you'll get as men and attractive WOMEN see you struggle while carrying this heavy bike and backpack to class. Trust me, you'll be the only person carrying a heavy folder to class each day.
I'm sure you can roll the Brompton (or any folder) on it's wheels to some extent but there's still alot of carrying you'll have to do and ALL those questions as people will ask you about the price, where you got that bike and why aren't you driving etc. When it rains or snows, that bike will be dripping wet and I can just imagine dragging that thing all over school. In short, I don't think you want to go this route because it's just too much a burden. Bringing a folder to class sounds like a good idea but it's just not practical.
Here's what I would do.
Get an inexpensive folder with gears like the Boardwalk or Downtube. Buy a heavy duty lock like the Kryptonite New York 3000 and lock the bike in hidden location away from bike racks. Leave the lock at the location so you don't have to carry it each day. If you can find some professor who will allow you to store the folder in his/her office, this is another option and will free you from having to carry the cycle or use locks. This in my opinion, is a much better solution and allows you to walk freely to class without carrying a heavy bike. I would not do this with an expensive folder like the Brompton or Birdy.
pm124
I'm going to be different with this answer.
Get an inexpensive folder with gears like the Boardwalk or Downtube. Buy a heavy duty lock like the Kryptonite New York 3000 and lock the bike in hidden location away from bike racks. Leave the lock at the location so you don't have to carry it each day. If you can find some professor who will allow you to store the folder in his/her office, this is another option and will free you from having to carry the cycle or use locks. This in my opinion, is a much better solution and allows you to walk freely to class without carrying a heavy bike. I would not do this with an expensive folder like the Brompton or Birdy.
I COMPLETELY DISAGREE (sorry for shouting). Why carry around a 20 pound lock along with everything else? Back when I owned a full size bike, my New York Kryptonite lock weighed close to what my folder weighs now. I sold it along with the bike and haven't locked since. No one has ever asked me to explain my folder unless it was questions surrounding where to get one. In addition to being unable to get on to a train or bus with all that weight, you'll almost certainly get your bike stolen. Never, ever lock a bike up in Boston, San Francisco, or New York. If it's not stolen, parts will be. If they aren't stolen, some drunk scumbag will taco your wheels. Get a quality bike you like to ride and take it with you everywhere. I've gotten into an embassy, tons of cafes, a high end furniture store, fancy places, cheap places, crowded places, rush hour trains, you name it.
spambait11
The Brompton or any folder will weight between 25-29 lbs. In other words, you'll be lugging about 40-70 lbs on your back and arm to each class every day. This will get old real fast. I estimate you'll have to carry this bike about 1/4 mile each day as you change classes, use the bath room, walk up/down stairs, head for the cafteria, walk between buildings, etc. Then there are the stares you'll get as men and attractive WOMEN see you struggle while carrying this heavy bike and backpack to class. Trust me, you'll be the only person carrying a heavy folder to class each day.
Dang, if you put it like that, then I'd suggest getting a full-sized craigslist bike (or fixed gear if you want to be cool) and use a Xootr Roma or Street for campus. There are also full-sized folding bikes such as Dahon's Cadenza which look pretty trick.
Dahon.Steve
I COMPLETELY DISAGREE (sorry for shouting). Why carry around a 20 pound lock along with everything else? Back when I owned a full size bike, my New York Kryptonite lock weighed close to what my folder weighs now. I sold it along with the bike and haven't locked since. No one has ever asked me to explain my folder unless it was questions surrounding where to get one. In addition to being unable to get on to a train or bus with all that weight, you'll almost certainly get your bike stolen. Never, ever lock a bike up in Boston, San Francisco, or New York. If it's not stolen, parts will be. If they aren't stolen, some drunk scumbag will taco your wheels. Get a quality bike you like to ride and take it with you everywhere. I've gotten into an embassy, tons of cafes, a high end furniture store, fancy places, cheap places, crowded places, rush hour trains, you name it.
You only carry the lock once and leave it at the location. Commuters do this all the time by leaving their locks attached to racks. I sugest the OP put four text books in a back pack and head off to the lbs. Then carry an unfolded bike a city block or two and see if this is something he wants to do five days of the week. If he has no problem carrying this load, then by all means get any folder.
I've parked my folder outside in Manhattan for many months without any problems. I did use the New York Chain and I see many folders living on the streets today. It will be risky parking a bike at a college campus but with an industrial lock, he can mitigate his risk. The alternative is to carry a heavy bike all day long with a stack of books.
Dahon.Steve
Dang, if you put it like that, then I'd suggest getting a full-sized craigslist bike (or fixed gear if you want to be cool) and use a Xootr Roma or Street for campus. There are also the full-sized folding bikes like the Dahon Cadenza which look pretty trick.
You have a good point.
The only problem with a full size bike is that it may have to live outside if the OP resides in a dorm. I never like having a bike stay outside overnight and it should be brought inside. A folder would allow him to bring the bike inside the dorm.
