Folding Bikes

[prexelor]

I was looking at the biking thread recently and think I need to get on a bike and do some exercise.

Space is limited and only recently became aware of folding bikes. I would be looking to buy through a work cycle scheme and have looked at Free Spirt or Ammaco folding bikes. I have looked at Dahon, Tern and even Brompton which are more than I would like to spend.

I am envisaging only light cycling on flat routes to see how I progress as my asthma has increased in recent years and topped up with WFH eating.

Does anyone have any experience or recommendations?

[andy tims]

Brompton are expensive, but for a reason. Smallest folded size and great build quality really boost the residuals.

[eagletower]

Brompton. Also they hold their value really well. So should you want to change/upgrade you can sell your old one and recoup a lot of the cost.

[MMC]

A third vote for Brompton here.

Bought mine in 2002 and used it for five years commuting Padd-EC1A with no bother and a lot of fun.

Two London to Brighton rides too, and it happily made it up Ditchling when a lot of mountain bikes were struggling - and down the other side too.

If I had to have just one bike, it'd be the Bromp.

[Si]

What is your budget?

The Brompton is the best option if your priority is size when folded - e.g. to meet requirements to bring it on the tube. That’s one reason why their resale value is so good. However, they aren’t that great to ride (IMO) with their small wheel size, and the rear triangles rust like billy-o.

If you don’t want to spend much at this stage, the B’Twin folders from Decathlon get good reviews. Halfords do a Raleigh Evo for about £300. Both of those have 20” wheels, slightly larger than the Brompton’s, which tend to ride better on today’s clapped out roads.

[prexelor]

Thank you all.

Bromptons do make sense from holding their value perspective. However I’m currently envisaging spending less than £400 RRP which equates to £270 payment. A Brompton B75 at £850 RRP would be £570~.

I would not require taking the bike on public transport but would be stored indoors. I did have a bike many years which was stored in the shed and required emptying the shed to get the bike out. And not to mention spiders setting up home on it.

I did look at a BTwin at Decathlon but it is not a provider on my work scheme.

[Si]

If you don’t need to use it on public transport, folded size isn’t that important so that negates one of the big advantages of the Brompton, even if it was within budget.

Is Halfords on your work scheme? I can see a couple that might be within budget:

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/folding-bikes/

Second-hand outright purchase would be another way of getting something decent for your money, especially if it needed a bit of work that you could do yourself, but on the assumption that you want to buy new via your work scheme, that is all I can see right now.

[noTAGlove]

A Brompton B75 at £850 RRP would be £570~.

I think from this you are a higher rate 40% taxpayer. If so, the maths is slightly better if the scheme is salary sacrifice, as you save on 2% NI too.

So, it will cost you around £552 all in, with £41 nett deducted each month from your salary for 12 months, and a final one off payment of £60 to own it later. You’ll barely notice £41 out of your monthly salary.

Go for the B75, it is a cracking folder. Although I am biased as I have a M6L and the wife’s got a M3L.

[RobDad]

I had a Brompton a few years back - couldn’t tell you the model - and used to ride into Soho from the train station. The very first time I folded it outside a coffee shop I was approached by a ridiculously hot young lady who asked me all about the bike and we had a lovely chat - it was like I’d rolled up in a new Ferrari! This happened a few times over the next couple of years, the folding mechanism really impressed people (you get very quick with a bit of practice) - for some reason often attractive women, I was out with friends a few times and they couldn’t believe something so nerdy was a bit of a f**** magnet :)


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[prexelor]

I had a Brompton a few years back - couldn’t tell you the model - and used to ride into Soho from the train station. The very first time I folded it outside a coffee shop I was approached by a ridiculously hot young lady who asked me all about the bike and we had a lovely chat - it was like I’d rolled up in a new Ferrari! This happened a few times over the next couple of years, the folding mechanism really impressed people (you get very quick with a bit of practice) - for some reason often attractive women, I was out with friends a few times and they couldn’t believe something so nerdy was a bit of a f**** magnet :)


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Well my folding skills are less than impressive but getting there. The handlebar is a bit stiff at the moment and may loosen up after a few outings.

[prexelor]

PSA - The B75 is in stock at brompton.com