Leo H.

Well, I bought my first folder today.
It is a 1976 Bickerton and I'm the second owner. The guy selling it said his grandmother
had bought it to carry around in the trunk of her car, but she decided she didn't want to
ride it, nor anyone else in the family, so he kept it and it's been stored inside for many
years.
It's interesting and it's funky and it's light, but I haven't weighed it just yet.

99.9% all there and shifts and stops well. It has a diamond pattern in the braking
surface on the chrome rims. That's interesting. I have to find somewhere to get
white 14" and 16" bicycle tires though....

I plan to use it as a car minimizer and not as regular round trip transportation, which
was my intent for acquiring a folding bike, so this should suit.

Sakae chainwheel, Weinmann brakes, S/A 3spd hub (don't know these hub specs yet), original Raleigh tires.

Fun!!!

Niked

Congratulations! A vintage bike too.

rhenning

I have two Bickertons. One like yours and a newer one with 20 inch wheels. Be very careful with the front tire as I have never found a source for that 14" tire in the 10 years I have owned it. My only comment is it is the worst riding bike I own. The 20" is better but not by much. Roger

bhkyte

welcome,just the one folder so far........................? Be warned, be afraid ,be very afraid.......................

nekohime

Oh no, he's caught the folderitis!!!

BruceMetras

Did you try contacting Mark Bickerton for the tires? I inquired a couple of years back and they still had 14" tires.

Here's a site that says they carry the 14x 1 3/8 tire.

https://www.broadstone.freeserve.co.uk/

edwong3

Congratulations on the "new" bike...a real classic!

Here is a link to one vendor that carries 14" tires:

https://www.everybicycletire.com/Shopping/c-10-14.aspx

The Schwalbe is the best of the 3 on that page. To find possibly more sellers that carry 14" tires, just use your favorite search engine, and use a term like "14 inch bike tire". You should get a lot of hits.

Remember once you got your first folder, "resistance is futile".

snafu21

Poor guy, Ed; don't egg him on by telling him tyres are available.

Welcome to the madhouse, Leo.

BruceMetras

None of those are suitable.. the Bickerton takes a 14x1-3/8, (27-298) tire.. rare bird .. but apparently still available in the UK.

brakemeister

go to the Dahon Forums MArk Bickerton is hanging out there and he will help

Thor

https://forum.dahon.com/index.php#

rhenning

Not ordering tires from the UK for a bike I seldom ride. 14x1 3/8 is a very unusual size. Roger

vmaniqui

Congrats. Don't blame us all here that we didn't warn you about folderitis. anyway i found a nice Sports Illustrated Article about your bike:

https://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...4182/index.htm

vic

TiberiusBTkirk

nice pick up, I see a couple of them in the city.
I was just looking at a folder with 14 in tires yesterday.

vmaniqui

wrong title header - should have been ----- Joined the Fold-eritis.

Sixty Fiver

At 300.00 plus these were very expensive bikes in their day, especially when you consider the R20 cost $89.95 which sacrificed packability for rideability.

Leo H.

Thanks 65er, that's a sweet looking generator rig, and your bell reminds me I have one that I now need to
place it in its new home. Plus, I like the look of the rear reflector which is the only real missing part I don't have yet.
The only thing is, whatever tire I get is going to have to be ascob, any solid color other than black. Preferably white<g>

It came with a carrying bag, but it's not a Bickerton bag as I noticed in the brochure, the carry bag doubles as a
handlebar bag. It also pointed out to me the little hooks at the top of the handlebars are not for the cables but
for the carrybag/handlebar bag.

Leo H.

No doubt. Now all I have to do is find the example of a folding recumbent, then I'll be all set!
I've read the SI article. I haven't read all the brochure material on the Bickerton site, but I
will over the weeks.

Leo H.

I'll try him when I have to. I've emailed him and he's asked for
pictures. Got to get a new USB cable for my camera first, but
I've written to Derek asking about tires and the rear reflector, but
I haven't heard back from him yet.
When I first asked him about what to look for, he sent me a very
detailed list of locations to look for wear and what weaknesses to
be on the lookout for. Seemed like a very nice guy.

He's the one with the broadstone.freeserve.co.uk website.

Leo H.

I'd read some comments from someone about the moving handlebars and the flexing frame when you move in a blog, so I was prepared when I test rode it. I was glad I knew about that, because it did seem ungainly until you get up to speed and then it's a pretty smooth ride.
Any suggestions as to what brake pads to use when I go through these ones? I'm thinking they'll wear fairly quick with those indentations on the rims...do all Bickertons have those rims or have people taken them off over the years?
I am sure other bikes do ride better, but I still like the cool appearance of the bike. I don't plan to fold it completely down often; I don't want to stress things out anymore than I can aside from riding the bejeebers out of it. After I replace the tires, at least. I've got a 9% grade up to my house for half a mile, I don't want to worry about tire failure.

I told Mark, after I saw an attached photo on his sig showing 3 suited gentlemen unfolding their Bickertons while wearing bowlers, that I had a fedora, but if necessary I'd consider a bowler if it looked ok on my head...but only while riding the Bickerton!

Sixty Fiver

That is just an image from wiki commons... I only own one folder which is a Phillip's 20.

EM42

welcome to wobbly world !

mine's not getting much use but its hard to part with it

Leo H.

It's tough. Wanting to ride it and equally wanting to keep it
in as good a shape as possible.
I need another one that's not in as good a shape as the one
I have and ride THAT one like a so and so!

bhkyte

Can they be customised to be a good bike,l ike a R20 can ?

folder fanatic

It seems to be spreading throughout a newly-opened minded population that wants a real affordable alternative to the car available all the time now.

This topic in many forms has been posted in the past, is being posted now, and I think will continue to being posted far into the future. It is completely intertwined with folding bike usage, no matter the make/model/year of your bikes(s).

That is more in my field. The solution is very simple. Sew your own replacement bag either just like the original one (ask Mr. Bickerton for a pattern copy or at least the bag's dimensions if he still has them) or one similarly made up with some additions that you want to add on using the little hooks size and positions as a guide. If you cannot sew, perhaps someone you know could or hire a seamstress or tailor.

Keep it in the house away from the elements & thieves, keep it maintained and it should last and last.

Last thing to remember DON'T LOCK IT UP OUTSIDE LIKE REGULAR BIKES COMMONLY ARE, NO MATTER WHO TELLS YOU TO!