Folding bikes

[XLD]

Are these bikes with 20 inch wheels generally easy to use on the towpath?

[Tracy D'arth]

Yes. 

[baldlimey]

Yes but they take up more space when folded.

 

Pete

[buccaneer66]

Get yourself one of these to get on and off the boat.

 

 

[Tony1]

If you've got a £1500 budget, some people would go for a brompton, and many people find them ok to use on towpaths.

I tried one for a while, but I found the ride very harsh on those 16 inch wheels with bullet hard tyres. 

 

So I went for a folder with 20 inch wheels and 1.6 inch wide tyres, and the increase in comfort was well worth the extra bulk when folded. 

As you know the towpaths are very variable, and in the very muddy conditions common in Winter, even a fat tyred mountain bike with suspension can struggle to make progress safely, but so far the 20 inch folder has coped pretty well in mostly dry conditions.   

There will always be the odd time you'll want to get off and walk it through the muddy patches, and the reality is that on the bumpy or rutted sections of towpath, its going to be a rougher ride than it would be on a bike with suspension- especially where the ground is hard and dry.

 

One thing that might help on the rougher paths is a suspension seat post, like this:

(cheaper ones are available)

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SR-Suntour-SP12-Suspension-Seat/dp/B00HVCTNM6/ref=asc_df_B00HVCTNM6/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=439878987542&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7844313183519873090&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046494&hvtargid=pla-971031528927&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=103141979518&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=439878987542&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7844313183519873090&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046494&hvtargid=pla-971031528927

 

 

Edited May 12, 2022 by Tony1

[Tony1]

1 hour ago, buccaneer66 said:

Get yourself one of these to get on and off the boat.

 

 

 

Not bad. Not bad at all. 

But when you need to get a wriggle on to get to the local Tesco, I'd be looking at one of these (go to 2mins 55s for the real action)

 

Note- no pensioners were harmed in the making of this film

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 12, 2022 by Tony1

[TheBiscuits]

29 minutes ago, Tony1 said:

There will always be the odd time you'll want to get off and walk it through the muddy patches, and the reality is that on the bumpy or rutted sections of towpath, its going to be a rougher ride than it would be on a bike with suspension- especially where the ground is hard and dry.

 

If only CRT could be convinced to look after boaters by upgrading the towpaths ...

 

 

[XLD]

3 hours ago, Tony1 said:

If you've got a £1500 budget, some people would go for a brompton, and many people find them ok to use on towpaths.

I tried one for a while, but I found the ride very harsh on those 16 inch wheels with bullet hard tyres. 

 

So I went for a folder with 20 inch wheels and 1.6 inch wide tyres, and the increase in comfort was well worth the extra bulk when folded. 

As you know the towpaths are very variable, and in the very muddy conditions common in Winter, even a fat tyred mountain bike with suspension can struggle to make progress safely, but so far the 20 inch folder has coped pretty well in mostly dry conditions.   

There will always be the odd time you'll want to get off and walk it through the muddy patches, and the reality is that on the bumpy or rutted sections of towpath, its going to be a rougher ride than it would be on a bike with suspension- especially where the ground is hard and dry.

 

One thing that might help on the rougher paths is a suspension seat post, like this:

(cheaper ones are available)

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SR-Suntour-SP12-Suspension-Seat/dp/B00HVCTNM6/ref=asc_df_B00HVCTNM6/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=439878987542&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7844313183519873090&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046494&hvtargid=pla-971031528927&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=103141979518&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=439878987542&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7844313183519873090&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046494&hvtargid=pla-971031528927

 

 

Excellent info👍. And the suspension seat post sounds great. Thanks