Good regular sized bikes that can fold up?
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Good regular sized bikes that can fold up?
Just curious if high quality regular sized folding bikes exist. I test rode a Birdy and it just isn't for me and supposedly the Birdy is super comfortable and can make bumps less noticeable compared to other folders like Brompton however my butt hurt as if I was gangbanged by 10 guys in that region for one hour straight after I rode the bike for like 30 minutes. A bike salesman said it's cause folders with small wheels will make bumps feel worse compared to regular sized bike with regular sized wheels. And it's definitely true after I rode a normal bike. But I just want to know if there are high quality regular sized folding bikes exist. If so please list them, thanks.
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The Montague line is the only one I can think of straight off.
Otherwise you can get couplings (S & S ?) that lets you split a regular bike in half.
Slower than fold/unfold, but offers up a huge variety of bikes for easy transportation.
Otherwise you can get couplings (S & S ?) that lets you split a regular bike in half.
Slower than fold/unfold, but offers up a huge variety of bikes for easy transportation.
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#6
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Tern and Dahon offer 26" wheel folders. Tern has some trick models. Dahon had the Cadenza with 26" wheels, LockJaw hinges and disks.
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Aside from the already mentioned Montague there are a couple more of bigger wheeled folders like i.e. the Airnimals and certain models from Tern and Dahon (the latter being ok, but lower quality than the Airnimal). Generally spoken they tend to offer a bit of a more comfy ride as they offer the possibility for wider tires than most small wheelers do and generally ride more grown-up like a normal bike over Bumps. In that sense your salesman was not wrong. But this is mainly a question of getting used to. 20" folders are between the two, depending from the model and some, like the Moultons, offer suspension.
For butt-issues the solution usually is not in the bike but in the saddle. The actual Brompton saddle is not that bad but a bit harsh and there are definitvely better options in terms of comfort for longer distances. Many regular riders prefer leather-saddles. You could i.e. go for a Brooks (1000 km of gang-bang during break in, after that fitting like a glove if you went for the right model for your anatomy) or for a selle anatomica (comfy from day one).
For butt-issues the solution usually is not in the bike but in the saddle. The actual Brompton saddle is not that bad but a bit harsh and there are definitvely better options in terms of comfort for longer distances. Many regular riders prefer leather-saddles. You could i.e. go for a Brooks (1000 km of gang-bang during break in, after that fitting like a glove if you went for the right model for your anatomy) or for a selle anatomica (comfy from day one).
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Depends on birdie set up also.
Not many birdies have big apples fitted. But they fit back standard and front with out mudguards.
Add a sus post and they can go pretty much where you take your ridgid.
Not many birdies have big apples fitted. But they fit back standard and front with out mudguards.
Add a sus post and they can go pretty much where you take your ridgid.
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+1 Big Apples, Thudbuster adapter, and a Brooks (go Cambium so you don't have the break-in issues) as well as padded shorts. If that combo doesn't work for you, nothing will.
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I wouldnt rule out 20" bikes.
Many options out there that can substitute for a 26" wheeled bike.
Birdie is not a typical folder.
Many options out there that can substitute for a 26" wheeled bike.
Birdie is not a typical folder.
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If you haven't considered that getting a new seat is a viable solution for your sore butt dilemma then yes there are full size folding bikes. Montague and Tern have 26" and even 27.5" wheel folding bikes. There are plenty of other 26" wheel folding bikes like Dajon Jack, ChangeBike, IF Mode, Fuji Marlboro Folder (old bike from the 90's). My advice would be to start with a new seat first.
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I've recently picked up a Biomega Boston folding bike. Not the recent version with 8-speed Alfine hub, but the first generation single-speed model. It's close to the feel of a regular sized bike. But the fold is a little untidy (to put it mildly), and with its 24" wheels and non-folding handlebar stem, the folded form does not really have any of the compactness advantages of smaller wheeled folders.