Folding Bikes

We have done a fair amount of riding, but not on folding bikes.  I rode one of my father-in-law's, and it was a fairly well built bike.  The change in position and dynamics bothered me.  That may be because I'm accustomed to road bikes, and the wheel size of the folding bike is much smaller. That being said, a friend rode one on a 250 mile ride that I went on, and he had no mechanical problems with it at all.  His comment was that it wasn't made for that kind of riding!

As far as holding up, my in-laws used for several years (light use).  I don't remember what brand they were.  I would guess there are some good ones, and some not so good ones, just like any other style of bike.  I hope someone else will chime in with better knowledge of this kind of bike than I have. 

I have the folder from CW and it is a good bike for short trips around the campground. Sturdy built and easily stored.

Dale, Joe,

Thanks for the insights.  That's what we're looking for - something for getting around campgrounds once we've parked.

Don

You will do fine with one of these bikes, mine is pretty comfy for short trips and it is multi speed in case I need a lower gear. 

I'd like to get one too, just for riding the paved roads around a campground.   Multi-speed would be important.   Let's get researching!

Here's a link to folding bikes on AZ, I have the 6 speed Dahon, good all around sturdy bike.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb...fix=folding+bi%2Caps

I have a Dahon that uses full size tires.  Very nice and you can't tell it is a folding bike unless it is in the folded position. 

Check out Downtube folding mini Mt bikes.  We have two (owned for 2 years) and love them.  They are true suspension type bikes with shocks and sturdy frame, 6 speed.  We added the Cloud 9 gel seats.  Like the upright riding position and 20" wheels and cross tread design.  Come with own carrying case and fold up perfectly.

sorry to chime in late; but here's my 2 cents: i think the camping world folders would be fine for cruising the campground. i have a dahon vigor P9; it's expensive at $800, but rides great. the 20" wheels take a bout 1 minute to get used to, then they're really fun to ride. the small wheels feels squirrely at first, but once you're used to it, squirrely turns into agile! i love riding mine now. i'm flying up to seattle with it in 2 weeks to ride it around the san jaun islands for a few days. i'll report back with my feelings about the bike when i get back if anyone is interested.

if you're fairly mechanical, i'd go with hand brakes and an external derailleur (for shifting), as they are fairly easy to adjust. these type of components are lighter weight and less expensive than an internal hub shifting and coaster (foot) brakes. however, if you want less maintenance, internal hub shifting (3, 7, 8, 9+ gears) and a coaster brake may be better. just remember, if something does go wrong with those type of components, they are more difficult to work on yourself.

if i were getting a "campground cruiser", i'd still buy something name-brand (ie: dahon) with name-brand components (ie: shimano). but i'm pretty anal about my stuff. however, from what i've seen here, most LOAers are are pretty picky about their stuff too and would be frustrated by a cheap bike.

NYCewheels and youtube have some great reviews and videos for folding bikes,

john

So far we can't complain about our folding campground cruisers from CW nor can our friends who have had them for 2 years. The price is right for the camp ground scene.

Thanks all for the input on this thread.  It's an idea that I've had in the back of my mind as well.  Thanks DandV for starting this thread!  Now I can actually have a starting point on researching!

WoodGlue

Here are some links to get started!  I never knew so many places (LLBean, Home Depot, etc) carried folding bikes!

Folding Bike Reviews

WoodGlue

The bikes at CW are still on sale, I have the six speed, nice , well built bike.

http://www.campingworld.com/sh...d-folding-bike/70089

Yep - Victoria spotted the CW sale.  They're still on our wish list.  So many things we want...and so limited money... 

Don

While we were at the Summer in Oregon Rally we drove over to Florence to visit Bike Friday, where their folding bicycles are made. Expensive compared to others mentioned on this forum, but if you want a folding bicycle that can travel beyond the campground, you will find it at Bike Friday. They are built to fit your specifications. Check out their website if you want additional info.

Zoe,

Thanks for the advice.  We'll give you a shout if we get our TT out to Monterey County.  Victoria was born in Salinas.  I'm not from CA, but I am a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.

Don

I have an electric folding bike made my PREDECO. It is a 26" bike, has 7 speeds if you want to pedal and it is 36 volts with a lithium battery. The range is 30 miles on a charge. Mine is called a Phantom X. I bought it on Amazon with free shipping for $1200 3 years ago now it is $1300. This bike has disk brakes, no resistance pedaling and will pull steep hills. I leave my truck hooked up to my boat. Therefore I ride to shower or store and of course to BS.

I bought a Dahon Vigor P9 a year ago and thought it was about time for a review. It's light weight (for a folding bike) at 25 lbs and has 9 gears with a good range. At $800 it is priced halfway between a cheap Camping World bike and a high end Bike Friday. Bike Friday does offer an $850 model, but it is considered a travel bike as opposed to a commuter bike; the difference being a travel bike folds to smaller dimensions but takes longer to fold and may require tools, whereas a commuter takes seconds to fold. Even though my primary use is for travel, the commuter was a better option for me because i can fold it quickly, slip it in bag and store it in my hotel room (or TT).

I bought a cheap Samsonite roller suitcase at Ross which holds the bike securely and doesn't incur any additional airline charges.

Riding the bike is a blast. The small wheels feel a little squirrely at first, but are very agile once you get used to them. The frame is rigid enough to climb steep hills yet quite comfortable. It has an adjustable handle post, so you can switch from a bent over aero position to an upright cruiser position with just one quick release (an additional bonus i hadn't thought of before buying this bike).  

For anyone in the market for a high quality folding bike but doesn't want to spend thousands, this is an excellent choice. 2 other bikes i really liked were the Tern Verge P9 and the Novaro flyby (@ REI). If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask...2 things I love talking about are bikes and campers! 

John 

Another camping cyclist here

Currently all of my folders are vintage... 1970's Raleigh Twentys and 1980's Dahon Classic III's. There are a lot of options out there, choose the one that works best for you! The Raleighs were ~$100 a piece not including upgrades. I bought the pair of Dahon's from a local thrift store for $100. Only the red one has been upgraded so far, probably have $70 in new parts on that one. My Raleigh (the one with the head light) has over $300 in upgrades and stuff on it. I have quite a few bikes, but hey, they are cheaper than RV's and Airplanes.

Aaron