Experiences of *old* folding bikes?

So here's a list of threads about folding bikes, that I've found so far:

Tricked out:
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/256503/

SS Shopper of death:
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/128239/

Folding bikes (general/modern chat):
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/155203

Fixed folders:
http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/132501/

Fixed on trains:
http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/147134/

But what about 'vintage' older ones? I'm still thinking about trying to get a 'cheap' old one and use it for the coach to Paris, or when I get back to London days I can't bring a normal bike.

Has anyone really had one explode from underneath them?

I have less than a week to get one and have it working, if I take it to Paris. Budget is £0.00 give or take a broken jaw.

This old Halfords piece of crap surprisingly never let me down! Rode it from Paddington to Forest gate one night.
I did have another that exploded, old whitewall tyres.

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If you can find one that takes regular 20 inch BMX tyres you should be fine, more or less...

Not a thread on here, but might be of interest.
http://raleightwenty.webs.com/

Thanks for the link, still trying to find more info.

Did the thirty miles round trip over to my ailing grandparents yesterday, and mentioned it;
"Oh, if you'd have asked 4 years ago, there was one in the skip."

Most of them are dead heavy, don't actually fold particularly small and especially if you're near London you'll pay through the nose for what is actually a pretty crap bike. Raleigh Twentys and the BSA and Triumph equivalents aren't too bad and seem to hold their value more because of their cult following. They're quite awkward for taking onto trains because they don't actually fold down very well. I don't think Bromptons ride particularly nicely, but the way they fold is impeccable for taking onto trains.

I had a Universal shopper which was a really crap centre-hinge folder from the 70s I think. I rebuilt it in various guises and at some point lost the hinge when I remade the frame but this is what it looks like. 44-13 suicide fixed gear:

A bit off-topic but I meant to post this on the other thread where you were asking about bikes to take away (I can't remember which it was now). You can rent Bromptons pretty cheaply if you're near one of the docks
https://www.bromptonbikehire.com/page/pricing

Needs some work, but here we go... a £30 job from the pile of bikes out the back of the Salvation Army Co-Op in town.

They have loads of awesome stuff, a 531c Dawes Milk Race, an old post bike (under-rim brakes), loads of crazy crap on the piles.

I was laughing the whole way home on this, it's ridiculous. Saddle's a bit too low, even at a dangerously high point.

20" wheels, 3 speed Sturmey Archer (maybe?) with Shimano grip shift. I dumped the old granny bag they had on it. Couldn't stand the rotting smell.

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Have just entered the folding bike game with this,

I wanted a Brommy but the wife didn't look chuffed when she saw me looking at them the other day!

I've got a spare Shimano CB-E110 coaster hub and a spare bmx rim so will probably build a new rear wheel for it.

I'll probably need a longer seatpost but will worry about that once I have the bike and try it for size.

BMX mag wheel up front would be cool and maybe some bmx bars to keep the stem low and reduce flex.

Pretty much what’s been half-built in the shop a few months ago (and then dumped in the dungeon) for me since breaking the Mayfair. Must get that sorted.

I’d recommend some less flexy brakes too, if those are anything like the stock Raleigh jobbies.

I got some odyssey 1999s cheap a few years back. But I just checked Ebay and they’ve gone up in price somewhat.(Bloody hell!)

Rear braking will be handled by the coaster, up front I might see about adding studs for a mini V. Looks like a replacement wheel up front so rim should be alloy and braking could be pretty good.

Let me know what size seatpost - I have a one or two extra ones from my shopper project that I could donate.

Sounds cool. Wish I got some studs added to my shopper!

M_V no longer at work,

Cheers for the offer, I'm not in London though.

If I do need a post I'll give you a shout and see if you fancy posting (which I'd cover of course) but will understand if not.

thumbsupemojii.jpg

Almost 40 years old. German. Internal hub 3 speed. Amazing quality. I bought 2 from a chap who was retiring from caravan touring. Thought I'd have to rebuild. But 1 was good. The other needed 3 new spokes. Both have working bottle dynamo lights. I bought new tyres. Job's a good 'un.

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I loved my 'Vaterland' folding bike when I lived in Germany... so fun. Even survived a few stairsets.

Sadly when I went back to reclaim it 10 years later it was gone

My grandmother won a Puch folder in a raffle and gave it to one of my sisters when we were kids.

Myself and a friend borrowed it to go round the local BMX track. The problem was that the folding lock mechanism was shit and it needed weight on the bike to stop it folding. Each time the bike had little or no weight pushing down on it, the lock would undo. We crashed a lot, over every hump on the track as it would try and fold the moment the bike left the ground.

The only way to get round the track was to ride very slowly.

I know it needs a front brake in addition to the coaster, it’s coming.

@Aroogah it also needs a longer post. It’s a 22.2mm post and I need one longer than the 350mm one currently fitted. There’s a 500mm one on eBay do might just order one of them, unless you have anything?

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Sorry. My spare one is 28.6 .

Knobblies are badass. Big thumbs up from me.

No worries. Cheers.

Yeah I thought I might swap them for slicker bmx tyres but I like them!

That's a nice one!
Shame about the ugly saddle and that sticker though.

Has somebody on here experience with these Bickerton folding bikes?
There's one for sale in my neighbourhood and I'm thinking about it..

It should serve as a means of transportation for short distances from now to next spring
(do not want to use my main (road-) bike through all of the Berlin winter).

I see they go for around 40 on UK eBay (though I'm a bit confused, there's quite a lot of different models / versions) - anybody got an idea what would be a fair price for this one in the picture above?

Also anything important to check when taking a look at the bike?

Thanks in advance!

Ps: Look at those cables..
: D

It has a Turbo on now and the sticker is part of a set made by an ex courier who now makes T-shirts and stuff. There’s a few more stickers now. It’ll eventually be covered probably.