pm124

OK, so I don't agree with the the homophobic comments in the pervious forums, but this post *was* funny. So, don't feel ganged up on and keep posting yamcha. (And you do have a point about price. But there is some quality compensation. Besides, it looks like the GBP might tank and we'll all be able to afford Moultons one day.)

EvilV, let's hear about your beautiful bike.

brakemeister

The Mini Cooper is built in England right ? ( yes BMW owns the plant but built in England ) LAst time I heard they cannot make enough ....
Almost all Formula one stuff is built, designed in England .....
my favourite old former car was built in England ( Ford Escort RS 1800 )
I am aware of Lucas ( lord of darkness ) but these days are over

same like every country .. some is junk some is gold and sometimes if it glitters it aint gold either

now back to folding bikes
thor

Loch

If I was you and could afford it, for short trips and lots of carrying, I would look really hard at the CarryMe bike. I'd love to try one myself, they look pretty cool. I think, I might be a little big for one (175 lb male 5'11''). But for what you want to do and your size, it might be perfect for you. The only problem is the cost (wish they were a little cheaper).

I have a Curve SL. I bring it with me everywhere. Usually roll it like a cart on one wheel. Even though it's about 23lbs loaded down with gear, it gets heavy carrying it up stairs and such, which I do every day at work. Might not be so much the weight, but that the package is a little awkward. The carry me is 17lbs (single speed) and seems like it would be better balanced for carrying.

Curve works perfect for me, I use the stairs for upper body strength training (us cyclist need that) and my commute is 12-15 miles round trip (a little long for the single speed carry me). Anywhere else I go, like I said, I can roll it or put it in a shopping cart.

Simple Simon

Well said OnF, I couldn't agree more ... there again, I AM a biased Brit.

v1nce

Very well you want to know where i spotted your bias, In this thread:

https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-bikes/341559-upgrading-dahon-boardwalk-could-use-some-advice.html

you said this:

"What's wrong with roller brakes on a folder? I was actually looking more at the Shimano 3-speed hub. Japanese products are usually better made than western products. Just look at the cars."

So you basically made a broad and sweeping statement that illustrates your prejudice. You may have a point !some! of the time when it concerns cars but then to proclaim that Japanase products IN GENERAL are made better than western products is amazingly obtuse.

Especially as the thread above was concerning a comparison between the Shimano Nexus three speed hub and the AW Sturmey Archer hub.. Suggesting that the Nexus is better made (or more durable) than the AW is a very hard thing to convince anyone knowledgeable of i would think. The AW was introduced in 1936 and has a absolutely sterling track record and there are AW hubs 40 + years old still working perfectly, quite a few even. The Nexus hasn't been around for a fraction of that time period and it's track record is decent or perhaps if one were generous pretty good, but nowhere near the AW.

It is not a matter of me liking English bikes or disliking Japanese products or anything like that. I like all good products irrespective of where they are made or designed.

It IS a matter of 10's of thousands (in the Brompton case) or 100 of thousands (AW) units being sold and performing amazingly due to great, great design and engineering that disprove your sweeping generalization. It is a sad thing when someone has such prejudice and actually voices it twice so quickly in succession and can't even remember doing it.

v1nce

@ OP, my sincere apologies for going off topic. I hope the you can ignore the silly posts and that the good ones offer insight so you can get a folder that you love.

Have you perhaps given thought to shopping second hand? There are quite a few second hand and older folders that are very good value for money and that are suitable for smaller riders.

spambait11

If I were her, I'd be like "What the hell?" followed by "I'm outta here. Folder people are too weird."

SesameCrunch

So true......

folder fanatic

I think I was helped into the world of folding bikes through my father's old now classic 1960's Mini. I consider my Brompton worth every cent I paid for it because it's design and rubber floating cone suspenion system is directly from that Mini series. I still have my old Phillips AW three speed bike from the 1960s with it's internal hub drive train still going strong at almost 40 years (and I bought it used serveral years ago). The Boardwalk was puposely patterned after the Phillips (including tracking down one of the last year 2000 English made AW hub I installed into it). The Brompton is another improvement over the Boardwalk. And the Piccolo is another improvement (and spare) still. I am forever grateful to the UK for creating and designing the Sturmey Archer hubs (especially the AW), the old classic Minis both Austin and Morris, and the land where the folding bike really was co-created (France and Italy had their own versions at that time).

If you look at my 1960's photos on Flickr, I was a bit too young for the hippie movement. There were many hippies (and hanger-ons who took advantage of the free love movement) around Hollywood at that time. It deteriorated into the infamous drugged mess during the mid 1970s and beyond. Besides, my parents were very strick with us. We were not allowed to run around freely (after all, I was only about 7 or 8 at the time). But my father made it a point to show us how the hippes (or rather the true followers) were like and even took us to the courthouse downtown to see the Manson family acting strange during the murder trial and what happens when weird and violence follows happiness and bliss.

Now back to folding bikes, O.K.?

v1nce

Well at least the some of the off topic posts are real interesting! @ FF very interesting experiences i think, very glad to hear of your great run with the AW and other UK gear. Having taken several apart and reassembled them i think they the AW is a true work of beauty, so intricate yet so dependable and bomb proof.

But yeah, once again, i agree perhaps it is time to get back to (folding) bikes.

OldiesONfoldies

Ya, sweeping statements are dangerous....

farrellcollie

I am 5'2 and have had both a dahon speed8 and a downtube VIII. I would not have wanted to carry either very far - both were fairly heavy. The downtube fit better - If I had kept the dahon I would have changed handlebars to make the reach closer.