cheapest folding bike that collapses into a bag/backsack? (commuting to/from train)
 

any recommendations re what brands/models to look for here (I'm new to folding bikes)

• want to use it for a simple 1-2km ride from either end of the train station to/from work
• cheap - don't want to spend too much
• small - collapses into a small bag/backpack (for carring onto train, or taking up into work building)
• ride can be rough - not looking for the perfect bike

A-bike. Horrible, but it has a cult following, and is the only one that answers to your description.

thanks jur - yes that looks pretty much what I'm after - would be good with just slightly bigger wheels

If only 1-2 kms is your intended range a scooter might be a better option to an A-Bike.

functionally you may be right re the scooter - but I just can't see myself on a scooter (prefer a bike)

haven't found the local retailer/distributor yet in Australia for A-Bike?

Saw this on eBay - do you think this is the real A-Bike (i.e. not a copy)? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/A-Bike-Fo...item336d9ad20e

how about a pair of roller-blades for 2 km

The only way I think to see if it is the genuine article is to do some googling on price. The original had a pretty steep price IIRC, but perhaps these are good quality copies... They look good and have the bigger wheels which I think important, the first ones had tiny useless wheels.

You could ask the ebay dealer and see what their answer is.

Or, Pacific Reach The CarryMe, not much bigger than the A-Bike but far far more capable.

@Diode100 - thanks for the pointer re "Pacific Reach The CarryMe" - is it a little more expensive but better quality option to the A-Bike then?

Any others in this category I should have a look at? or are A-Bike and CarryMe two of the main ones?

BTW, how tall are you? These suggestions are a bit small for the average strapping westerner.

The Carryme is much more solid and a waaay better ride than the Abike but then with the carryme it is alot heavier and you will not be able to put it into your backpack. It doesn't fold anywhere as small as the Abike. The abike is really the smallest we have here, and it comes with it's own backpack also for you to put it in. 1-2km would be ok and it should be much more stable than roller blades. At least with a bike you can ditch when in trouble, while roller blades are stuck to your feet if you are not good at it and really need to bail. Plus they also came out with an official Abike city which does come with 8 inch wheels now which is the same size wheels as the carryme.

This seems to be an official site but it's not a cheap bike though:

http://www.a-bike.co.uk/store/checkout1.php

UK£ 279.99 = about 3000 Swedish kronor.

Not sure if that is much or very cheap.
A Brompton cost some three times as much?
The A-bike city has much bigger wheels than the first version.

I've tested the first version on good road condition
and it was easier to handle than both Strida and Brompton
which I tested same day.

The Bike Club of Stockholm had a Bike day and a lot of very
different bikes where present. So the copies can be extremely bad
but the originals are almost okay. Not as good as a CarryMe but the
size of a A-bike City compared to a CarryMe makes the A-bike the
only one that can be carried easily in a bag that way. One only have
to pad it reasonably so the metal parts not poke you in the back.

I find a CarryMe to be too big to have in a bag but sure that is possible.
Even a Brompton is possible to have in a bag but them are comparably bigger.

It is sad that the Chinese "Free Ride" is not sold in West. Is is very small bike.

5'11" (~182cm)

Weakling - did you test ride the 8" A-Bike? That would be really interesting to hear how it goes with the bigger wheels...

I doubt that you gonna be happy with any small bike when you are 182 cm tall, than again for 1 to 2 kilometer ...why not.
I might be just gunshy of placing tall people on smaller than usual bikes, hence my personal recomendations for the max height for the Jifo.... and than I let somebody considerable taller test ride it and he was all smiles....

thor

Here are some you can look through and decide http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bikes...ag_womens%5D=1

The ebay vendor you posted - I emailed them and it is actually a surfboard shop - Numfish.com.au. They have both versions on their website.

At 182cm I would strongly recommend a test ride. Problem is finding one of these bikes for a test. If you are near Numfish surf shop then problem solved.

I have not put any energy into finding one. I have tested only two A-bikes.
One real and one fake. Very big difference. Can not be compared.
Two totally different experiences.

Them only had the very small wheels when I tested some years ago.

I don't trust any dealer here in Sweden has imported them.
No demand to have them from bike riders. Folders are only for enthusiasts here.

Sure I can buy one from England but I am into Rollators or balance bikes
for very tall people. I am 1940 mm. And weight 100KG now so I don't
trust an A-bike last for so long. :)

But talking about carrying them in a bag. The metal parts but also the
plastic parts poke into the body if one have it on back. One need a lot
of padding foam that make it less poky.

If you're 5'11, there is no way you'll fit on an A-Bike. I'm 5'7 and that bike was too small for me!! Why not look into buying a Xootr kick scooter? If there are no hills this kick scooter is much faster than an A-bike. Just wear gloves and knee pads because you will wipe out.

http://www.xootr.com/kick-scooter_mg.html

I had an A-Bike and sold it after 4 rides. Too slow, poor rolling and dangerous small wheels.

@Steve - thanks Steve - I think you've convinced me :) Ok, but if I don't go for the A-Bike, and consider a scooter, the question I have then might be whether to consider (a) scooter versus (b) carryme. Carryme looks great, but I'm just wondering about the taking onto the train aspect? it just doesn't seem to be as collapsable as an A-Bike

That depends on which train you are talking about. Some trains allow all bikes, some only folding bikes. You need to check your train line's policy.

train here is ok I think (I'll double check) however it was more about portability into/out of the train/building between the two:
- carryme ~8.2kg (so better ride, but a little heavier to cart around it seems)
- scooter ~4.3kg (for Xootr Roma Push)

So not sure whether if I had both I'd end up riding the CarryMe for the better ride, or Scooter for ease in the train/taking into building out work....hummmm

For your 1-2km route at each end, plus having to lug the thing around, I would say the expenditure on either is not really justified, well maybe marginally for the scooter, but then you have to ask yourself whether you are the kind of guy who is going to feel cool on a scooter. Of course a Carryme is a good enough bike that it might open up all kinds of other cycling possibilities for you, who knows.

yeah not that keen on the guy in work clothes on a scooter look

the carryMe looks like it's got some little wheels to drag it along by which looks well thought out...

http://www.pacific-cycles.com/UserFi...ct/RW--305.jpghttp://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/493991...1243688448.jpg