Tadgh78

Hi all, I need advice on choosing a folding bike for a 5 mile/9km each-way commute. I’m reasonably fit but new to cycling.At one point on the route there is 30 meters of elevation to be gained over a distance of 700 meters which I think I might find a bit challenging. There is 70 metres of elevation gain in total over the 5 miles.

I don’t really want to spend too much on the bike in case I end up not taking to cycling. I mainly thought it would be a good way to get in some excercise over the coming year.

Any advice? Thanks in advance.

Thanks,

Tadgh

Jipe

Must you carry the folded bike ?

Is folded size + weight important for you ?

Winfried

30/700 = 42/1000 = 4,2%

You don't need to be particularly fit, especially if you make sure the bike has low gears (eg. 2m/25"). At worst, during the first few weeks, you can always walk that part.

Since you're not sure you'll stick to riding, get a second hand bike that you can easily resell, so you don't lost any/much money in the process.

I recommend you get one that has a welded lug in the front — most Dahon's have one, but not all — so you can carry a bag on the frame and avoid backpacks, and preferabley with a gear hub instead of a derailleur so you can change gears any time.

Tadgh78

Thanks for the reply. I don’t expect to have to carry the bike any distance. Folded size and weight isn’t important as long as I can fit it into the boot (trunk) of an average car.

@windfried Thanks for the detailed reply!
Would the “Dahon d7 cromoly super light 7 speed” do the job? They seem to able to be had fairly cheaply second-hand.

They have a 20” wheel size. Is that sufficient for covering a 5 mile distance each way?

3speedslow

If it’s the right bike= Better chance of having a positive commuting experience. Don’t short change your purchase too much.

deciding to commute is the first great choice!

Winfried

It's a derailleur, not a gear hub, but otherwise, the Speed is a well known model. You can probably get one second hand for less, and upgrade later if do you stick to riding a bike.

There's also the Vitesse i7HG with a Nexus 7 gear hub.

You can get this adapter to use a Brompton bag in the front:

In the city (15kph/10mph), 5 miles takes about 30mn door to door.

Tadgh78

Thanks for the reply! If it was you, which bike would you choose for a moderately hilly 5 mile each-way commute?

Pahana

I believe the advice you've been given to purchase a second hand folding bike is good advice. Nothing can outweigh riding a bike before making a purchase. All the bikes I've rode before purchasing have turned out great. The few I purchased without a demo ride first have not worked out for me. As far as riding up hill if you're fit you can just stand out of the saddle for a bit and overcome most inclines. It's a lot more fun to stand on the pedals climbing and gives your body a change in position. There is nothing like riding a bike that fits and no amount of money that can overcome a poor fitting bike.

Schwinnsta

Dahon d7 is an excellent choice. For hills, I would much prefer a derailleur to hub gears for their efficiency and less drag.

3speedslow

All three of my Dahons have easily accomplished that task. Early Helios, 2003 Mariner, 2014 Boardwalk.

My fitness level is very good. My Brompton for that distance and elevation is a no brained also but more then you want to spend. Even my 1979 Raleigh Twenty can do that distance.

second hand all of them from CL.

Tadgh78

I’m leaning towards picking up a used Dahon. The Bromptons are nicer (as well as more expensive), but aren’t the 16” wheels on the Brompton noticeably less efficient than the 20” wheels on the Dahon’s?

Geepig

With the right pressure in the tires, efficiency is less of a concern, things like wind will always be more significant.

Holes in the road are a different issue, and my 24" wheels fly over things that my 20" wheels struggle with on the local rutted tracks I often ride.

BikeLite

I personally would go with 20" wheels.

Fentuz

If you can, go for 8 speed rather than 7 and the 8 speed can be upgraded to 9 or 10 speeds. 7 is basically what it is and it does not leave much room for customization to your needs.
8-9-10 will allows you to swap cassettes easily. Closer ratio cassettes offer smooth transmission shift somthing the 7 cassettes don't do as the gap between gear teeth is greater.

Then I would always advise a Dahon as they are pretty compact, robust and use generic transmission and brake components you can get everywhere and are easy to maintain/service whereas thing like brompton (which I really like) are using specific component that you will find at brompton specialists/retailer shops.


here is my old commuter... used to do 5 to 17 miles commutes (each way).

3speedslow

Ive not noticed any loss of efficiency between the two wheel sizes. Harshness neither. Might be down to me being a lite rider, 130lbs. The Brompton is a full wheelbase length so stability is better then the Dahon.

In your case, the Dahon is the best choice for this task. The advice given by others is spot on.

Falconista

A bit harsh to describe the sprite as an old commuter. I hope it didn't hear you...

Falconista

I agree with many of the points above. As you are quite fit, at this stage I think any old thing will do, and you will likely enjoy the mobility and exercise.

If you don't spend too much initially you can change or add in the future when you start to consider what is important to you - speed, lightweight for carrying, comfort, folded size, luggage capacity, gear range, price etc. Then you will, like the rest of us, be dragged into the search for the "perfect" bike with some combination of those attributes.

Elbeinlaw

I'm a died-in-the-wool "folding bike" enthusiast. Now on my second. BUT I caution you to hesitate. You're changing two things in your life, not one. You're not only going from new-to-biking to 10 mile per day commuter, but also regular bike--which you have undoubtedly ridden before--to folding/compact bike. If you have a lousy experience, you aren't going to know which one of those factors is the problem. So I'd advise this: BORROW a "regular bike" (or rent it you have to) as close to what you think you might need as you can. Try it for 3 months. At the end of 3 months, a few things will happen: (1) you'll find out if you hate bicycle commuting (some people do!) (2) you'll have a better idea of what gearing works for you and what size bike and (3) maybe the Covid-bike-buying-panic will calm down and there will be lots of barely-used bikes on the market.

I use this technique with everything I buy. It turns out not to cost you money: you don't "waste" money buying that first, experimental thing, because it's an investment in research and you can resell it and get back some of your investment. And you avoid buying something that is just awful because you didn't have the experience to know what would work.