Folding cycle

[Guest Colin Robinson]

I am looking for a folding cycle to put in the back of our campervan for use on the continent for keeping fit and small shopping trips. It needs to have at least 6 gears and be easily and quickly folded down and put up again. I would need a bag to put it in so that I don’t get oil everywhere. Does anyone have any experience of using one of these? I imagine that some makes are better than others – any views on this? Does anyone actually have one for sale and who lives not too far from South Yorkshire? I have looked on e-bay, but there’s not much there of interest. Our local cycle shops only sell those costing upwards of £300; I am looking to spend much less than this.

[Guest Mel B]

We've got a couple of Royal folding bikes, we've had them for over 3 years now and they are great. They have 20 inch wheels as they are easier to pedal with 6 gears and fold quite compactly, however, smaller wheeled ones will go even more compactly and probably be a little bit lighter. We got them from a boat chandler and they only cost us £150.00 each, they are very similar to a product made by Philips which a local bike shop was selling at £220.00 each at the time. Whatever you decide make sure you have a test 'ride' - a sensible one! Some of them can be absolute s*ds to ride. We did a lot of trying of the various types before buying, both at local shops and at motorhome shows. The only ones we would've considered instead were the Di-Blasti ones but they had small wheels and at £300+ each we really couldn't see the point in spending so much on something that was only used for a few weeks a year, especially when you take into account that some insurance policies won't cover any bikes over £200 in value. One other point on bikes - if you leave them outside make sure you lock them to something solid, like a tree, fixed structure etc, both at night or during the day when you're not using them. Having them locked to the bike rack on the rear of your 'van does not count as them being secured as I believe one motorhomer found to his cost when they were nicked! Happy hunting!

[Guest RonB]

Mel - You are nearly right. Our bikes were stolen from the rear rack when secured to it by a heavy duty motor cycle chain. The low life also took the chain for good measure - and without damaging the rack! Presumably the same would hold true if secured to a tree. I believe it's a deterant but if they really want it a well organised gang will get it. Have fun. Ron

[Guest Mel B]

Hi Ron I knew you were out there somewhere! I just wanted to make sure that people knew that just because they are secured to the back of a motorhome it doesn't mean that the insurance covers their theft. Did you ever get replacements? When we wanted some mountain bikes we bought them in France at Auchan - the large hypermarket near Calais, cost 89 euros each!!!! They are actually very good, quick release front wheels so we can put them inside the van if we want, the welds are not the smoothest but that doesn't detract from the excellent ride and they are quite light compared to some bikes. At that price even if they do get nicked at least it wouldn't break the bank. In this country they'd easily cost 3 times that price for the same quality. Happy peddaling.

[Guest RonB]

Mel Yes, we did get paid out without problems by the Cooperative Insurance Soc. We were keen cyclists at the time, by which I mean we actually looked for the hills!, and they were good bikes. We learned our lesson and replaced them with a couple of banger-bikes, complete with really awful paint jobs, for motorhome use. Sad isn't it? Regards Ron