Cycling UK Forum

which folding bike is any good for touring on.?and what kind of load will it be capable of carrying.

I've got dahons touring model - the speed tr - which I use as my main bike due to storage problems. I haven't toured with it yet but it is very handy on trains, off peak buses, hills and it's even done badly surface bridle tracks. The spec says max weight of about 16.5 stone, gear inches are 21" - 114" (a bizarre system of rear derailleur and 3 hub gears), bike weight 13.5 and it'll take full size panniers if you get the touring rack. JE James are selling a 2007 model for £490.

I did also look at bike fridays which look very nice and come in more options but cost at least 2 - 3 times as much. The rolls royce, if you have the money, would be the new world tourist with 14 hub gears.

There are people who tour with bromptons but that wasn't an option for me because my shoulder doesn't like them and the 20" wheeled bikes are better with potholes.

I did a 33 mile charity ride on my Dahon Jack (26" wheels), they do models with more gears which might be a suitable compromise once fitted with a rack and mudguards.

Good luck!

You need to decide priorities....

Do you want a touring bike that folds, such as the Airnimaal or Bike Friday:



...or aa folding bike that tours - inwhich case you are into Bromptons and the likes



After this you can decide on luggage.

Although some like the "Birdy" have full front and rear racks and will take four panniers and barbag, it is still less comfortable for long distances on a small wheel bike



I have toured and moved accommodation for courses using a Brompton with a Trailer (BikeHod or Cyclone) so there is no limit really apart from what you can pull.

Undoubtedly a "folding tourer" with Panniers is an option.

And how small do you want the finished package? - just remembered that Thorn will do their frames with s&s couplings, so you could have full size frame that will fold in half.

I regularly use a Brompton for cycle-camping tours, carrying about a 23kg load. It is very stable but must have the lower gearing option, and the new one will have the BWR SA hub gear which gives a better range than the Sram, which for the 6-speed is 33" to 73". Apart from limited gearing range, the cycle is extremely stable and very sturdy. The other folder which will carry these sorts of loads is the Bike Friday. Many of the lower cost ones will do well but carry far less in safety.



Here is the system I use on tour.

In addition to the excellent stuff above, I'd say that folders with suspension (mine is a Birdy) are never going to be fun to ride uphill. The suspension makes it a bit like riding a rocking horse and the short rear triangle increases the feeling that you will tip over backwards if your centre of gravity goes behind the back axle.

Anything is possible. There was an article in the CTC mag a few years ago written by a chap who had cycled around the entire coast of the mainland of Great Britain on a Brompton.

I'd agree with Cunobelin about establishing your priorities.

You do not mention your location. It's my experience that people are often very happy to let others have a go on their bike. When you have something in mind, post your location and somebody may be able to give you a bit of a test ride.

I love my Brompton, and occasionally I have even ridden it with quite a bit of luggage. But really, it and similar bikes are not made for serious touring. If that is what you want, and if you want to enjoy it, you will need a Bike Friday, an Airnimal, one the 26 inch wheeled Dahons, or a bike equipped with S&S couplers. Why does the bike need to fold?
Willem

In addition to the excellent stuff above, I'd say that folders with suspension (mine is a Birdy) are never going to be fun to ride uphill. The suspension makes it a bit like riding a rocking horse and the short rear triangle increases the feeling that you will tip over backwards if your centre of gravity goes behind the back axle.

I found similar things with my old Birdy regarding the suspension. However, I swapped to the harded elastometers and found that it improved the ride no end.
Never felt that it would go over backwards (although it has small wheels the actual wheel base isn't that different to my race bike) but if you get the hadlebar geometry wrong then the front can feel like it's going to 'tuck under' when honking. I have a stem extension and Ahead stem on mine so I have a less crmped cockpit than some..this helps a lot.

looking to buy a airnimal joey on a bike to work scheme,spa cycles have 1 in might test ride this week.Do i go for a saddlepack or panniers!!! for touring,poss looking to have a mini tour of the lakes .

That probably depends on how much you want to take. If you want to go camping even a large saddle bag is very tight.
Willem

The Xootr Swift folds but rides like a "normal bike". It has standard parts that can be upgraded easily and can be adapted to carry luggage. Not the smallest fold (the rear wheel and frame tuck under the main frame member and the seat post holds it all together. I've had mine for two years and very rarely ride anything else these days.

The Bike Friday New World Tourist has something of a cult following:

http://www.bikefriday.com/newworldtourist