i have just changed my commute from a mini 2.5 mile to 5 mile each way and a train journey so im using my dahon folder. 5 miles on that thing with steep hills about killed me. my fitness level is pretty good so i was a bit stunned.
ive read posts about people comfortably doing 10-15 mile rides easily on bromptons etc so i ask you people who do this are you riding nothing but flat or is your middle name lance armstrong.
cant go back to my sirrus as i have to get the train as well and they are getting strict about rush hour bikes on trains into london.
will it get easier? i might be saving a little bit of the enviroment but im killing myself
Who does 10 mile plus on a folder?
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commuterguy
its just the basic speed model, 7 speed sram gears etc, maybe its just that i need to get use to using it regularly again. on flat straight runs its nice its just hill climbs and when you have to get out the saddle it seems to lose the feel of being a proper bike and feels like im riding my nephews asda bmx
Used to do 6 miles in and 20miles home on the Birdy...didn't give me any trouble, maybe 10 mins slower over all than my road bike but easier to get on the train in the morning. Ride included either Mucklow's Hill or over Clent - not Alpine in proportion but steep enough, just whacked it in a lower gear and span up.
Thing I find about folders is generally (apart from those such as Moultons or Airnimals - dismountables) they won't go as fast as a cumbersone and if you try to make them go as fast you'll find that it takes a lot of effort for less reward. If you just accept that you will just be merrily pootling along then they are fine.
Having said that I don't know how steep/big the hills that you do are commuterguy, but have you considered reducing the gearing a bit?
Thing I find about folders is generally (apart from those such as Moultons or Airnimals - dismountables) they won't go as fast as a cumbersone and if you try to make them go as fast you'll find that it takes a lot of effort for less reward. If you just accept that you will just be merrily pootling along then they are fine.
Having said that I don't know how steep/big the hills that you do are commuterguy, but have you considered reducing the gearing a bit?
I have the same bike.. I've thought about trying my 40mile round trip commute on it for a change... But haven't yet...
If I was going to do it I'd definitely have to put some SPD pedals on it first. I find it can all get a bit flexy when you start stomping on the flat pedals, whereas a bit of careful spinning with clippies would be better.
On the road I think I can go faster on the Dahon than my MTB, but I've yet to verify this for sure.
If I was going to do it I'd definitely have to put some SPD pedals on it first. I find it can all get a bit flexy when you start stomping on the flat pedals, whereas a bit of careful spinning with clippies would be better.
On the road I think I can go faster on the Dahon than my MTB, but I've yet to verify this for sure.
Re: Who does 10 mile plus on a folder?
commuterguy wrote:i have just changed my commute from a mini 2.5 mile to 5 mile each way and a train journey so im using my dahon folder. 5 miles on that thing with steep hills about killed me. my fitness level is pretty good so i was a bit stunned.
ive read posts about people comfortably doing 10-15 mile rides easily on bromptons etc so i ask you people who do this are you riding nothing but flat or is your middle name lance armstrong.
cant go back to my sirrus as i have to get the train as well and they are getting strict about rush hour bikes on trains into london.
will it get easier? i might be saving a little bit of the enviroment but im killing myself
I've done 7 miles on my brommie. The only downside was that I managed to work up a bit of a sweat and was wearing civvies.
Should have took it slower.
Gazza
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Tom Richardson
- Posts: 772
- Joined: 25 Jun 2007, 1:45pm
I'm out on a job on Friday and will cover about 20miles in the day on my Brompton - but no more than 3 miles in one go.
I don't think that 5 miles is too far but if I had to do it regularly I would be thinking about getting a different bike (like an Airnimal Joey if only they would take fixed mudguards)
But I think it depends how well the folder fits you. I'm tall and heavy and have the Brompton at the extent of its size, and its hilly round here so I have reduced gearing with consequence that it spins out easily even on the flat.
If you can get the folder to fit you (saddle height, distance to bars etc and acceptable gearing) then two times 5 miles every may be ok
I don't think that 5 miles is too far but if I had to do it regularly I would be thinking about getting a different bike (like an Airnimal Joey if only they would take fixed mudguards)
But I think it depends how well the folder fits you. I'm tall and heavy and have the Brompton at the extent of its size, and its hilly round here so I have reduced gearing with consequence that it spins out easily even on the flat.
If you can get the folder to fit you (saddle height, distance to bars etc and acceptable gearing) then two times 5 miles every may be ok
I tend to use my Brommie for short trips to the Station/Bus Stop. But I'm quite happy with gerater distances.
I don't like to wear cycle gear on the bike, it's a vanity thing, it just doesn't look right!
As I say, I have done 7.5 miles from Birmingham to my house without a problem except I pushed it a little to hard and worked up a sweat.
If you really want to see distance riding on a Brommie, how about 1,029 miles? Most days on the trip seem to be above 70 miles and on one day this nutter put in 102 miles.
See the website: JoGLE by Brompton
So, to answer your orignal query, 10 miles a day shouldn't be too much of a worry >;o)
Gazza
I don't like to wear cycle gear on the bike, it's a vanity thing, it just doesn't look right!
As I say, I have done 7.5 miles from Birmingham to my house without a problem except I pushed it a little to hard and worked up a sweat.
If you really want to see distance riding on a Brommie, how about 1,029 miles? Most days on the trip seem to be above 70 miles and on one day this nutter put in 102 miles.
See the website: JoGLE by Brompton
So, to answer your orignal query, 10 miles a day shouldn't be too much of a worry >;o)
Gazza
Why not Look at Sheila's Wheelers E2E Journal
Or My Personal Site
Or My Tweets
Whatever you do, buy fair trade.
And smile.
Or My Personal Site
Or My Tweets
Whatever you do, buy fair trade.
And smile.
The longest day rides I have done on my Brompton are just over 100 miles, in under 10 hours. Today I did a tea run, a round trip of 27 miles, in exactly 2 hours. I see no difference in performance on road, except in hilly terrain where the 6 gears show some disadvantage, especially when carrying the full camping load, eg in the Highlands of Scotland or on Skye.
I used to do 6 miles on a 6 speed brommie which was flat and it was fine. I'd do 4.5 of hilly and it was hell. Thats why i swapped the brommie for a birdy touring, which eats hills for breakfast. It is sluggish on the flat though.
I've done 22 on both before (my full commute). They were both OK as its a gently sloping route that both bike could handle.
I've done 22 on both before (my full commute). They were both OK as its a gently sloping route that both bike could handle.
I hate snow.
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minkey
Airnimal Joey
Do 13 miles each way every day on my Airnimal Joey. Feels no different than a light MTB - other than weighing much less!
I use my folder (Xootr Swift) purely for leisure rides and can easily cover over 30 miles in an afternoon jaunt. It has 20" wheels (100psi), 8 SRAM gears and rides just like a 700c bike. I suppose it depends on which model folder you have. I chose the Swift because of the ride quality - the fact that it folds is a bonus.
Since getting it through the Cycle to Work scheme back in March, I regularly (about twice a week) do 9 miles each way to the station on my Dahon Matrix. I'm intending to do the full 20+ miles into Leeds during cycle to work week. This may not be much to some on here, but will be the longest ride I've done for about 30 years. I'm not a great expert, but I find the Matrix very comfortable and I can cope with bigger hills than on my 5 year old Falcon Equator.