I'm attempting to use my naff Halfords Apollo folder, and am close on giving up on it, brakes suck, the front bars are getting increasingly loose, the whole chainset is making way too much noise, and its just a total p.o.s.

So, I'm starting to look around at what to replace it with. I currently do about 12 miles a day, and have to fold up the bike for use on the train for the commute to work. Also, coming up in July, I'm going to be doing the London-Brighton bike ride for the bhf, along with a few other guys here in the office.

I'm wondering if its worth either getting my mountain bike sorted (which will mean a whole new chainset, tyres, brakes) for the ride, or getting a folder that will handle the daily commute, and will also be good for 50+ mile rides.

I've not got a massive budget (probably circa £300), and from browsing various sites (and e-bay), have compiled a list of possibles.

Downtube IXFS. Possibly my favourite, but not sure about 16" wheels over such a long ride.
Dahon Espresso/Jack. Definitely better for the longer rides, but not sure if it will fold enough for the train.
Dahon Speed D7, or Vitesse D5. Both seem pretty good.
Giant Halfway. not read up much on it though.

The odd one that I've seen is the Dahon Hammerhead. I've seen the Hammerhead 5 going for a good price, but its confusing. Its always listed as a folder, but the frame looks fixed, so does it fold?

It has 20" wheels and they will be fine. If not, get some wider tyres, poss Big Apples or Marathon Plus'.

It doesn't fold - it's a mini-bike. You can swivel the handlebars though to make a narrower package.

Whether you need a MTB or folder will really depend on how busy the train is. If you can get away with a full size bike - I would sort out the MTB. If the train is busy, a folder is your only solution.

50 miles should be fine on a Downtube or Dahon.

I thought the wheels were smaller on the downtube, its definitely a top contender though.

Bit miffed that the Hammerhead gets listed as a folder everywhere, when it definitely isn't.

Generally, south west trains say that full sized bikes are not allowed on the route through to Basingstoke/south coast, although there are generally carriages with sections for 3 bikes to be stored, so its a possibility, just got to make sure that I get on the right train.

Only on the Downtube Mini -16" wheels.

I sometimes use South West Trains to Richmond - and I would not want to use a full-sized bike during the rush-hour. If it is a bit hit and miss as to whether you will be able to get the appropriate, bike-friendly train, I would def go with a folder...

The DownTube FS is a very comfy ride, with its full suspension. You can be confident in that.

However, if you have to fold it for a train ride everyday, it could be a bit heavy at 29 lbs or so. What size are you? Are you a strapping big guy who can handle 29 lbs? If not, the DT front suspension is very comfortable for most urban conditions, including the occasional pothole. It's a bit lighter, and with some judicious and inexpensive upgrades, you can get the weight in the low 20's. Plus it's cheaper .

By the way, the DT frames and handlebars are very solid. They'll stand up to your commute with no problems. Even your longer ride won't be a problem.

If you're not a big person (under 6 ft), I wouldn't rule out the DT Mini for convenience on the train. It's a nice package.

For crowded UK train commutes, a flapper style folder like the Dahon or DTs really don't work - too big, heavy and inconvenient. What you need is something which is lighter and folds into the sort of small neat package that doesn't get in the way when in a crowded cabin (or even fits behind a seat - a Mezzo (which does the job on the North London Silverlink for me), a Birdy (with slightly larger wheels) or a Brompton are the best options out there. £300 would be ok for a second hand basic level Brompton or a nice d9 Mezzo (if you look hard on Ebay). A fair few people do light touring on a Brompton, and the Mezzo is a nice ride for commuting and would, I reckon stand up to longer riding (someone posted something on the Mezzo site about using one for a tour round France). Don't worry re 16" wheels - once you're used to them, they have loads of advantages in terms of weight, toughness and manoeuvrability and frankly are no problem on London roads - indeed I prefer my Mezzo to my DTFS as a lighter, quicker, more nippy bike for my daily commute - 16" wheels are not for dirt track riding, but then again, most folders aren't either.

I disagree, depends on the line, etc. I am increasingly surprised by the amount of people using cadenzas on busy trains - I wouldn't worry overly about secreting a 20" folder.

The tube is a different proposition - in the rush hour, the Brommie and Mezzo come into their own...

Yeah - guess you're right. The North London Line/Silverlink is as bad as the tube around 8am - standing room only - have tried getting on with DT, but only a Mezzo would do. The first Connect to Cambridge is rather more spacious, and often I don't even bother to fold - horses for courses I guess.

But last week, when I dropped off the kids at nursery, riding 2 stops on crowded silverlink and walking a few hundred yards with bike in one hand, 1 yr old under other arm and 3yr old trailing alongside, then cycled in to work, then faced torrential rain in the evening, so ended up abandoning the ride halfway home and taking the madly crowded bus the rest of the way, I was really glad I had my Mezzo with me and not my DT.

Thankfully, I'm relatively hefty - about 13st9 (and rising slowly due to the gym work), so wouldn't have any problems carrying many bikes.

However, I've seen plenty of people on the line from Basingstoke taking full sized racers/mtbs on the train. Its only the one I've been getting in the morning that doesn't have the bike racks, the one ten minutes after does have the racks on board, so its not really an issue, and totally at odds with what South West Trains quote. When I get on the train in the morning, its quiet as anything, and I invariably get a slightly later train out of waterloo (typically after 7pm), and have rarely had issues finding somewhere to place the bike.

However, in the short term, the naff folder has decided for me. The chain went and snapped on the way home last night, and with the lousy ride it gives, I've gone and given the mtb the once over today. Sure, it feels totally different (kinda like going from a nippy little town car to moving up to a Range Rover), but I just don't notice the bumps on the road on the mtb.

So, at least for the next few weeks, the mtb is being brought back into play. It'll be nice to not get passed by everyone, and to be able to average 20-25mph, rather than 10-12mph.

However, I will have to put a set of 26" road tyres onto the bike, seems like you can get the Marathons in that size.

Thanks for all the info though - I'll keep an eye on e-bay for Downtubes, they keep on popping up fairly regularly.

You can get very nice Schwalve Stelvio skinnys (25mm) for your MTB that will seriously improve the speed of your ride. I did it to my girlfriend's old Raleigh Spirit a couple of years ago and would definitely recommend over some sluggish knobblys. I picked them up for cheaps on ebay which is ususally pretty good for cheapy tyres...

But that's for another thread. I think the Hmmerhead gets sold as a folder because it's a Dahon and that's what they're known for. They do go very narrow - the idea being you can stow it in a cupboard or under a bed - because of bar quick release and folding pedals.

Currently doing the 'flying poo' silverlink myself at the moment - from Crouch Hill to Acton Central going a bit after the rush hour and my hat goes off for taking a bike on earlier. I haven't braved it riding between nine and ten yet. But maybe that's cos my Twenty is a total ***** to fold quickly / totally big when folded.

I tend to be on the train around 7am, its not too bad on the line from Basingstoke at that time of the morning. However, using the mtb will mean that I don't stand a chance of getting on a train at waterloo around 5pm though.

Did a few miles on the mtb today ... put my sons tag-along on the back as well. Blimey, the total weight, from being on a relatively slight folder, to a chuffin' huge full suspension mtb with massive tyres, sons tag along, and my 5 year old son behind as well ... it does take a fair bit more effort to get it to any speed.