Folding Bikes - Birdy Rohloff...now? Or wait for the new Rohloff speedhub (2009!)

At 50Kg, I would go with a yellow elastomer. That's what my girlfriend has on hers, and it is quite smooth.

Any words of discouragement about a black birdy? By the way Bruce, what colour is your model?
How about grey vs black based on this thread:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=450096



Mine is a 24spd dualdrive Birdy Silver... between the grey and the black, I'd go black, but then I'm somewhat partial to black.. still would have enjoyed seeing that dark purple though .. ahaha .. good luck with your adventure.

I can perfectly understand that you are going through the hassle to change it cause of the colour. For so much money and given that you look every day at it. It would be annoying to get reminded to your disappointment every time you see the purple. And black is perfect. Maybe boring for some but elegant, classic and much easier to bear over the long run.
Good luck with your black beauty to come!

I know it's stupid to nitpick over colour of all things. But I figure that after spending so much (credit) on this, I might as well pick a colour I can ignore, and focus on enjoying the bike for the ride rather than the aesthetics. Most the websites I visited seem to put the blue birdy as the display pic for some reason. Some nifty marketing? Or perhaps they all prefer that colour too.

Hey if it bothers you enough then that is most important.

I can't even fit the bike in the box!

Since it arrived, the back wheel has been really fussy about unfolding (sometimes the release catch makes it release straightaway, other times, it results in nothing happening). The top of the handle bar, when folded won't let the box close. I can't even unfold and refold because of the back wheel not unfolding so looks like i will have to take the day off work on Wednesday (I work 6 days, else I would go Saturday) to return it. What's that?...1 day's lost wages, plus the cost of petrol there and back - 222 miles. I think I am going to give up on the birdy and just get a refund.

My 8mile walk +2.5 hours of conservation work today killed me, but at least it was free and should strengthen my body as well as do some good. My forays in folding bikes have just made me poorer with nothing to show except a bike which only half unfolds.

Sorry, I'm not having a good day. I hope everyone else is well.

Hi watcher,
sorry to hear your missfortune :(
Perhaps you can post photos of the bike so that here Birdy-owners can help you with the fold. It cant be possible to not fit in the box it came with??

Please don't give up on folding bikes so early. I also had a quite unhappy start - I had to wait almost 6 full month for my bike to arrive - when 6 weeks where announced. The bike came with wrong pedals, a wrong saddle and a wrong hub. (partly also my fault as I was obviously not clear enough about it but thought so and missed to write down what exact specs I wanted)
But it is worth it - and yours will be also I promise. Stay tuned!

Hi watcher,
sorry to hear your missfortune :(
Perhaps you can post photos of the bike so that here Birdy-owners can help you with the fold. It cant be possible to not fit in the box it came with??

Please don't give up on folding bikes so early. I also had a quite unhappy start - I had to wait almost 6 full month for my bike to arrive - when 6 weeks where announced. The bike came with wrong pedals, a wrong saddle and a wrong hub. (partly also my fault as I was obviously not clear enough about it but thought so and missed to write down what exact specs I wanted)
But it is worth it - and yours will be also I promise. Stay tuned!

In a bit of a rush at the moment finishing breakfast & packing for work, but thanks for your kind words :)

I can't even fit the bike in the box!

I have no experience with Birdys, but you should have no problems operating a folding bike. The Bike Fridays and Dahons that I've owned or test ridden all were simple to fold/unfold. If you do get another Birdy you might want to see if you can find a set of videos on youtube that goes over the fold/unfold process to see if long time Birdy owners have any tips or tricks they use to make things easier.

Since it arrived, the back wheel has been really fussy about unfolding (sometimes the release catch makes it release straightaway, other times, it results in nothing happening). The top of the handle bar, when folded won't let the box close. I can't even unfold and refold because of the back wheel not unfolding so looks like i will have to take the day off work on Wednesday (I work 6 days, else I would go Saturday) to return it. What's that?...1 day's lost wages, plus the cost of petrol there and back - 222 miles. I think I am going to give up on the birdy and just get a refund.

Generally, it takes a bit to get used to the folding action. I don't recall the Birdy fold being difficult, but we had a dealer demonstrating the bike. Just don't force it. Almost all of these folding bikes respond better to finesse, in my experience.

On another note, the local Birdy dealer recently stopped carrying the bike.

I'm sure I am doing the unfolding correctly. All I know is that when I push the black release which is near the expedition rack and make it unfold, nothing happens.

According to the australian manual, when you lift up the bike, the rear wheel should unfold automatically when you lift it by the seat.

I am now thinking that from a conscience point of view, I suppose I should just do the exchange rather than push for a refund (and give up on folders). At least they still make something off this sale, and if I go to drop it off in person, maybe they can show me how to unfold it properly. I've seen it done at the lbs and online, but not with the rack. This black release lever is built into the rack which unfolds both the rear wheel and rack simultaneously.

Yep ... going there in person for a little person-to-person advice will be helpful. Good luck!

On quick question. Everyone said that if I lock my bike, it will get stolen. However, it isn't feasible for me to walk around with my birdy everywhere. Surely at the supermarket, if I lock it with an "onguard beast chain" which is "sold secure - gold" near the entrance and ideally near a camera it should be safe? There isn't room in my trolley for both the bike and my shopping. Also, when I go to meet my friends at the park, they keep going back and forth between the park and their cars, it's inconvenient for me to keep carrying the bike with me. Can't I lock it then? I'd feel safer locking it than leaving it in someone's car boot. Not sure how the insurance company look on it if the car is stolen with it inside.