The best bike to leave outside a college campus would be a beater. I recommended the OP to buy an inexpensive folder for this reason.
mpoon2489
Dahon.Steve -
You actually bring up a good point but it doesn't apply to me. I won't have to bring my books with me, nor my notebooks, binders, papers etc. The only thing I'll bring, along with my folder, is a small backpack with my tablet pc and a few accessories, weighing in at about 6 lbs. My college has lectures, notes, textbook chapters, etc all posted online for every course. :)
I did want to get a folder so I could bring it everywhere with me and not have to lock it up. Unfortunately, my dorm doesn't have a rack outside and even if it did, I would feel really uncomfortable leaving it there overnight, as some taco would steal my wheels, lol.
I think I'm going up to New York in a week or two and I'm going to test some bikes, but so far I think the Brompton's got me sold. If it turns out to be too heavy, well, there's a weight room in my dorm and I think I could give my arms and shoulders a little boost. ^^
folder fanatic
You have a good point.
The only problem with a full size bike is that it may have to live outside if the OP resides in a dorm. I never like having a bike stay outside overnight and it should be brought inside. A folder would allow him to bring the bike inside the dorm.
The best bike to leave outside a college campus would be a beater. I recommended the OP to buy an inexpensive folder for this reason.
You only carry the lock once and leave it at the location. Commuters do this all the time by leaving their locks attached to racks. I sugest the OP put four text books in a back pack and head off to the lbs. Then carry an unfolded bike a city block or two and see if this is something he wants to do five days of the week. If he has no problem carrying this load, then by all means get any folder.
I've parked my folder outside in Manhattan for many months without any problems. I did use the New York Chain and I see many folders living on the streets today. It will be risky parking a bike at a college campus but with an industrial lock, he can mitigate his risk. The alternative is to carry a heavy bike all day long with a stack of books.
I'm going to be different with this answer.
When I was going to college, the books alone weighted about 15-45 lbs! I could barely carry this load on my back but did it because there wasn't another choice.
I don't think you'll be bringing the bike inside a classroom unless your're allowed to roll it unfolded. You'll have to explain to each professor and the campus administration why you're bringing an unfolded bicycle inside a class. Good luck.
The Brompton or any folder will weight between 25-29 lbs. In other words, you'll be lugging about 40-70 lbs on your back and arm to each class every day. This will get old real fast. I estimate you'll have to carry this bike about 1/4 mile each day as you change classes, use the bath room, walk up/down stairs, head for the cafteria, walk between buildings, etc. Then there are the stares you'll get as men and attractive WOMEN see you struggle while carrying this heavy bike and backpack to class. Trust me, you'll be the only person carrying a heavy folder to class each day.
I'm sure you can roll the Brompton (or any folder) on it's wheels to some extent but there's still alot of carrying you'll have to do and ALL those questions as people will ask you about the price, where you got that bike and why aren't you driving etc. When it rains or snows, that bike will be dripping wet and I can just imagine dragging that thing all over school. In short, I don't think you want to go this route because it's just too much a burden. Bringing a folder to class sounds like a good idea but it's just not practical.
Here's what I would do.
Get an inexpensive folder with gears like the Boardwalk or Downtube. Buy a heavy duty lock like the Kryptonite New York 3000 and lock the bike in hidden location away from bike racks. Leave the lock at the location so you don't have to carry it each day. If you can find some professor who will allow you to store the folder in his/her office, this is another option and will free you from having to carry the cycle or use locks. This in my opinion, is a much better solution and allows you to walk freely to class without carrying a heavy bike. I would not do this with an expensive folder like the Brompton or Birdy.
I COMPLETELY DISAGREE (sorry for shouting). Why carry around a 20 pound lock along with everything else? Back when I owned a full size bike, my New York Kryptonite lock weighed close to what my folder weighs now. I sold it along with the bike and haven't locked since. No one has ever asked me to explain my folder unless it was questions surrounding where to get one. In addition to being unable to get on to a train or bus with all that weight, you'll almost certainly get your bike stolen. Never, ever lock a bike up in Boston, San Francisco, or New York. If it's not stolen, parts will be. If they aren't stolen, some drunk scumbag will taco your wheels. Get a quality bike you like to ride and take it with you everywhere. I've gotten into an embassy, tons of cafes, a high end furniture store, fancy places, cheap places, crowded places, rush hour trains, you name it.
Gentlemen I will address the realities of present day cycling.
