Petanque

I have just bought a folding bike, not my first, but, my first after an absence of 6 years. I previously owned a Birdy Red (ten years ago) a Brompton (five years ago) and a Bike Friday which I owned and loved for 7 years. I loved my Bike Friday and travelled all over Europe with it, My wife still has hers (NWT) I sold mine, foolishly, for a big wheel touring bike, my thinking at the time was that as my 3 mile commute to work involved no other transport there was no need for a folder. I forgot about the other advantages. Now retired and living in France I recently became aware that my regular cycling was restricted by the advantage of putting my folder in the back of the car and driving to different places. So, I am back and the proud owner of a Dahon Vitesse D8. I will update this post with my opinions on my new bike, and comparisons with other folders owned, hope you find this of some interest, regards, Gary.

prathmann

Why not put your regular bike in the trunk of your car? That's where my Cannondale is currently - much easier and quicker to pop the wheels off that bike and put it&wheels in the trunk than to fold my Bike Friday.

smallwheeler

hmm. if that's the case, then..



careful now.

Petanque

Removing both wheels from a full sized bike may well be easier for you, certainly not for me. My new Dahon folds easier than my previously owned Bike Friday, and is very compact, it is too early to say for sure, but I think it rides just as well as the BF (NWT), it is also considerably lighter. My wife still has her BF so I will be comparing them over the coming weeks.

LarryCrowne

Much easier and quicker to pop the wheels off for him he says. I have done the pop wheel thing, no thank you.
He can keep his bike world view : )

You are doing it right my friend. Congratulations on your new folder and welcome back.


I have a new Brompton on order. It's going to be a wonderful Autumn.

prathmann

Which do you think I'm doing wrong? For the Cannondale I only have to flip the two QR levers and lift up the bike to have the wheels fall out of the dropouts and rest against the car bumper. I then place the bike in the trunk followed by the two wheels. The whole operation takes under 10 seconds whereas folding the Bike Friday and getting it in the trunk takes me at least 20 seconds. [I do realize that the Cannondale is aided by having wide enough rims and skinny enough tires that no spreading of the brake calipers is needed, nor do any of my bikes have the 'lawyer lips' that complicate the use of the QR levers.]

blakcloud

You come into the Folding Bikes Forum to tell everyone that your way of keeping a bike in a car, is easier than a folding bike? Really? This just boggles my mind on so many levels.

prathmann

I've been very happy with my folding bike ever since I purchased it 20 years ago. It has enabled me to take my bike with me on many trips where a regular bike would have been too much trouble or expense - or banned by regulations of many public transportation systems that I utilized.

But I was struck that someone would cite as the only reason for getting a folding bike that he couldn't transport his regular bike using his private car. Since I daily see numerous people carrying their non-folding bikes in or on their private cars this seemed like an unusual rationale. From my personal observations I'd conclude that there are at least an order of magnitude more non-folding bikes than folders being transported by private car.

thugpipe

Well you must also take into account that the OP is in europe and it is likely that he might have a much smaller car than we might be used to in the states (then again I can't be sure of that). Even just a frame can be difficult the wrangle into a small car. Maybe he doesn't have the room or interest in folding down his seats every time he wants to travel with his bike. Removing the wheels makes it possible to transport a bike in a car but a folding bike could take up a small portion of just the trunk leaving much more room for stuff and people in the back seats and practical every day living type stuff.

To the OP. Good luck with the new bike and I look forward to seeing how you like it.

prathmann

It's certainly possible that his car is quite small. But my '87 Corolla isn't exactly gigantic either and the rear seats in mine do not fold down. The space remaining when my BF is in the trunk is arranged a bit differently than with the Cannondale - but I've usually found it easier to find room for additional luggage with the Cannondale - mainly since the frame and wheels are three separate pieces that can be moved around to make space for the other items.

I share your wishes to the OP and hope he finds lots of uses for his new acquisition - I've certainly found that to be the case with my Bike Friday (which will be carried free of charge by Southwest Air on my next trip coming up soon - and has already paid for itself several times over just in avoided baggage charges).

Petanque

Perhaps I should have been a little more specific however, I did mention that my wife also has a folder (BF) so we are talking two folding bikes in the back of our VW Golf Hatchback. As we live on mainland Europe most ov our holidays involve traveling by road, so two bikes, luggage, gear etc, you get the picture. Apart from the practical side of things, my new bike has reminded me that there is something special about a folder, it is different, when I spot a cyclist on a folder I am always interested and often end up in conversation, based on the bike, how it is used and adventures had. I have used an external bike rack for my big bike, but this brings its own problems. Thank you for all of your good wishes with my new Dahon.