I've narrowed my choices down to two, aluminum-frame, 20" wheel folding bikes.
They both ride nicely though I've only had about 15 minutes on each. I was hard pressed to tell much of a difference between them.
I've copied prices and some tech specs below. If there's anything you see that says "oh boy, watch out for that kid" I'd appreciate the heads up. (I've left out items that are the same on both bikes; eg: they both come with fenders, folding pedals etc.)
_________
$450CAD "Avenir" (Canadian rebranded "2004 Dahon Impulse D6" - Aluminum): http://tinyurl.com/9r2e4 Add rear rack: +$30. So really the Avenir/D6 comes to... $480CAD
$730CAD Giant Halfway: http://tinyurl.com/77d8l Comes with a nice integrated rear rack (don't know how stable it'll be without side braces though).
FYI: Dahon makes a steel-frame version of the Avenir for about 50% of the cost. (!) My last bike was Cro-Mo and never let me down but I'm leaning toward Aluminum. There doesn't seem to be a weight penalty... should I reconsider the steel frame or is the aluminum likely more maintenance free long-term?
I've narrowed my choices down to two, aluminum-frame, 20" wheel folding > bikes.>
They both ride nicely though I've only had about 15 minutes on each. I was > hard pressed to tell much of a difference between them.>
I've copied prices and some tech specs below. If there's anything you see > that says "oh boy, watch out for that kid" I'd appreciate the heads up. > (I've left out items that are the same on both bikes; eg: they both come > with fenders, folding pedals etc.)>
_________>
$450CAD "Avenir" (Canadian rebranded "2004 Dahon Impulse D6" - Aluminum): > http://tinyurl.com/9r2e4> Add rear rack: +$30. So really the Avenir/D6 comes to...> $480CAD>
$730CAD Giant Halfway: http://tinyurl.com/77d8l> Comes with a nice integrated rear rack (don't know how stable it'll be > without side braces though).>
FYI: Dahon makes a steel-frame version of the Avenir for about 50% of the > cost. (!) My last bike was Cro-Mo and never let me down but I'm leaning > toward Aluminum. There doesn't seem to be a weight penalty... should I > reconsider the steel frame or is the aluminum likely more maintenance free > long-term?>
Thanks folks.>
Chris - Ottawa, Canada >
I have an aluminum frame mountain bike (Giant) that I use mainly for urban riding.
To do over again, I would not purchase aluminum as it is a harsher ride than steel... but thats just me and I enjoy comfort.
Since you ride in exactly the same city as I do, I'd say that's a common frame of reference. (no pun intended)
Thanks Joe!
Chris
"Joe Canuck" <Joe.Canuck@-remove-gmail.com> wrote in message news:5uqdnabdC8-PrQjfRVn-tA@magma.ca...> C.J.Patten wrote:>
Hey folks!>>
I've narrowed my choices down to two, aluminum-frame, 20" wheel folding >> bikes.>>
They both ride nicely though I've only had about 15 minutes on each. I >> was hard pressed to tell much of a difference between them.>>
I've copied prices and some tech specs below. If there's anything you see >> that says "oh boy, watch out for that kid" I'd appreciate the heads up. >> (I've left out items that are the same on both bikes; eg: they both come >> with fenders, folding pedals etc.)>>
_________>>
$450CAD "Avenir" (Canadian rebranded "2004 Dahon Impulse D6" - Aluminum): >> http://tinyurl.com/9r2e4>> Add rear rack: +$30. So really the Avenir/D6 comes to...>> $480CAD>>
$730CAD Giant Halfway: http://tinyurl.com/77d8l>> Comes with a nice integrated rear rack (don't know how stable it'll be >> without side braces though).>>
FYI: Dahon makes a steel-frame version of the Avenir for about 50% of the >> cost. (!) My last bike was Cro-Mo and never let me down but I'm leaning >> toward Aluminum. There doesn't seem to be a weight penalty... should I >> reconsider the steel frame or is the aluminum likely more maintenance >> free long-term?>>
Thanks folks.>>
Chris - Ottawa, Canada>
I have an aluminum frame mountain bike (Giant) that I use mainly for urban > riding.>
To do over again, I would not purchase aluminum as it is a harsher ride > than steel... but thats just me and I enjoy comfort. >
I noticed recently onthe uk.rec.cycling forum a thread with links to a UK folding bike society. In turn that seemed to have lots on various folders, including magazine and private reviews.