If you have a rideable bike (beater, cheapie Dahon or whatever) it will get stolen or at least tampered with especially in crime prone areas like major urban areas like Boston. Before my folders, I bought and fixed up beaters reasoning that no one would go through trying to steal it since it is so old and not a popular make or model. Wrong. One of my old bikes was tampered with even with a heavy US made Master U-Lock and a cable lock strung around both wheels to a permament iron fence in a very heavy car/pedestrian area in front of a large windowed restaurant. Some idiot decided to use a heavy object like a brick to try to smash the U-lock apart. Thank God my father was still around and healthy enough to pry the lock off (it took him over 1/2 hour even with my key) and extreme patience. So I turned my attention to folding bikes and so far, never had a major situation developed like that again. Even living in one of the most crime ridden areas of Southern California.
I think you are around my age, Dahon Steve. I remember that locking the bikes up just as I described above was more than enough. Now, with the general lawlessness and even fear I seen people react every time you ask even a simple question that I have experienced and witnessed, I only recommend folding bikes for their abilty to slip by probing and questioning eyes and "disappear." Folders are not 100% theft-proof. But they are the best in dealing with and preventing crime from happening to it's owner/user. That is why I go on and on about taking anything of value with you-no matter what the monetary value is. And colleges/univerisities are just as crime ridden as the general population-maybe even more that it was say, 25 years ago when my sister went to her Boston located university.
invisiblehand
Thanks Sesame and SB for the compliments.
BTW, to the OP, that the Brompton rolls well while folded is a big bonus in my opinion.
pm124
You only carry the lock once and leave it at the location. Commuters do this all the time by leaving their locks attached to racks. I sugest the OP put four text books in a back pack and head off to the lbs. Then carry an unfolded bike a city block or two and see if this is something he wants to do five days of the week. If he has no problem carrying this load, then by all means get any folder.
I've parked my folder outside in Manhattan for many months without any problems. I did use the New York Chain and I see many folders living on the streets today. It will be risky parking a bike at a college campus but with an industrial lock, he can mitigate his risk. The alternative is to carry a heavy bike all day long with a stack of books.
Yeah, but there is still a need to fold the bike, carry it through the T, and unfold it outside the station. I wouldn't want to carry all that stuff.
Steve, where is your bike parked? ;-)
JeremyZ
Good thread. Having done it for one day, I would say that carrying a 20" folder around all day is unreasonable, even in a shoulder bag.
My one commute consisted of:
1) Riding 1.5 miles to the train station
2) Folding the bike up (a generic aluminum 20" folder with rear suspension) and bagging it
3) Boarding the train and finding room for the bike & I
4) Getting off the train
5) Unpacking the bike
6) Ride another 0.5 mile to work
7) Fold & stow the bike
8) Walk all through my building
9) Stow the bike under my desk
repeat to ride home
Without moving the bike to more than one location, it was a bit of a pain in the neck. Doing this multiple times per day would get old in a big hurry. It doesn't seem like it now, but believe me, it's true.
IMO, the way to go would be to either get a cheaper, 20" folding bike and just bring it into & out of your apartment at the beginning and end of each day. Lock it up outside between classes.
Or, get a junker full-size bike and take your chances with theft & vandalism. But where's the fun & romance in that?
JeremyZ
Also, a bike with 20" wheels is a big too big to get on and off of public transit with. In another thread in this forum, I went through the decision-making process and wound up with a Dahon Curve D3 for this reason. (having already had 20" and 16" folders in the past)
Good luck!
mpoon2489
I had another question about folding bicycles in Boston. It will be my first year living in Boston, but I was wondering how often is the weather outside nice enough for me to take a bicycle out on rides? And how detrimental are small wheels in adverse weather vs a normal sized bicycle? I'm sure that 16" wheels don't function well in a foot of snow where a regular bike could still trod along? Maybe balance issues with rain and snow on the ground? I'm not too familiar with Boston's weather and conditions, so advice about that would also be helpful! Thanks!
pm124
All bikes are hard to ride on ice, and small wheels are worse in the snow than big wheels, even if knobby tires are used. How many days out of the year can you ride in Boston? That depends on you. Some folks ride just about 365 days a year. Most commuters could ride 9-10 months out of the year, taking advantage of those snow free winter days. One great thing about cars is that they are giving us more warm winter days. Enjoy them while you are still on dry land.
buffaloboro
Hi,
When I lived in London I had a Brompton. I used to ride all over the City & I believe that if you need a well made bike that can fold day in day out - this is your man. I used to take it to the pub with me & quickly fold it & place it in bag - never a hassle. It may be a little heavier & a little pricer , but I believe you are getting a well made ( made in the UK ) bike that will out last a Dahon.
Finally, if you have a lot of books etc the front end back on the Brompton is ideal. I agree with other posters , you won't break any land speed records , but it will serve you well.
When I moved to the US , I had to sell it & unlike other bikes , I found that it had a great re-sale value as well.
I'd agree with Folder Fantic re the crime aspect. When I spent time in Amsterdam the druggies wld steal ANY bike they could . It seemed to be a right of passage to have your bike stolen & then go to a certain location near Centraal Station ( the main station near the Red Light District ) to buy it or one similiar , back the next day.