Surely you people take your folders everywhere you go like the masses take their cars. What do you do when it's not convenient to carry it with you. e.g. you meet a girl and go shopping, then what? Wheel the birdy around the mall behind you?

Hi again,

you meet a girl and go shopping? Thats nice:D
But to your question: of course is very personal (the need to feel safe) and also differs in surroundings. I personally would not feel relaxed when to have a birdy Rohloff locked somewhere while go shopping. I would fear they cut the Rohloff out if not anything else - that's why I would not use a birdy Rohloff for those short pootle ridings to town but a cheaper one.

When you talked about locks in the other post you mentioned that its secure for motorcycles. Those are registered - I feel a bicycle is more at mercy of theft than something with a numberplate.

Just a note on the Australian site - it has been static for a long time now and while I heven't looked at the video, is that one for the latest monocoque models?

On quick question. Everyone said that if I lock my bike, it will get stolen. However, it isn't feasible for me to walk around with my birdy everywhere. Surely at the supermarket, if I lock it with an "onguard beast chain" which is "sold secure - gold" near the entrance and ideally near a camera it should be safe? There isn't room in my trolley for both the bike and my shopping. Also, when I go to meet my friends at the park, they keep going back and forth between the park and their cars, it's inconvenient for me to keep carrying the bike with me. Can't I lock it then? I'd feel safer locking it than leaving it in someone's car boot. Not sure how the insurance company look on it if the car is stolen with it inside.

Surely you people take your folders everywhere you go like the masses take their cars. What do you do when it's not convenient to carry it with you. e.g. you meet a girl and go shopping, then what? Wheel the birdy around the mall behind you?

I take mine shopping all of the time. I stopped by the super market the other day and there were a bunch of road bikes and a Bike Friday all being watched by a friend. I folded the Birdy up, threw it in the shopping cart and went about my business. Try that with a regular bike!

The dealer may be able to put a wheel on your rack if you prefer to roll it.

Just a note on the Australian site - it has been static for a long time now and while I heven't looked at the video, is that one for the latest monocoque models?

They are the same with respect to folding. But the rack might make a difference.

I would fear they cut the Rohloff out if not anything else - that's why I would not use a birdy Rohloff for those short pootle ridings to town but a cheaper one.

That is what would cross my mind. Cutting the spokes and taking the rear hub. One could sell a used Rohloff for $500 easy with no questions asked.

Hmmm, ok. So no way to secure the Rohloff hub itself? Are there really people in the suburbs of London (zones 5-6) who would recognise a Rohloff hub and want to steal one?

I can understand professional thieves operating in central london, but why around here? Why outside a supermarket where I rarely see bikes, or at a park where the same applies (you see kids cycling, but no locked bikes. Mainly bikes just lying around unsecured!)

Hmmm, ok. So no way to secure the Rohloff hub itself?

maybe I am just overprotective to my bike and your surroundings are much better than mine in German Ruhr-district. It was not my aim to heart you down with my warnings. 100% safety no of course but yes, you can use pitlock to improve safety: http://www.pitlock.de/en/index.html

HI, took the bike back yesterday and have been given £2100 credit with the choice of getting a refund or the Birdy Rohloff in black when it comes in stock within the next 2 weeks.
I am in half a mind as to what to do. I might take my old Claud-Butler Urban 400 to the bike shop tomorrow and get new handlebars, possibly a stem extension, marathon pluses and possibly a Brooks flyer and see if they can thus mod it for a fully upright riding position (with minimal back pain due to the brooks).

Total cost of parts, about £100. Labour = ? A bit annoying since I just spent £40 on a service which included a new tyre, but now I want a puncture proof one. Also, the service included servicing the gears, but I can tell they are still on their last legs. So...if I do this, in total, I will have spent £140 plus the labour charge on a bike which cost me £350 4 years ago. Is this really worth it? Everyone did say it's always good to have a back up bike, which this bike could be in the long term.

My feeling right now is to get the refund and see if prices come down (perhaps during winter?) or purchase the Birdy Rohloff as a celebration for when ALL my credit cards/student overdrafts are cleared off.

Bravo, last post has imho some healthy thoughts and doing so will sure be strengthening. Still it would be a pity cause you then will not join the folding community now but later.

Reviving an old thread:

I'd get the CB upgraded as your bike for locking up outside the supermarket, pub, friends house etc.

Stick with the Birdy; it is fabulous. I initially fiddled about with the fold and thought I'd never get used to it. A couple of days later it was second nature. What made the world of difference were removable pedals; taking the left off meant the bars folded far more neatly.

Never, ever leave the Birdy locked up. Ignore the Thatcham label; motorcycles with locks and Thatcham alarms get nicked every day. Folders are now so much part of the commuting and lifestyle scene. I even take mine in to receptions of some of the big London companies when I go in for meetings booted and suited. Riding up The Mall and through Hyde Park on a day like today is brilliant.

HI Watcher, I realise this is an old thread, but did you ever get yourself a new birdy. for what its worth I have purchased both a Brompton and recently a Birdy (Rohloff model) from AVC and always had good service, having used the Brompton in and out of London for a few years, I would say for your commute forget public transport if you go for the Birdy, its effortless to ride the sort of distances you are thinking about, the Brompton IMHO is a difference matter much harsher ride and requiring more effort, but with the addition of easy wheels on the rack version it is easy to wheel it onto tubes/trains/supermarkets etc, I wouldn't like to do it with the Birdy on a regular basis as the fold size is slightly larger.