In baggage
Seat first
Mostly through
Next to the plane folded
Unfolded
In baggage |
Seat first |
Mostly through |
Next to the plane folded |
Unfolded |
I have been searching and
considering a folding bike for some time. Perhaps my search can benefit you, although my
needs and priorities may be different from yours. My goal is to have a way to get from
smaller airfields to town, typically 3-5 miles and usually less than 10. My major
criterion is space. I have an M20E Mooney. It has the shortest body of any M20 series
Mooney. The baggage door is 18.5x16.5" and the baggage compartment is
34x34x16.5" The sizes are not exact; I used the smallest dimension for measurements
that weren't square. I wanted to hold open the possibility of two bikes eventually, so
while one could take up the back seat, two would have to be smaller, and the luggage door
is much more convenient than the passenger door for loading.
Folding bikes are a small specialty market in the US. Local dealers were of little help.
They could order me a Dahon, but I saw many negative reports on that brand. I think they
have improved, though. I also looked at Strida, but it only has one speed and doesn't fold
lengthwise; it creates a 40" stick when folded. Montague was too big, but looks like
a quality product that could be suitable for a larger aircraft.
Folding bikes appear to be more popular in England. A good comparative site is
www.foldingbikes.co.uk. It seems that commuters use them to get from their homes to the
train station, then place them in the train's baggage compartment. So, their priorities
are similar to mine: short rides, compact when folded. There is a magazine about folding
bikes with this website: www.atob.org.uk. There are some very good discussions about this
endeavor at www.foldsoc.co.uk.
The bike that came in a close second for me was the Pashley Micro-Luxe. Their US
distributor is North Road Bicycle Co. Raleigh, NC Gilbert Anderson, Tel: 800-321-5511. It
folds compactly, is light, and costs @$600. However, it would be 6 weeks arriving from
England, and there were conflicting reports as to its dimensions, so I couldn't tell if it
would fit in the Mooney's baggage door. Also, it had some questionable handling
characteristics, per the sites listed above.
Scott
PS SCOTT FINALLY MADE THE BROMPTON HIS FIRST CHOICE
(and is now very glad he did)
I decided on the Brompton. The US
distributor can be found at www.bromptonbike.com. Reasons for this decision:
There was a brief mention of it fitting through a Mooney baggage door at the Mooney
Junction site. It is the most popular British folder. Other bikes on British discussion
boards are invariably compared to it, usually unfavorably. It isn't cheap. It has many
options, accessories, and third parties that make follow-on products.
I got the L model. The only other choice added two pounds. I added a cloth pannier for the
front that is big enough for flight planning materials and overnight needs. First
impression out of the box was one of heft and solidity. While the 16" wheels are
associated with toy children's bikes, not this one. The main frame and fittings are
massive and strong; the frame is steel, the wheels and fenders aluminum--almost everything
is metal. At this price, I would think double-butting would be the joining method, but the
brazing appears to be high quality. It weighs 25 pounds.
The unfolding process takes some time and attention to the manual. I'm sure a practiced
hand could do it in 30 seconds, but I should have bought the video. I'm sure it will get
easy with practice. It is a fascinating piece of engineering, but I'll spare you a
description since the website has an animation.
Proportions: The seat is barely high enough for me, and I have an inseam of 32". The
handlebars feel just right, and I am 5'11". There are lots of aftermarket adjustment
options, so it should fit just about anyone.
Riding is confidence-inspiring. It recalls nothing so much as a Raleigh 3-speed. It has
the same Sturmey-Archer hub and feels like it has the same ratios as the Raleigh. The
brakes work well, the high-pressure tires roll well on both crushed stone and asphalt, and
the little shock-absorber for the rear tire makes the ride much nicer. It turns quicker
and is more responsive to weight shifts than a full-size, but at no time did I feel like
it was unstable. Short, even medium-length rides should be no problem.
The only quirks I could find: The seat rocks back a little when I gave the pedal a strong
push, maybe because of its shock absorbing flex. The aluminum handlebars flex a little
when pulling on them for leverage. Picking up the bike is disconcerting, since the rear
triangle is held on by gravity, and the tire stays on the pavement and rolls under the
bike when you pick it up. That is actually the way you park it, since with the rear tire
tucked under it, the bike becomes free-standing. Yeah, one guy in a pickup honked and
laughed at me riding, but he was good-natured about it.
It fits through the Mooney baggage door! I had to finagle it a bit, with seat first, then
turning it a bit diagonally for the crank, but no disassembly. There's room in the baggage
compartment for it plus my toolbox, but a second bike may not fit. Maybe on top of a
blanket in the back seat.
I'm looking forward to being mobile on arrival for a change!
Scott