Help with Folding bikes - Perth

[ColinOldnCranky]

My wife has wanted for some time to do some rregular riding. Unfortunately she can't use a regular bike due to physical impediments.

I've tried a few things to address the issue. Basically it seems that she needs

• A VERY low to the ground bottom bracket
• An easy step thru
• Very short cranks - I have a pair I have already placed on her current ride

From my recollection of the few folding bikes i have seen and not looked to closely I think they may address the first two points.

Is there a shop or two around Perth that carries a range of these? Even one or two?

Perhaps some Perth riders have one that my wife could see how the fit is. (Just a simple mounting and sitting, I am not talking of replacing your cranks ) If it's just gathering cobwebs in your shed I may even buy it off you.

[zebee]

It depends on the folder... A proper stepthru might be a better deal as the folder has a low bar but my mother had trouble lifting her leg over it I think an old fashioned lady's bike is in fact lower.

The folder does have the advantage of being able to have a fairly low seat height and of being able to have a highish bar to seat measurement. BUt then a properly sized old fashioned lady's bike should have the same thing.

When I say old fashioned I mean http://www.pashley.co.uk/bikes/bicycles ... -bliss.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or http://www.reidcycles.com.au/vintage-la ... oyale.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (of the two I suspect the Pashley is lower where it counts but there's not much in it). The Reid should be available in Perth if you want to give it a go.

Running a ruler over Mum's folder (a generic one) gives the stepover height of 48cm and the centre of the BB at 28cm. Don't have the Brompton folder while I'm visiting her, but I think it is pretty similar in stepover height.

[zebee]

OH and that 48 is the absolute lowest point which is directly over the BBa nd so a bit under the seat. THe bar then slopes up from there. I think 49-50 is more likely as the practical measurement.

[ColinOldnCranky]

One of the difficulties is maintaining a very long MINIMUM distance between her feet and the seat during riding as she is limited to how much she can bend her knee even when unloaded.

A regular step through can be adjusted to give that distance but, if the pedals are far off the ground that means that she has to get onto a higher seat than if the bottom bracket was lower. She cannot well manage that as she has a fused ankle. the other foot isn't so crash hot either.

So essentially she needs a bike with a short distance between highest and lowest position of the pedals relative to her seat. In addition it needs to be VERY low to the ground in order to be able to get onto the seat. That means a lower than usual bottom bracket.

A lot of these issues are the legacy of a head on crash that we both miraculously survived in 1980. Which is part of the story of why I unicycle too but that is another story for another time.

I am aware that many foldup bikes have the bottom bar higher than the bottom bracket but I have seen at least one that the bottom bracket was way down. Combined with 20" wheels and fitted with 140mm cranks it would be the best chance of success. Something like:

[RonK]

Some lateral thinking perhaps - could a crank forward recumbent work for her?

[crazioldjane]

dahon and tern are the best around for price quality and components balance... sorry birdy, brompton and friday owners .... we are in munich at the moment which by the way is just cycling heaven... not a tiny bit of lycra has been seen in 2 weeks so far and apart from my brain snaps with riding on the wrong side of roads and paths no agro ..no helmet law for over 12s... cycle-paths and road reserves... most everyone seem to obey the rules and just get on with each other...it is magic but i digress ... many many people including the very old and people with various degrees of limping etc get around on full size bikes that have the same frame set up as the folder in the picture shown sold at a k-mart prices thru aldi and some other grocery chain stores... http://kleinanzeigen.ebay.de is a good site to explore to see what is used here.. we bought a 28 inch Bavaria for 110 euros and a really nice Raleigh Excutive for a little more for myself and are having a ball... but again i digress... i have a dahon mu sl and also a dahon helios which your wife is welcome to have a ride on when we get back to perth but it won't be until 11 July...

[ColinOldnCranky]

Thanks for the suggestion Ron. I dismissed these early as she would not be able to bend her ankle sufficient to get purchase to get back off the seat and onto terra firma.

Even worse, that ankle means that she has not been able to join me for skiing for many years. Now I get to share non-gender specific backpackerish accomodation with nordic goddesses.

[ColinOldnCranky]

... many many people including the very old and people with various degrees of limping etc get around on full size bikes that have the same frame set up as the folder in the picture shown sold at a k-mart prices thru aldi

You forgot the pic which I'd love to see.

[crazioldjane]

sorry i am a dinosaur and just can't get my head around uploading pictures this is a link to the type of full size bikes that are everywhere here ...this one is a bit more up market but it gives an example http://kleinanzeigen.ebay.de/anzeigen/s ... ref=search and note the dynamo hub which seems to be pretty much standard with most bikes here...

this is a dahon mu sl
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/dah ... e-ec000333

this is a dahon helios
http://www.world-wheels.co.uk/heliosp8.htm

crossing my fingers and hoping this works...

[bradwoodbr]

Check out:

http://www.e-bikesrus.com.au/folding-bikes/

More in the shop than on the website.

[mikedufty]

I think Garland cycle works in South Perth used to have a few folding bikes. Might be worth a look. Their web page say they are brompton specialists, which is probably not what you are after.

http://www.garlandcycleworks.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[cj7hawk]

Without trying to push my own thoughts too far, have you considered an electric folder? She may not like the idea of assistance, but with short cranks, it might help up climbs.

This is a new model in Perth from Solarbike



Or this one on Gumtree - Looks OK.


http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/como/bic ... 1078926042" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I don't know if these sort are suitable at all - I can't speak for either as I only found them on a search after looking up some details on what was being sold locally last night and noticed folding electrics are becoming popular -

David.

[ColinOldnCranky]

Without trying to push my own thoughts too far, have you considered an electric folder? She may not like the idea of assistance, but with short cranks, it might help up climbs.

...

David.

Yes, e-bikes are on my radar. As near as can be told by a pic the Dillinger with shorter cranks I can fit looks very close to what will do the job. VERY close.

[zebee]

Would an Anura trike from Greenspeed be useful? I say the Anura as it has a higher seat than the standard Greenspeeds. http://greenspeed.com.au/anura.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Sometimes they turn up 2nd hand. MR components sometimes has high seat trikes 2nd hand. http://www.mrrecumbenttrikes.com/preloved.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (Melbourne so tricky...)

Probably too much money to buy a trike ... On the other hand Ian Sims is very experienced in adapting his trikes for people with disabilities and may come up with an idea you haven't thought of.

Ian is doing a smaller version of his Magnum and that too will have a higher seat than the GT series bikes, don't know if higher than an Anura.

The advantage of a trike is not needing to balance on the dud leg, and having support (Ian can add handles for support) in getting in and out of the thing. Slow up hills can be difficult on a two wheeler, on a three wheeler you just change down!