Since you ride in exactly the same city as I do, I'd say that's a common > frame of reference. (no pun intended)>
Don't worry yourself with Joe's comment. Its an old chestnut. The frame material makes no difference to the harshness of the ride. The tyres and tyre pressure, saddle and handlebar grips do.
-- Tony
"A facility for quotation covers the absence of original thought" Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy L. Sayers)
in message <HNCdnVu65boFagnfRVn-tw@rogers.com>, C.J.Patten ('cjpatten@KNOWSPAMrogers.com') wrote:
Hey folks!>
I've narrowed my choices down to two, aluminum-frame, 20" wheel> folding bikes.>
They both ride nicely though I've only had about 15 minutes on each. I> was hard pressed to tell much of a difference between them.>
I've copied prices and some tech specs below. If there's anything you> see that says "oh boy, watch out for that kid" I'd appreciate the> heads up. (I've left out items that are the same on both bikes; eg:> they both come with fenders, folding pedals etc.)
The Giant Halfway is a Mike Burrows design and has much nicer kit, but I'm not sure whether that justifies the increase in price. It also has a slightly wider gear range with lower bottom gears, if that's a consideration.
FYI: Dahon makes a steel-frame version of the Avenir for about 50% of> the cost. (!) My last bike was Cro-Mo and never let me down but I'm> leaning toward Aluminum. There doesn't seem to be a weight penalty...> should I reconsider the steel frame or is the aluminum likely more> maintenance free long-term?
_If_ there is no weight penalty, the steel bike may be a better buy. OK, it will rust if you scratch the paint. But steel frames are springier, unlikely to crack, often more comfortable to ride, repairable if damaged, and with moderate maintenance (say one respray every twenty years) will last indefinitely.
In a major impact aluminium is likely to crack, in which case it's a write-off - and, indeed, even if it bends it's almost certainly a write-off. Furthermore, although aluminium does not rust, it will corrode electrolytically wherever there are steel components connected to the frame if it is not stored dry, and, over long periods of time, these will destroy the frame too.
So long term the steel frame is a slightly better bet. Provided, of course, there _is_ no weight penalty.
Folder case in point: Read what you can about the Bickerton folding> bike, made in England in the 1970s. Supposedly, it flexed like a worn> out spring. Nobody ever dreamed of calling its ride "harsh." Again,> aluminum frame.
No "supposedly" about it. They didn't call 'em "chocolate Bickies" for nothing, y'know.
-- Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/> Among the calamities of war may be jointly numbered the diminution of the love of truth, by the falsehoods which interest dictates and credulity encourages.
"Simon Brooke" <simon@jasmine.org.uk> wrote in message news:edbgm2-q9r.ln1@gododdin.internal.jasmine.org.uk...> in message <HNCdnVu65boFagnfRVn-tw@rogers.com>, C.J.Patten> ('cjpatten@KNOWSPAMrogers.com') wrote:> <snip>>
The Giant Halfway is a Mike Burrows design and has much nicer kit, but> I'm not sure whether that justifies the increase in price. It also has> a slightly wider gear range with lower bottom gears, if that's a> consideration.
Yes, in fairness, I test rode the Giant Halfway in slightly more hilly conditions than the Dahon. I was *just* at the edge of my capability to climb hills with the Giant - likely I'd grow into it - but perhaps the D6 would be a poorer choice given it may not have the gear range I need right now.
<snip>>
In a major impact aluminium is likely to crack, in which case it's a> write-off - and, indeed, even if it bends it's almost certainly a> write-off. Furthermore, although aluminium does not rust, it will> corrode electrolytically wherever there are steel components connected> to the frame if it is not stored dry, and, over long periods of time,> these will destroy the frame too.
I'm confused. There are aluminum mountain bikes that don't seem to crack apart - some without any kind of suspension. By "impact" is this to say "hitting the frame with a hammer" (or throwing rocks at it)?
This IS going to be a pathway bike but I'd like to know if I go aluminum I don't have to worry about the frame spontaneously disintegrating through regular use. (even if it's years and thousands of miles of regular use) There seem to be a lot of Giant Halfway users out there with no reports of (recent) self-destructions so I have to assume this is a reasonably designed bike.
If it were able to take the beating, I'd probably put semi-knobbies on it and take it on some dirt tracks - perhaps that's asking too much of this bike though.
I'm strongly leaning toward the 'Halfway. I'm sure the Dahon would be a fine bike but I'm looking for something I won't outgrow - or at least not feel like I compromised. (realizing folders in general are a compromise)
The Giant seems to be the Cadillac of it's class though I don't know if the idea that it's "halfway between a folder and a full size" is quite accurate.
in message <NeKdnXf9Z7luewjfRVn-gw@rogers.com>, C.J.Patten ('cjpatten@KNOWSPAMrogers.com') wrote:
"Simon Brooke" <simon@jasmine.org.uk> wrote in message> news:edbgm2-q9r.ln1@gododdin.internal.jasmine.org.uk...>> in message <HNCdnVu65boFagnfRVn-tw@rogers.com>, C.J.Patten>> ('cjpatten@KNOWSPAMrogers.com') wrote:>>
<snip>>>
The Giant Halfway is a Mike Burrows design and has much nicer kit,>> but I'm not sure whether that justifies the increase in price. It>> also has a slightly wider gear range with lower bottom gears, if>> that's a consideration.>
Yes, in fairness, I test rode the Giant Halfway in slightly more hilly> conditions than the Dahon.> I was *just* at the edge of my capability to climb hills with the> Giant - likely I'd grow into it - but perhaps the D6 would be a poorer> choice given it may not have the gear range I need right now.>
<snip>>>
In a major impact aluminium is likely to crack, in which case it's a>> write-off - and, indeed, even if it bends it's almost certainly a>> write-off. Furthermore, although aluminium does not rust, it will>> corrode electrolytically wherever there are steel components>> connected to the frame if it is not stored dry, and, over long>> periods of time, these will destroy the frame too.>
I'm confused. There are aluminum mountain bikes that don't seem to> crack apart - some without any kind of suspension.> By "impact" is this to say "hitting the frame with a hammer" (or> throwing rocks at it)?
As in colliding with a moving motor vehicle, for example. Nothing less.
This IS going to be a pathway bike but I'd like to know if I go> aluminum I don't have to worry about the frame spontaneously> disintegrating through regular use. (even if it's years and thousands> of miles of regular use) There seem to be a lot of Giant Halfway users> out there with no reports of (recent) self-destructions so I have to> assume this is a reasonably designed bike.
Cracking of aluminium framed bikes is greatly exaggerated. It has happened, largely with racing bikes (both road racing and cross country) but it isn't at all common. The point is, though, a steel frame that's been in a bad crash is almost always repairable (although it may be uneconomic to repair); an aluminium or carbon fibre frame frame which has been in a bad crash is usually not repairable.
I'm strongly leaning toward the 'Halfway. I'm sure the Dahon would be> a fine bike but I'm looking for something I won't outgrow - or at> least not feel like I compromised. (realizing folders in general are a> compromise)
I'd go for the Hafway - as I say, it _is_ a Mike Burrows design.
Cracking of aluminium framed bikes is greatly exaggerated. It has> happened, largely with racing bikes (both road racing and cross> country) but it isn't at all common. The point is, though, a steel> frame that's been in a bad crash is almost always repairable (although> it may be uneconomic to repair); an aluminium or carbon fibre frame> frame which has been in a bad crash is usually not repairable.>
Indeed in the one comparative frame fatigue test that has been reported, aluminium frames were the only ones to survive the test intact. The same was not true of steel bikes all of which failed prematurely. Of all the frame materials - steel, aluminium, carbon fibre and titanium - steel showed the shortest fatigue life.
As in colliding with a moving motor vehicle, for example. Nothing less.>
<snip>>
Cracking of aluminium framed bikes is greatly exaggerated. It has> happened, largely with racing bikes (both road racing and cross> country) but it isn't at all common. The point is, though, a steel> frame that's been in a bad crash is almost always repairable (although> it may be uneconomic to repair); an aluminium or carbon fibre frame> frame which has been in a bad crash is usually not repairable.
Thanks Simon... I see what you mean about the impact damage.
<snip>>
I'd go for the Hafway - as I say, it _is_ a Mike Burrows design.
I'm feeling more comfortable with aluminum now. I wasn't *un*comfortable with it until I started reading about stress cracks etc. As with just about anything, I think it's safe to say poor design is more of a concern than material used.
Steven M. Scharf 26 May 2005 22:46:30 [ permanent link ]
"Tony Raven" <junk@raven-family.com> wrote in message news:3fmelnF8jmmaU1@individual.net...
Indeed in the one comparative frame fatigue test that has been reported,> aluminium frames were the only ones to survive the test intact. The> same was not true of steel bikes all of which failed prematurely. Of> all the frame materials - steel, aluminium, carbon fibre and titanium -> steel showed the shortest fatigue life.>
